Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the most beautiful in England. And the Guildhall has a clock dating from 1683. It is
a lovely place to stay and wander, but it is also an excellent base for exploring farther
afield, such as the Surrey Hills (p. 281), or the banks of the river.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
Trains depart London's Waterloo Station and take 35 minutes;
the South West Trains cost about £11. Guildford is an easy drive from London, on
the A3, several miles outside the M25.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Guildford Tourist Information Centre
is at
Guildford House, 155 High St. (
&
01483/444333;
www.visitguildford.com/www.
visitsurrey.com). It's open May to September, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and
Sunday 10am to 4:30pm; October to April, Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm.
Exploring the Area
The streets and the river walk are all there to be enjoyed. Guildford Castle dates from
shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and although only the tower remains,
sitting atop its man-made mound, it has been well renovated this century and con-
tains exhibits on its history. It's open May to September, daily 10am to 5pm; October
and March 11am to 4pm. Adults £2.60, children 5 to 15 £1.30. The grounds (free
entry, daily 8am-dusk) were turned into gardens to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden
Jubilee in 1888. The ornamental bedding displays are renowned; you'll also find
plenty of places to stop and relax, as well as an open-air theatre.
Guildford Museum
in Castle Arch, Castle Hill, just off the High Street
(
&
01483/444751;
www.visitguildford.com; Mon-Sat 11am-5pm; free admis-
sion), dates back to 1898 and features a collection of old Surrey items donated by
famed garden designer Gertrude Jekyll in 1907.
Stoke Park
is a huge area comprising woodland and formal gardens, plus a boat-
ing pond, paddling pool, children's play area, tennis courts, putting green, all-weather
sports pitches, indoor and outdoor bowls, a trim trail, and a skateboard park. It's also
where the Surrey County Show and GuilFest are held (see “Entertainment & Night-
life,” below).
Dapdune Wharf
HISTORIC SITE The Wey was one of Britain's first water-
ways to be made navigable, opening to barge traffic in 1653 and linking with the
Thames. The Godalming Navigations, opened in 1764, allowed barges to go an addi-
tional 4 miles upstream. The visitor center has interactive exhibits and displays telling
the story of the work, and of those who sailed the barges. There's the site where huge
Wey barges were built, and you can climb aboard the
Reliance,
one of three surviving
barges. There are also short boat trips on an electric boat. The 19-mile towpath is
open to walkers.
Wharf Rd. (just off the A322 in Guildford).
&
01483/561389.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Admission to
wharf £3 adults, £2 children 5-15. Boat rides £3.50 adults, £2 children 5-15. Open late Mar-Oct Thurs-
Mon (daily during school holidays) 11am-5pm. Closed Nov-Mar.
Guildford Cathedral
CATHEDRAL Different from most cathedrals, this
modern, red-brick affair sits on an open hilltop and is visible from much of the city
and far beyond. Work was started in 1936 and, after a halt during World War II, was
consecrated in the presence of the Queen in 1961. It's still a work in progress, with
statues at the West Front completed in 2005, and work now focusing on landscaping
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