Things to do and see in the town

Guildford has an attractive town centre with its cobbled High Street, attractive riverside and good range of shops in the High Street, North Street and Friary Centre. There is a street market in North Street on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as a Farmer’s market on the first Tuesday of every month in the High Street. 

Places to visit are:

Guildford Castle and Castle Grounds – The castle dates back to Norman times.  Guildford was a key staging post between London and the south coast and the castle was built to guard the Guildford gap in the North Downs.  There is a visitor centre in the castle and one can climb to the top of the keep for some excellent views.  It is open from 10 am to 5 pm, admission £3.50, children £2.00.

Guildford Museum in Quarry Street, close to the Castle Grounds.  It is open from 12 pm to 4.30 pm, admission free.

Dapdune Wharf, a former industrial wharf and boat yard on the River Wey. Boat trips can be taken from the wharf and there are also activities for children.  It is situated off Woodbridge Road, about 10 minutes’ walk from the town centre.  Open 11am to 5pm, free admission.

St Mary’s Church, Quarry Street – the oldest building in Guildford, originating in Saxon times, with an anti-clockwise ring of six bells recently rehung.

 

  • Guildford House, 155 High Street (near the Clock) – This is a fascinating 17th century town house (Grade 1 listed), which includes the Tourist Information Centre, a craft shop and the Guildford House Gallery – a fine collection of paintings. It is open from 10.30 to 3.30, admission free.
  • The Undercroft, 72 High Street (opposite the Angel Hotel) – This medieval undercroft is thought to have served as a well-to-do merchant’s shop selling wine, expensive cloth and silk to prosperous clients. It is open from 12.00 to 4.00, admission free.
  • The Spike Heritage Centre, in Warren Road, GU1 3PH – This is a former workhouse and tells a grim story about how the poor were treated under the Poor Laws.  It is about 15 minutes’ walk from the town centre.
  • Holy Trinity Church, High Street – a fine town centre church dating from around 1750, with a ring of eight bells, tenor 23 cwt, in a notoriously wobbly tower.

 

These websites contain more information about things to do and see in and around Guildford:

https://www.guildford.gov.uk/visitguildford/     and https://www.visitsurrey.com/

 

For anyone attending the Contest who might think of spending a few days in the area, Surrey may be rather underrated as a holiday destination, but it does have many attractions and some lovely accessible countryside, and is well placed for London and Portsmouth. As the Visit Surrey website says ‘Located on London’s doorstep, nestled in the south-east of England, less than half an hour from central London, Surrey is a diverse place to visit that’s full of surprises around every corner.’   It’s not all London suburbs!

 

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