If you're looking for a town close to London that ticks all the boxes and doesn't compromise on anything, Guildford might be just what you're after. It is a very large town 30 miles southwest of Greater London and has a lot going for it. Most notably is the famous high street, which many have described as the best in England. The 14th-century landmark clock sits above the sloping cobbled street bordered by traditional Georgian, medieval and modern buildings until it reaches the River Wey at the bottom of the hill. With a large Westfield shopping centre and secondary high street, residents have fantastic options when it comes to dining and shopping at chain and independent establishments.
As one of the largest towns in Surrey, there are many notable inclusions that have put Guildford on the map. The impressively large cathedral, University of Surrey, parks aplenty, leisure centres, and entertainment options galore, have all contributed to Guildford’s rise. It isn't flashy, however. Guildford has done a fantastic job of respecting its heritage and not overly modernising the town and its surroundings. Instead of modern flats and homes popping up everywhere, those that repatriate or relocate to the area tend to set up shop on the outskirts in traditional Victorian homes along the country lanes that connect Guildford to its smaller village neighbours.
It's no surprise that Guildford has been a mainstay on notable 'Best Places to Live in the UK' listicles from The Times and Country Living. As you might expect, this consistent reputation, along with all of its benefits, make for expensive homes. Many of the houses close to the town centre are fairly large and come with a hefty price tag. Those with a budget looking for a more reasonable sized home may need to head slightly further out of the town centre. It's important to mention that Guildford is as close as you can get to officially being a city while being a town, so don't feel too disheartened about not being able to afford a home right in the centre. While Guilford is predominately white British, it does have multicultural aspects, as you would expect for a town of this size, which has been encouraged by the university.
At Whereshome, we understand the enormity and complexity of deciding where amongst the many standout places in the UK to set up shop. With this guide, we hope to give you a real in-depth account of what it is like to live in Guildford, written by a local.
Sites of interest
Where to begin. If you’re a socialite and having plenty of things to keep you entertained is at the top of your relocation list, Guildford will be hard to beat. Guildford Spectrum and Surrey Sports Park are two enormous leisure centres located within walking distance of Guildford high street. This list of facilities and possible activities is almost endless. Between them, residents can enjoy plenty of outdoor sports fields and running tracks, ice skating, rock climbing, squash, swimming, diving, gym, spa, bowling, tennis, and a whole host of classes and events. For live sports fans, you’ll be pleased to know that The Spectrum is home to the Guildford Flames, the towns resident professional basketball team. All located just off the high street, The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, G Live, and the Electric Theatre are the places to go for live shows, comedy, music and events. High profile shows, musicians and comedians, frequent these venues on their countrywide tour. To illustrate Guildford's commitment to arts and culture, G Live is a recent addition to the town costing over £25 million. Stoke Park is also located very close to the town centre, providing immaculate fields and gardens for residents to enjoy all year round. This 18th Century park has been part of Guildford’s makeup since its creation and consistently wins a Green Flag Award every year. The grounds feature a mini-golf course, Go Ape high ropes course, Guildford Lido, skate park, rose garden, and rolling grassland home to the famed Surrey County Show.
Lifestyle
There’s no question that Guildford is known for its shopping culture. The famous cobbled high street is lined with well-known chains and fashion boutiques that could keep you entertained for a whole day on their own. Paired with the grand Friary shopping centre, locals can spend their day exploring brands including The White Company, H&M, Loaf, Jigsaw, Bobbi Brown, Anthropology, and Cath Kidston. As if Guildford’s shopping boon couldn’t get any better, The Tunsgate shopping centre was recently renovated, introducing a host of new luxury retailers, cafes, and restaurants to what was an almost derelict shopping complex. The experience is made more interesting thanks to the flurry of narrow alleyways that take you back to the towns medieval beginnings, where you will discover independent retailers such as Anno Domini for clothing, Cry for the Moon for jewellery, Ben's Collectors Records for music, The Bear Garden for unique toys, and Courtyard for women’s fashion.
With a bustling town centre and pristine shopping culture, an exceptional food and drink scene was inevitable. While Guildford isn’t known for being multicultural, residents can still enjoy a surprisingly eclectic dining scene. For celebratory dinners, quick breakfasts, lavish lunches, and decadent desserts, Guildford has plenty of choices to satisfy every appetite. Notable mentions go to Positano, The Ivy Castle View, La Casita, Thai Terrace, De Nada, Olivo, and Meat the Greek.
While people mostly rave about the high street and the immediate surrounding area, us included, Guildford has an abundance of nearby village towns, well-regarded outside space, and heritage sites that are part of the lifestyle for residents. The Surrey Hills and the South Downs come within touching distance of Guildford and provide an enormous area of lush natural beauty to explore. There is also a never-ending supply of cute market villages within a 20-minute drive that each provide their own unique Surrey experience: Shalford, Godalming, Shere, Bramley, and Wonersh. So, without even mentioning half of the things Guildford has to offer, you can clearly see that there is a lot to applaud Surrey’s county town for.
Schooling
Guildford’s schools constantly rank highly in the national league tables with many outstanding infant, primary, secondary and independent schools. In terms of infant schools, Pewley Down, Onslow, Stoughton, Shaldford, and Merrow CofE infant school are all ranked as outstanding by Ofsted. Residents also have a fantastic selection of independent secondary schools to choose from. Guildford County, George Abbot and St Peter’s are all well-regarded state comprehensive schools. Guildford High School and Tormead, both independent Girls Schools, and The Royal Grammar School, an independent Boys School, cater for ages 11-18 and are both commonly ranked near the top of the national league tables. The University of Surrey is also located in Guildford and is very highly ranked in the national rankings, attracting a lot of young and ambitious students.
Transport
It’s no surprise that Guildford is one of the most popular commuter towns in the SW as it takes just 35 minutes to London Waterloo via South West Trains from Guildford’s large station. Residents also have convenient links in the other direction and to Gatwick airport, which take under an hour. The A3 also runs through Guildford, which provides a quick link to the M25 and the Hindhead tunnel for easy access to the coast.
