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Surrey is one of the ‘home counties’ around London. It is an area of beautiful countryside, hills, woods and rivers. Historic market towns and pretty villages with winding streets and village greens.
It has two of the countries finest racecourses at Esher and Epsom. Richmond the home of Richmond Park is a lively cosmopolitan town with boutiques and cafes. There is also Wimbledon the home of tennis and the famous Wimbledon Common.
Guildford
Guildford is the county town with cobbled high street and twisting lanes. Guildford Castle has an imposing stone tower keep and the first floor reception chamber now houses a permanent exhibition.
The Yvonne Arnaud theatre hosts West End Shows, and the Cathedral is home to the Guilford Philharmonic Orchestra. Guildford is a good base for the exploration of the picturesque villages of Ripley, Compton, Chilworth and Albury.
South West Surrey
Has some of Surrey’s prettiest villages such as Farnham with its exceptional Georgian architecture and Castle which played host to medieval monarchs. Godalming on the river Wey is a small market town with ancient buildings.
Dorking and Leatherhead towns of the Surrey Hills.
Towns are linked by the Mole Gap Trail along the river Mole. Both towns have a range of restaurants, cafes and bars. Dorking has a reputation for excellent antique shops. The English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was resident in Dorking and was the first to conduct the Leith Hill Music Festival which continues to this day.
Parks and Gardens
Surrey features wonderful parks and gardens with beautiful historic buildings and amazing wildlife. There are plenty to visit such as the Royal Bontanical Gardens at Kew, the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley and Painshill Park.
Kew Gardens is a world heritage site. It represents 250 years of history including 40,000 plant species and 40 listed buildings.
Wisley Gardens has plenty to see at any time of year, with Rock garden, Fruit Field, Lakes, Pinetum, Formal gardens, Tropical gardens, Glasshouses and Model gardens.
Painshill Park is one of the most important 18 th Century parks in Europe. It is delightful all year round with a giant waterwheel, serpentine lake, towering cedars and authentic 18 th Century plantings.
