
Guildford in Surrey is a stunning student town located on the banks of the River Wey, southeast of the UK and is dotted with major universities. Guildford town boasts a picturesque and cobbled high street, a famous Guildhall gold clock and excellent transport links.
Guildford is well-known for being one of the best commuter towns for its excellent connections to the capital, the coast and beyond. Only 27 miles from London, Guildford is nestled between the North Downs and the beautiful Surrey Hills, providing the perfect balance between rural and city life.
Guildford town centre is excellent for walkers with many accessible routes, including the Wey Navigation towpath connecting the town centre from north and south. Walking from Guildford’s central train station to the town centre takes around ten minutes. Cycling is a great option to get around Guildford town centre using the extensive cycle route network.
The bus network operating in and around the Guildford town centre is vast, with many regular services from the Guildford bus station. They include buses to the different universities and routes further afield to towns such as Aldershot, Cranleigh and Woking.
Getting to and from
Guildford is accessible with excellent rail links with major destinations like London, Woking, Portsmouth, Reading and Gatwick airport.
If you are a student who is scouring Guildford’s transport, welcome to our blog page!
Let’s put Guildford transport under Meraki’s microscope.
Do Guildford Students Get Discounts for travel?

If you are a student above 16 years of age, you are eligible for travel assistance.
Students between the age group 16 to 18 years can buy an annual student fare card that offers reduced fares on train and bus travel for to and from journeys.
Students aged 16 to 25 who travel by train may benefit from National Rail’s Young Persons Rail Card.
Students between 16 to 17 years who travel by train may benefit from National Rail’s 16-17 Saver Card, which provides a 50% discount on all rail travel.
Students between 17 to 18 years who travel by train may benefit from the Surrey 17-18 Train student fare card by Surrey County Council.
Travel to the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is easily accessible by road and rail. It is a short distance from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
By Walk: Stag Hill is the main campus of the University of Surrey, situated close to the Guildford mainline train station. It is within a short walk of the town centre.
By Bus: There are two main bus routes specially designed to provide quick and easy links between all university sites, Guildford rail station and Guildford town centre.
Route 1 > Guildford, Stag Hill campus, Manor Park campus, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Park Barn, Rydes Hill and Stoughton
Route 2 > Stoughton, Queen Elizabeth Park and Guildford.
Stagecoach bus number 1 and 17 runs between the station and the various university locations. The buses run every 15 minutes on weekdays, around the entire route loop of Guildford in each direction.
There will be another 15-minute shuttle service between Stag Hill and Manor Park, providing a seven-to-eight-minute frequency between the two campuses.
Click here to view the Timetable.
By Train: National Express coach number SH030 runs services to and from the Egerton Road/Tesco stop (a short walk from the University).
From Guildford railway station, taxis to campus are available that leave from the main entrance of the station. Bus service is also available that runs every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening to the Stag Hill campus.
The easiest way to get from Guildford (Station) to the University of Surrey is through line 1 bus that departs directly from Guildford Station to Guildford, University of Surrey Senate Square. The journey takes approximately 4 min.
Commute to The University of Law Guilford Campus
The University of Law Guildford is set within acres of parkland but only 40 minutes away from London by train. It is only 15 minutes from the town centre, which offers a wide choice of private student accommodation and excellent local amenities.
By Walk: The University of Law Guildford campus is just a 20-minute walk to Guildford’s train station and the town centre.
The following transport lines have routes that cross near the University Of Law, Guildford.
By Bus: 32, 34, 35, 71
By Train: Great Western Railway and South Western Railway
The total straight line distance between London and Guildford is around 43 KM. Frequent train services operate from Guildford Station to London Waterloo. Using public transport, you can travel from London Waterloo to Guildford station in under 40 minutes, which makes Guildford a great place to live for commuters.
Direct trains also run from other major hubs, including Reading and Portsmouth. There are also direct lines to Gatwick Airport through Aldershot, Dorking, and Reading.
Guildford lies in the middle of London and Portsmouth and benefits from two train stations, only a short walking distance from the town’s attractions and amenities. The A3 trunk road links London to Portsmouth. It also runs through the town centre. It is also close to the A25 road, which provides easy links with Wrotham Heath in Kent.
Conclusion
The beautiful Surrey County town of Guildford has become one of the most sought-after places to live. The city is a haven for commuters with excellent road and rail connections.
There is a myriad of walking and cycling routes running directly from the town into the countryside. Regular buses and trains connect Guildford to the surrounding villages, cities and further afield. So, there is not much to complain about when it comes to getting around Guildford.
You can get to Waterloo station on the train in 35 minutes, just one reason why it’s so popular with commuters. There’s also easy access to Gatwick and other areas like Southampton, Portsmouth and Reading. The town itself is also very close to the A3 and the A25 if you prefer to drive.
The beautiful town is within easy reach of the capital and is surrounded by the countryside of Surrey. In short, you get the best of both worlds as it offers a perfect blend of rural and urban life with transport convenience. As you walk through the charming cobbled high streets and travel through the beautiful student town through excellent transport links, you’ll find perfect private student accommodation with Meraki Student!.
We offer a wide range of ideally placed accommodation for students that is within easy walking distance from the top Universities, major railway stations and the town centre.