All about Surrey

Guildford in Surrey is a medium-sized town located just 30 miles from London. Known as the county town of Surrey, it has a number of attractions including a museum, cathedral, art gallery and park – plus a high street packed with retail shops, cafes and places to eat. Guildford has a population of around 66,000 (not including all the boroughs). It is also home to two prominent business parks - Surrey University Research Park and Guildford Business Park – with major global players like Phillips Electronics, Colgate-Palmolive, Ericsson as resident businesses.

Culture

There are a range of cultural attractions in and around Guildford to explore. Guildford Museum is a 17th Century building adjoining the castle grounds, housing permanent collections of local history, archaeology, needlework and temporary exhibitions too. Guildford Gallery is a 17th century town house at the top of Guildford High Street, now being used as an art gallery with a gift shop and a cafe.

Music-oriented culture includes the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, with its large repertoire spanning the 16th century to the present day. Guildford International Music Festival is in March, featuring classical, jazz and world music. Guilfest is a popular 3-day music festival in Stoke Park – Surrey’s answer to Glastonbury. Acts on the bill for 2011 include N-Dubz, James Blunt, Razorlight, Noisettes, Pendulum and Nero.

Guildford Book Festival is a literary celebration in late October/early November, and the town’s Summer Festival celebrates music, theatre, river events, walks, film. There are also a number of grand country houses to visit (Clandon Park, Hatchlands Park, Loseley House), and mile after mile of downland, heath, and common (the North Downs.)

Shopping

The high street has cobbled streets, historic buildings and the famous Guildhall clock, with a great selection of designer and department stores plus high street shops like Monsoon, M&S, and Gap. Two shopping centres – White Lion Walk and Tunsgate Square – are just off the high street too.

The Friary shopping centre has three floors of stores (undercover) and a food court. There are plenty of big name stores to chose from, including Top Shop, HMV and The Disney Store. North Street is home to a traditional street market every Friday and Saturday, for fresh meat, fish, fruit, veg and flowers, gifts and accessories. Chapel Street is Guildford’s premier shopping and dining destination, with up-market boutiques, while The Lanes offers a choice of independent stores.

Eating out

You’ll find plenty of cafes, bistros and restaurants on every corner. There is a large choice of high street chains like Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express, Wagamama, and Ha-Has as well as individual restaurants – French, Thai, Indian, Italian and Chinese, American. When it comes to cafes, there are many to pick from, and, if you’re a healthy soul, the occasional juice bar too.

There are restaurants specialising in Mexican, Portuguese,  Japanese, British and other international foods.  The town has wine bars, pubs, clubs, bistros, cafés, brassieres for every eating and drinking possibility – from organic healthy snacks, to tasty seafood fare and even celebrity gastronomy.

Transport links

Sports

As well as the Surrey Sports Park, the University of Surrey owned multi million pound facility, there is also the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex for active students. It has a 25 metre indoor pool, teaching pool, diving pool, Olympic-sized ice rink, 32-lane ten pin bowling, health suite, squash courts, aerobics, all weather athletics track and more.

The Guildford Lido – a 1930s treasure set in three acres of landscaped gardens – offers an Olympic-sized open-air pool. It’s open during the summer season from May to September, and heated to 24 degrees centigrade – a great place to chill out, meet friends and picnic. Guildford is also home to the Guildford Flames Ice Hockey team, and Guildford United football team.

Arts

There are two theatres: The Electric Theatre, located by the river, hosts dance, drama, music and comedy. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre has in-house productions, West End shows, opera, ballet and pantomime. Guildford also has an Odeon multiplex cinema.

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