Top 10 things to do in Surrey

By Rebecca Younger

England’s most elegant garden

This 18th-century landscaped garden spreads across 158 acres and features a crystal grotto and other mystical follies including a Gothic temple and ruined abbey. The award-winning Painshill has something for everyone and makes for a great day out.

Visit the Royal Palace

Tucked away in the village of East Molsley in the north of Surrey, you’ll find Hampton Court Palace with its great gate house and stunning detailed chimneys. In summer, the Palace hosts a series of open-air concerts in its spectacular and iconic Tudor courtyard.

No visit to Surrey is complete without a trip to Hampton Court Palace

Visit the UK home of WWF

Opened by none other than David Attenborough in 2013, the WWF Living Planet Centre, in Woking, is one of the greenest buildings in the UK. The charity is the world’s leading conservation organisation and the thriving centre offers family activities, behind-the-scenes tours and public talks.

Go for a row

If the sun is shining, take a rowing boat out on the River Wey. You can rent boats from various points along the river but Farncombe, near Godalming is probably the most accessible.

Enjoy the ride!

Surrey’s Thorpe Park has some of the best theme park rides in the country, sure to get your heart beat racing. For families with smaller children visit Chessington World of Adventures.

Try some local ales

Surrey is home to a number of breweries and you’ll find local beers in most pubs across the county. Why not try the chocolate ale by the Hogs Back Brewery? Or how about a pint of Crooked Furrow, Surrey Puma or Smiler’s Happiness, from the Leith Hill Brewery?

Climb Leith Hill

Set within the beautiful Surrey Hills, Leith Hill is the highest point in South East England at 1029ft above sea level. If you have enough energy after walking to the top, make sure you climb up the Gothic tower – from the top you can see sweeping views across 14 counties and on a clear day you can see the English Channel to the south and the clock face of Big Ben in Westminster to the north.

Make some wine

The family-run Denbies Vineyard, in Dorking, has been making wine for three decades and is now one of the largest wine producers in the UK – it is even responsible for the first ever English rose wine to be awarded the IWC Gold Award. During harvest, visitors can see a snapshot of what a day in the life of a working vineyard involves, starting with picking the grapes, touring the working winery to seeing the wine-making process and of course tasting the end product!

Take a tour of Denbies Vineyard

The Ghost Tour of Guildford

Each Friday from April to November, The Ghost Tour Of Guildford sets off around Guildford town centre uncovering its various haunted and mysterious sites including Guildford’s most haunted building, The King’s Head pub.

Visit Mercedes-Benz World

Located on the famous Brooklands site in Weybridge, Mercedes-Benz World is an unforgettable day out. Put your driving skills to the test out on the handling circuit or sit in the passenger seat and let the Silver Arrows Display Team show you how it’s done.

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