The University of Surrey is set in Guildford which is a beautiful town outside of London. The town has so much to offer; steeped in history, nature, art and culture while providing a range of housing and accommodation making it a perfect location for students to live. We are here to give you the top places to enjoy as a student at the University of Surrey to ensure you get the full potential from the city you live in.
Our team have found the best spots in Guildford for you and your fellow students to enjoy when you are wanting some downtime from your studies. We have found a range of activities from historic ruins looking over the town and countryside, to train rides with 4 course meals, to simply our favourite coffee shop in Guildford.
1.Guildford Castle
Guildford Castle is key tourist spot locally, offering a true insight into the history of the town. It’s believed that the castle was built by William the Conqueror, soon after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Although the site is very different to it was back then, it still have some great features remaining, including the Great Tower at the top of the hill. The Great Tower offers an amazing 360 degree panoramic view of the town, allowing you to take in the beautiful location and everything it has to offer. As you enter the site you will find original parts of the castle and loads of interesting information on how it was built and how they lived and used the castle.
The site is open to visitors and although opening times vary it can typically be found open in April to Sept: 10am to 5pm daily (last admission 4.30pm). Oct and March: Saturdays and Sundays only, 11am to 4pm (last admission 3.30pm). If you just want to look around the grounds and gardens, then admission is free and can be open from 8am to dusk. The gardens have one a number of awards including the green flag award.
2.Guildford Spectrum
Guildford Spectrum is one of Surrey’s sporting hubs with a range of facilities on offer. The leisure centre is on of the largest in the UK, offering students; swimming, entertainment, ice hockey, tenpin bowling, tennis, badminton and many other sporting activities. The site is also home to the Guildford Flames who are the local ice hocky team and the Guildford Phoenix who are the track speed skating team.
There are a range of deals and discounts work looking into when visiting.
3.Stoke Park
Stoke Park is the biggest green space in the town, in an area known as Parkland. The park was originally donated by Lord Onslow back in 1925, as he wanted to ensure the space remined green and was “for all the time a lung of the town”. The park is well known in the town and has so much to offer students, especially in the summer. It’s a popular place for both locals and students, a well-used space with visitors though out the day coming to enjoy the space. The Park has also one a Green Flag for its beauty.
The park has been able to keep its greenspace and woodland intact since the 18th Century. Back then the park comprised of a manor house, a walled garden and icehouse. There are still heritage features that still exist today, including the 18th Century walled garden that has used to enclose the tennis courts and the beautiful flowerbeds, a boating pond, outside crazy golf, a paddling pool, and a range of beautiful gardens to see.
The Park has a range of sporting areas including the tennis, football, skate park and rugby pitches. Throughout the year the space becomes a large local hub with people travelling across the country to attend large events and festivals.
4.The Electric Theatre
The Electric Theatre is located in the centre of the town centre. The Electric Theatre is the heart of Guildford’s music scene, bringing both large well known artists to Guildford as well as celebrating local talent and up and coming acts. The name came from its original use as a former electricity works that provided power to Guildford and its residents. The building lay empty from 1968 when it become obsolete. The building found a new lease of life in 1997, where instead of electric, it provided the town with music and the arts and culture.
In 2017, the theatre was set up as a non-for-profit venue by world leaders in the music and education industry, known as the Academy of Contemporary Music. Students are the heart of the theatre and enables young inspiring artists opportunities and workshops to pursue their dreams.
Keep up to date with all the up and coming shows in the town and offers available to students on their website.
5.Guildford High Street
Guildford’s High Street is a tourist destination in its own right. The High Street is steeped in history with beautiful, cobbled streets, grand and historic buildings including the recognisable Guildhall clock. The history, beauty and range of amazing shops makes Guildford High Street one of the most beautiful in UK and well worth the climb to the top.
6.AirHop Trampoline Park
Airhop has upgraded their site to a new and exciting destination, with more trampolines which equals more fun. After a day full of lectures, stressing out about finding accommodation with your new friends, then this is place for you. A new take on relaxing and winding down and instead getting up and jumping around. The trampoline park is not just for kids, its for the big kids like us who want to enjoy jumping around. They provide over 50 interconnected trampolines that spread over park, where you can play Dodgeball / Dodge Attack, Foam Pit, Slam Dunk, AR (Augmented Reality) Trampolines and brand-new Obstacle Course!
7.The Castle View – The Ivy
The Castle view is a perfect example of a British brasserie, located in the centre of Guildford, situated off the High Street. After seeing the views from the castle, it might be worth viewing the castle itself while you enjoy some all-encompassing menu serving modern British with an international Ivy-inspired classics from dawn until dusk. The restaurant is a great opportunity for you and your classmates to catch up and enjoy some time out of class.
As the restaurant has amazing outdoor terrace and bar, providing a tranquil relaxed yet sophisticated dining with beautiful views across Guildford Castle it would be perfect place to take your parents when they come visit you whilst at university.
8.Loseley Park
Loseley Park is a great day out for you and your friends, and a perfect way to soak up the Guildford’s local histroy. Loseley Park was Built back when Elizabeth I was in reign, Loseley Park stands in the famous Surrey Parkland which is close to the North Downs; however, close to the city of London. You might be surprised to know the house is still home to More-Molyneux family, this is an extremely rare example where the property has not changed since 1562 when Sir William More laid the blocks with the intention of, a place of calm, grace and subtle beauty.
Loseley Park is a popular and sought after venue, being used by many including civil weddings, corporate events, and featured in films such as Sense and Sensibility amongst others. This is the perfect places to visit as a tourist being able to enjoy the grounds, the garden and house. The house is known to be one of England’s friendliest historic homes. ‘Invidiae claudor, pateo sed semper amico’ Shut to envy, but always open to a friend.
9.Krema
Krema is a beautiful coffee shop located in Guildford. They’re a local, independently run Coffee offering great coffee and food. If you love great coffee, then you’ve come to the right place. The coffee shop is a great second option to the library when you want to get some university work done but fed up of being stuck at the university’s campus. It will provide you with the break you need, plus loads of great coffee to keep you working for hours!
10.The Steam Dreams Rail Co
If you are an enthusiast of trains or enjoy learning about something knew, then the Steam Dream Rail Co is the perfect place to go in Guildford and to spend the day. Its not everyday you see original steam trains, working and being able to see them up close. They have over 50 steam train trips a day for visitors to enjoy, throughout the year, including several bank holidays. You will be able to get on board these trains, with a range of classes to travel including the Pullmans Style Dinner which provides you and your friends with a unique experience of having first class travel on a train, with a full dinning experience. The carriages have been carefully restored to their former glory to their 1950w, coaches have full wood panelled walls, luxury and comfortable seats, individual table lamps and curtains at the windows to provide a private and intimate experience. While on the train they offer a range of drinks and beverages including champagne, alongside breakfast or brunch on your outward journey. On the return journey, the food doesn’t stop, you will be offered a board of canapes, before being served a full four course meal, with the option for wine to enjoy with your meal. Other classes include Premier Dining, First Class and Premium Standard.
This is another unique experience you can share with your friends while in Guildford that you might not do every day.
Guildford has so much to offer, and there is no better way to benefit from the town then exploring it. The town is a popular destination for tourists due to hits history and great travel links. The 10 best places to visit are our recommendations but we’d love to hear from you on your experiences and places we should add to our next blog.
Once you have run out of place to visit, we have some exciting new blog posts coming from various locations across the UK, for students to visit.