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What Makes Guildford More Than a London Commuter Town
Guildford is often compared with other towns around London because of its rail links.
But Guildford has much more going on locally.
High Street sits at the centre of town, with shops, cafés and restaurants nearby. Guildford Castle and the River Wey are both close to the centre, while the University of Surrey and Surrey Research Park bring students and jobs into the area.
Outside town, Surrey countryside and walking routes are also easy to reach.
High Street is the centre of Guildford
Guildford High Street has larger retailers, independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs.
Tunsgate, North Street and the smaller streets around High Street add more places to shop and eat.
Guildford House Gallery also sits directly on High Street.
For shopping, lunch or dinner, most of the main options are concentrated around the town centre.
Guildford Castle is a short walk away
Guildford Castle sits just behind the main shopping streets.
The Castle Grounds are open throughout the year, with gardens, lawns and a bandstand. The Great Tower opens seasonally and gives views across Guildford and Surrey.
The castle is around a 15-minute walk from Guildford Station.
It is close enough to combine with shopping, lunch or a walk through town.
Walk along the River Wey
The River Wey runs through Guildford.
The River Wey and Godalming Navigations cover almost 20 miles, with towpaths running through the area.
Dapdune Wharf is also in Guildford and can be reached on foot from the town centre.
Residents can use the river for a short walk after work or follow the towpath further at weekends.
Surrey countryside is close by
Guildford has several outdoor areas within and around the town.
Stoke Park is close to the centre.
Further out, Chantry Wood, Newlands Corner and St Martha’s Hill offer woodland, hills and longer walking routes.
The North Downs also run close to Guildford.
This gives residents more options than parks alone when they want to spend time outdoors.
The University of Surrey brings jobs and students to the town
The University of Surrey is based in Guildford.
Its Stag Hill and Manor Park campuses sit close to the town, with Surrey Sports Park also at Manor Park.
Surrey Research Park is nearby and is home to businesses working across technology, science and other sectors.
Guildford therefore has its own student and working population rather than relying only on London commuters.
There is plenty to do in the evening
Guildford has restaurants, pubs, cinemas and live entertainment in and around the town centre.
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre hosts theatre and stage productions, while G Live has music, comedy and other live events.
Guildford Museum and Guildford House Gallery add more local options during the day.
A night out does not always require a trip into London.
London is still easy to reach
Guildford has direct train services to London Waterloo.
This works well for people who need to travel into London for work but want to live outside the capital.
For hybrid workers, the town can also work well when London travel is only needed a few days each week.
