Carpeted with beautiful countryside and just a stone’s throw from London, Surrey offers a wealth of world-class attractions, contemporary arts venues, unique events, mouth watering restaurants, cafes and pubs. Vibrant towns nestle perfectly alongside historic villages. Take in the breathtaking scenery of the Surrey Hills, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or marvel at stunning 21st century things to do.
Funtastic facts about Surrey
- Charles Dickens wrote much of his “pickwick papers” whilst staying in Dorking at the White Horse and based many of the characters on local people
- Dorkings Emblem, the unique 5 toed cockerel was left here by the Romans
- Denbies vineyard, which is just outside Dorking, is the largest Vineyard in England
- Abinger Common (5 miles from Dorking) is the oldest village in England with dwellings dating back 7,000 years
- The Shah Jehan Mosqu in Woking is the oldest mosque in Britain dating from 1889
- When the martians land in H G Wells book ‘war of the worlds’ they do so on Horsell Moor, where Wells loved at the time
- Brookwood Cemetary in Woking is the largest in Britain
Alice Holt Forest
This ancient forest is famous for its oak trees which once supplied timber for navy ships. Whether you have come to walk, cycle, picnic, or see the wildlife, there is something at Alice Holt for everyone who loves the countryside.
The Woodland Park opens at 8am and closes at 5pm (October – February), 7pm (March – April), 9pm (May – August) and 7pm (September).
4 miles south of Farnham just off the A325 south of Birdworld.
Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LS
Website
Barons Cave and Tunnel Road Cave
Located under Reigate Castle, the cave was first constructed as a narrow passage or postern, connecting the Castle Keep to the town below.
The Barons’ Cave has been an attraction to travellers from an early time.
Castle Grounds and Tunnel Road, Reigate, RH2 0SH
Website
Birdworld
Meet a huge range of birds, from the colourful parrots to the Snowy Owls. Set in 26 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about the birds at feeding talks and theatre shows. Admission also includes Underwater World and Jenny Wren Farm. The park has a children’s play areas and a safari train ride.
Opening times – summer 10:00 – 18:00 (winter 10:00 – 16:30)
Holt Pound, Farnham GU10 4LD
01420 22992
Website
Bocketts Farm
A working family farm set in beautiful countryside on the slopes of the North Downs in Surrey. Bocketts has many breeds of animals and lots of attractions for all the family both inside and out, offering a great day out whatever the weather! Being a working farm no two days are quite the same. Lambing, shearing, hay making and the harvest punctuate the farming year and there are often lambs, goat kids, calves, piglets, foals, and chicks to see. The huge covered area houses two fantastic playbarns including a 70 foot 4 lane astro-slide and outside are trampolines, play trails and an amazing jumping pillow. Daily activities include pony rides, tractor rides, goat milking and pig racing.
Opening times – daily 10:00 – 18:00 (or dusk). Not open 25 & 26 Dec & 1 Jan
Young Strret, Fetcam, Leatherhead KT22 9BS
01372 363764
Website
Brooklands Museum
Motoring and aviation museum containing over 30 aircraft, restored motoring village, refurbished 1907 Club House, steepest section of the original banked racing circuit. 30 acre site, picnic areas, weekend events. Brooklands was the first motor racing circuit in the world and the birthplace of British Aviation. It also features the only Concorde in the South East that can be visited for the Brooklands Concorde experience.
Brooklands Road, Weybridge, KT13 0QN
Website
Clandon Park
A grand Palladian mansion, built circa 1730 by the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni and notable for its magnificent two-storeyed Marble Hall. The house is filled with superb collections of 18th century furniture, porcelain, textiles and carpets acquired in the 1920s by the connoisseur Mrs David Gubbay and also contains the Ivo Forde Meissen collection and a series of Mortlake tapestries. The attractive gardens contain a parterre, grotto, sunken Dutch garden and a Maori house.
West Clandon, Guildford, GU4 7RQ
Website
Devils Punch Bowl Country Park
The gateway to the Surrey Hills, with fine views and stunning scenery
London Road, Hindhead, GU26 6AB
Website
Farncombe Boat House
The idyllic ‘island’ setting is just the place to relax and enjoy the River Wey. Hire a rowing boat, canoe and punt for the hour or the day. Take time afloat with family and friends on a purpose-built day narrow boats, cruising to Guildford and back or spend a short break or week as skipper of a traditionally painted holiday narrow boat.
Opening times – Easter to end October daily 9:00 – 17:30
Catteshall Lock, GodalmingGU7 1NH
01483 421306
Website
Go Ape – High wire forest adventure at Alice Holt
Bring Out Your Inner Ape! Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges? If the answer’s yes, you’re ready to Go Ape.
Minimum age 10 years. Minimum height 1.4m/ 4ft7”.
Go Ape!, Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LS
Website
Guildford Boathouse
Spending time on the river really is the fastest way to slow down and for over a century people have been enjoying a visit to the River Wey at Guildford Boat House. An excursion of an hour or two aboard “Harry Stevens” transports you almost magically from the busy town straight into picturesque rural Surrey; “Alfred Leroy” offers the additional pleasure of a meal afloat with a party of friends. Rowing boats and canoes can be hired by the hour.
Opening hours – Easter to October daily 9:00 – 17:30
Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3XJ
Website
Guildford Cathedral
An imposing landmark from its commanding position on Stag Hill, so named because the Kings of England used to hunt there.The interior is more admired than the exterior. Building commenced in 1936 to a design by Sir Edward Maufe and was completed in 1961, retaining its unique position as the only new Anglican Cathedral to be built in the South of England since the Reformation. The Cathedral has maintained its reputation for the excellence of its music which has been achieved without any of the financial advantages enjoyed by the older cathedrals.
Stag Hill, Guildford, GU2 7UP
Website
RHS Wisley – a Surrey garden for all seasons
Stretching over 240 acres, Wisley is the flagship of the Royal Horticultural Society, demonstrating the best in gardening practices. For many, the beauty and tranquility of the garden captures the imagination, with its richly planted borders, luscious rose gardens and the exotica of the glasshouses.
RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, GU23 6QB
See the Fun Kids review on RHS Wisley
Rural Life Centre
A museum of past village life covering the years from 1750 to 1960. It is set in over ten acres of garden and woodland and housed in purpose-built and reconstructed buildings including a chapel, village hall, cricket pavilion and school room. Displays show village crafts and trades such as wheelwrighting of which the centre’s collection is probably the finest in the country. An historic village playground provides entertainment for children as does a preserved narrow gauge light railway which operates on Sundays. There is also an arboretum with over 100 species of tree from around the world.
Old Kiln Museum, Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, GU10 2DL
Website
Winkworth Arboretum
Tranquil hillside woodland with sweeping views. More than 1,000 different shrubs and trees, with many rare species and impressive displays of spring flowers and autumn colour. In the summer it is an ideal place for family visits and a picnic
Hascombe Road, Hascombe, Godalming, GU8 4AD
Website
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