Living here - why Surrey?

Images of Guildford

Guildford offers the perfect balance of market town charm and modern city amenities. Nestled in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our historic town combines excellent transport links with a vibrant cultural scene – making it an ideal place to live and work.

Getting around

London and beyond

  • Central London: 35-40 minutes by train.
  • Direct trains to Portsmouth and the south coast (under one hour).
  • Easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick airports via the A3 and M25.
  • Excellent rail connections across the south of England.

Things to do

Arts and culture

Guildford has a thriving arts scene with year-round entertainment:

  • Live music and West End productions at G Live, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Electric Theatre.
  • Spring and autumn music and food festivals.
  • Multiscreen cinema in Guildford town centre and independent cinemas in near-by towns
  • For art lovers, the Watts Gallery – a unique art gallery dedicated to the work of the Victorian-era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts – is located in the close by village of Compton.

Sports and leisure

  • Guildford Spectrum – the UK's first purpose-built leisure centre, with swimming, ice skating, bowling and more.
  • Beautiful public parks including Stoke Park and Loseley Park.
  • River Wey towpath walks into the Surrey countryside.
  • Boat hire on the National Trust's Wey Navigation.

Shopping and food

  • Historic high street in Guildford town centre with independent shops and high street brands.
  • North Street Market every Saturday.
  • Farmers' Market on the first Tuesday of each month.
  • Diverse restaurants, cafés and bars.

History and heritage

  • Guildford Castle – Surrey's only Royal castle, built by William the Conqueror.
  • Guildford Cathedral with panoramic views across the county.
  • Lewis Carroll's house and grave.
  • Charming villages, gardens and historic buildings in the surrounding countryside, including many National Trust properties and parks nearby in Surrey and Hampshire.

Interesting facts

Here are some random facts about Guildford!

  • Guildford has one of the highest life expectancies in Britain.

  • Despite having a cathedral, Guildford is not a city. It needs a Royal Charter for that, and we haven't got one yet.

  • In his tales of the Knights of the Round Table, Sir Thomas Mallory called Guildford "Astolat", where the fair Elaine died for the love of Sir Lancelot.

  • The last alchemist in England, James Price, committed suicide in his Guildford laboratory in 1783 when he failed to demonstrate turning cheap metals into gold to skeptical scientists.

  • George Abbot, the Archbishop of Canterbury whose statue stands on the High Street, accidentally killed a gamekeeper while out hunting with a crossbow.

  • Guildford Cathedral appeared in the 1976 horror film The Omen. The filmmakers chose it for its modern, clean lines, which contrasted effectively with the ancient evil in the story. It remains a popular spot for fans of the film to visit!

  • Guildford has one of only two surviving medieval town clocks in England with its original mechanism. Built in 1683 on top of the Guildhall, the clock projects over the High Street and has become one of the town's most iconic landmarks.

  • The 'cobbled' High Street is not paved with cobbles. We have brick-shaped blocks of granite called "setts".