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 Sandwiched between the Surrey hills in the south and London in the north, the county of Surrey blends into the greater London area. The Surrey hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and cover one quarter of the county.
They consist of chalk downs, yew and box woodland, grasslands, and heath. Many of the county’s attractions can be visited on a day out from London. Hampton Court Palace is the most famous of Surrey’s attractions.
The historic town of Guilford is home to an historic guildhall and clock, castle gardens (the castle was built by the Normans, and at one time a palace of Henry III stood on the site), and the home of Lewis Carroll’s family—author of Alice in Wonderland. The Guilford House gallery is located in a 17th century townhouse, built between 1660 and the 1680s, that houses an art gallery. A museum houses artefacts and gives details of local history.
In the town of Godalming a museum detailing the town’s history is located in a medieval building with the added attraction of a garden.
 Hatchlands Park and Clandon Park are 18th century homes set in landscaped grounds. Clandon is built in the Palladian style and is famous for its two-storey marble hall. Of note are collections of 18th century porcelain, furniture, textiles, and Mortlake tapestries.
 Hatchlands interiors are by the famous Robert Adam and decorated with a nautical theme. Old master paintings and keyboard instruments played by famous historic composers are noteworthy. Concerts are given on the instruments throughout the year.
 Polesden Lacey, originally built in the 1820s in the Regency style was remodelled around 1906. Inside the visitor can view nine rooms with collections of paintings, furniture, porcelain and silver. The 1400 acres of grounds include a 30-acre Edwardian garden with roses, lawns, and landscaped walks. This is where the late Queen Mother and King George VI spent part of their honeymoon.
Loseley Park (HHA) is an example of an Elizabethan house, loved and lived in by the family of the original builder. There are five gardens and parkland.
 As for gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew claims the fame crown. The 300 acres, a World Heritage Site, is worth an entire day. In the grounds are Queen Charlotte’s cottage, Kew palace, a palm house, alpine garden, rock garden, bonsai house, Princess of Wales conservatory, and Nash conservatory. There’s also a temperate house, Japanese landscapes, woodland walks, a waterlily house, and much more. There are several restaurants and cafes in which to eat or take advantage of the grounds and bring a picnic lunch.
Another of Surrey’s gardens, Claremont, is owned by the National Trust. It’s one of the 32 National Trust sites in Surrey. It is one of the earliest English landscape gardens to survive, dating from before 1720. Sir John Vanbrugh, Charles Bridgeman, William Kent, and Capability Brown all had a hand in its development.
Of special note is Painshill Park, considered one of England’s finest 18th century landscape gardens. Created in 1738-73, the 158 acres include a circular walk opening onto various ‘scenes’. In the grounds are a number of features that include several follies, a 14 acre lake, waterwheel, Gothic temple, Turkish tent, crystal grotto, Chinese bridge, ruined abbey, and vineyard.
Another interesting garden is Winkworth Arboretum where woodlands, lakes, and rare trees and shrubs are on offer. Go in the spring for bluebells and azaleas.
Surrey is home to Runnymeade where, in 1215, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta. The area provides riverside meadows, grasslands, and woodland. One section of the land is a Site of Special Scientific Interest under the care of the National Trust.
The famous Epsom Downs racecourse is located in Surrey.
Surrey Attractions
For opening times and full details of attractions see the Attractions section of our website.
Clandon Park and Hatchlands
5 minutes apart by car on the A246 Leatherhead to Guilford road
Tel. 01483 222 482
Claremont Landscape Garden
Tel. 01372 467 806
Godalming Museum
High Street
Tel. 01483 426 510
Guildford Museum
Castle Arch
Tel: 01932 857 381
Our articles and photos on Hampton Court Palace
Loseley Park
30 miles south-west of London, on the B3000
Tel. 01483 304 440
Web: Loseley Park
Painshill Park
Portsmouth Road, Cobham
Tel. 01932 868 113
Web: Painshill Park
Polesden Lacey
Great Bookham near Dorking
Tel. 01372 452 048
Web: Polesden Lacey
Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
near Richmond, about 10km south-west of London
Tel. 020 8332 5655
Web: Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
Winkworth Arboretum
Hascombe Road, Godalming
Tourist Information Centres
Croydon
Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street
Croydon, Surrey
CR9 1ET
Tel: 020 8253 1009
Fax: 020 8253 1008
Email: Croydon on Line
Farnham
Council Offices
South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7RN
Tel: 01252 715 109; Fax: 01252 725 083
Email: Waverley Tourist Information
Guilford
14 Tunsgate, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3QT
Tel: 01483 444 333; Fax: 01483 302 046
Email: Guildford Tourist Information
Richmond
Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue
Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1TP
Tel: 020 8940 9125; Fax: 020 8940 6899
Email: Information Services at Richmond
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