Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Godalming is a small riverside town at the southern end of the River Wey and Godalming Navigations, with a local museum and Winkworth Arboretum a few miles away.
Photo: Mertbiol, CC0The town museum since 1921, behind a narrow blue entrance opposite the Pepperpot on Godalming High Street. It opens out into history and art galleries, a local studies library, a garden and a coffee shop.
Photo of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0A family-run boat hire business on the River Wey at Godalming, hiring self-drive day narrowboats for up to ten people. After 30 to 45 minutes' tuition you cruise through locks and meadows towards Guildford and back.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0A family farm near the Milford junction of the A3, growing produce since 1938, with a large farm shop, an in-house kitchen and one of the biggest cheese counters in Surrey. Seasonal pick-your-own events, including pumpkin picking, bring families onto the fields.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0A hillside arboretum of more than 1,000 trees and shrubs planted by Dr Wilfrid Fox, running down to a lake and boathouse, and famous for its autumn colour. A visitor centre with a café and shop sits at the top.
Photo: Artistsvillage, CC BY-SA 4.0The village built around the Victorian painter G F Watts and the designer Mary Watts in Compton, with the purpose-built gallery of his work, their home and studios at Limnerslease, and Mary's extraordinary Arts and Crafts cemetery chapel. There are 18 acres of grounds, gardens and woodland to explore between them.
Heathland, woodland and grassland a few minutes' walk from Witley village, with sandy paths that stay dry in most weather. A natural play trail starts from the Webb Road car park, and a map shows the nature trail and the Second World War baseball pitch.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0A family-run vineyard on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Hog's Back, first planted in 1989 and now about 40 acres, making traditional-method sparkling wines and still wines. Visitors can walk the vines on a self-guided trail or book a tutored tour and tasting.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0An extensive common of heathland, woodland and ponds in the Surrey Hills, part of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve, with views and purple heather in late summer. Three waymarked trails start from the car parks, one climbing to the ancient Hillbury hill fort.
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0A climbing centre at the University of Surrey's sports park, with more than 80 boulder problems, over 65 roped routes and walls up to 12 metres high. Four auto belays let beginners and families climb without knowing how to belay.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Guildford's main producing theatre, on the bank of the River Wey about seven minutes' walk from the station, staging drama, musicals, comedy and dance. Its family pantomime is one of the biggest Christmas outings in the town.
Photo of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Godalming Town Council switches on the town's Christmas lights at the Pepperpot, the old market house in the centre of town. It is a short, free community gathering on a Sunday evening.
Photo of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Godalming Town Council lines the High Street, Church Street and Crown Court with festive stalls selling crafts, decorations, food, drink and unusual gifts. It is held on a separate day from the lights switch-on.
Photo of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Godalming's town fireworks are held at Guildford Rugby Club's Broadwater ground on the edge of the town. Outside bars, food outlets and children's funfair rides keep families busy before the display, with funds going to local charities.
Photo of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Ten giant gnome characters inspired by Scandinavian folklore are hidden around the Upper Arboretum. Families pick up a booklet, complete challenges and collect an embossing at each gnome.
Watts Gallery fills its gallery, house and woodland with Halloween activities for half-term. Children follow a woodland witches trail, mix potions and add their own creature to a monster menagerie.
Image: Watts Gallery Artists' VillageAn online talk about the Art of Wallpaper exhibition, hosted by Watts Gallery Artists' Village in Compton, on 20 October 2026. Booking is required through the event page, and the talk suits anyone interested in art and design who wants to take part from home.
Image: Watts Gallery Artists' VillageA two-day Halloween craft club for children at Watts Gallery Artists' Village in Compton, running on 28 and 29 October 2026. Booking is needed through the event page, which gives the session times. It suits families looking for a half-term activity close to Guildford.
Image: Watts Gallery Artists' VillageWatts Gallery Artists' Village in Compton offers pay if and what you can days on selected dates between November 2026 and April 2027. Visitors can pay what they wish on those days, and the event page sets out the dates and times. It suits families, couples and friends wanting a low-cost visit to the gallery.
Image: Watts Gallery Artists' VillageCurator-led tours of The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. exhibition at Watts Gallery Artists' Village in Compton, near Guildford. Tours run from 5 November 2026 to 7 January 2027 and are booked in advance through the gallery's event page. Suitable for adults and anyone interested in design history and Arts and Crafts wallpapers.
Photo: Mertbiol, CC0The town museum since 1921, behind a narrow blue entrance opposite the Pepperpot on Godalming High Street. It opens out into history and art galleries, a local studies library, a garden and a coffee shop.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0A family farm near the Milford junction of the A3, growing produce since 1938, with a large farm shop, an in-house kitchen and one of the biggest cheese counters in Surrey. Seasonal pick-your-own events, including pumpkin picking, bring families onto the fields.
Photo: Artistsvillage, CC BY-SA 4.0The village built around the Victorian painter G F Watts and the designer Mary Watts in Compton, with the purpose-built gallery of his work, their home and studios at Limnerslease, and Mary's extraordinary Arts and Crafts cemetery chapel. There are 18 acres of grounds, gardens and woodland to explore between them.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0A family-run vineyard on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Hog's Back, first planted in 1989 and now about 40 acres, making traditional-method sparkling wines and still wines. Visitors can walk the vines on a self-guided trail or book a tutored tour and tasting.
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0A climbing centre at the University of Surrey's sports park, with more than 80 boulder problems, over 65 roped routes and walls up to 12 metres high. Four auto belays let beginners and families climb without knowing how to belay.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Guildford's main producing theatre, on the bank of the River Wey about seven minutes' walk from the station, staging drama, musicals, comedy and dance. Its family pantomime is one of the biggest Christmas outings in the town.
Photo: Mertbiol, CC0The town museum since 1921, behind a narrow blue entrance opposite the Pepperpot on Godalming High Street. It opens out into history and art galleries, a local studies library, a garden and a coffee shop.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0A family farm near the Milford junction of the A3, growing produce since 1938, with a large farm shop, an in-house kitchen and one of the biggest cheese counters in Surrey. Seasonal pick-your-own events, including pumpkin picking, bring families onto the fields.
Heathland, woodland and grassland a few minutes' walk from Witley village, with sandy paths that stay dry in most weather. A natural play trail starts from the Webb Road car park, and a map shows the nature trail and the Second World War baseball pitch.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0A family-run vineyard on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Hog's Back, first planted in 1989 and now about 40 acres, making traditional-method sparkling wines and still wines. Visitors can walk the vines on a self-guided trail or book a tutored tour and tasting.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0An extensive common of heathland, woodland and ponds in the Surrey Hills, part of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve, with views and purple heather in late summer. Three waymarked trails start from the car parks, one climbing to the ancient Hillbury hill fort.
