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Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clock
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

Things to do in Guildford

Guildford is a town on the River Wey with a Norman castle and free castle gardens close to the High Street, the National Trust's Dapdune Wharf for boat trips, and the Surrey Hills and RHS Garden Wisley a short drive away.

Ask Doodle about GuildfordFilter everything nearby

A day out in Guildford

Guildford grew up around a Norman castle above the River Wey. The Castle Grounds and Castle Cliffe Gardens are free and open from 9am all year, and the castle keep, where you can climb to the top of the tower for views over the town, opens on set days, including a Halloween event from 14 to 31 October 2026 (adults £5, children £2.50, family £12, under 5s free). Guildford Museum, beside the Castle Grounds, is free, with activity trail sheets and a playroom for younger visitors, and its next exhibition, on Guildford's theatre history, opens on 14 November. On Wharf Road, the National Trust's Dapdune Wharf runs boat trips on the River Wey six times a day from Thursday to Monday while the wharf is open, from March to November, and the Wey Navigations towpath runs for 20 miles.

Guildford station is managed by Network Rail and has step free access to all platforms, some by long or steep ramps, plus 327 parking spaces. The council says the castle is a 15 minute walk from the station, and its nearest car park is Castle car park. Guildford Borough Council's short stay car parks include Bedford Road, Leapale Road and Mary Road, where charges apply from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am on Sundays. For longer visits there are the York Road and Farnham Road multi storey car parks, and the council also runs the Glide park and ride.

Sources

Checked 19 October 2026.

Places in and around Guildford

A narrowboat on the River Wey at Dapdune Wharf, GuildfordPhoto: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageGuildford · under 1 km

River Wey Navigations and Dapdune Wharf

The visitor centre for the River Wey and Godalming Navigations, one of the earliest canalised rivers in England, on a wharf behind Surrey County Cricket Ground in Guildford. Displays tell the story of the waterway and its boatmen, and electric boat trips leave from here.

Boat trips: adult £9, child £5.50, or £75 to hire the whole boat (same prices for members and non-members). The National Trust page lists prices only for boat trips, so check on arrival for wharf entry.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arts and cultureGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford House Gallery

A 17th-century Grade I listed town house on Guildford High Street, opposite Sainsbury's, now a free gallery with changing exhibitions. It is also home to the town's Tourist Information Centre and a craft shop.

FreeDirections
Paths and flower beds in the Guildford Castle groundsPhoto: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0
CastlesGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Castle and Grounds

The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.

FreeDirections
The entrance canopy of the Yvonne Arnaud TheatrePhoto: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Guildford'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.

Prices vary by show. Pantomime tickets from £15, with babes in arms (under 2) free.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
MuseumsGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Museum

A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.

FreeDirections
The open-air pool at Guildford LidoPhoto: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
WatersportsGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Lido

Guildford's 1930s outdoor pool behind Guildford College, which now opens all year round, rain or shine. Run by Freedom Leisure, with sessions booked through Guildford Spectrum.

Swimming prices are not shown on the pages we checked; see the booking page or call 01483 449108.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageGuildford · 1 km

Guildford Cathedral

The Anglican cathedral on Stag Hill looks out over Guildford and is open to visitors every day, between daily services that include Choral Evensong. Guided tours, tower tours and a café are offered.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ice skatingGuildford · 1 km

Guildford Spectrum Ice Rink

An Olympic-sized indoor ice rink inside the Guildford Spectrum leisure complex, open all year for public skating, lessons and ice hockey. The complex also has bowling and swimming.

Session prices are shown when booking; check the booking page or call 01483 443322. Skate hire is included for under 5s.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
AdventureGuildford · 2 km

Surrey Summit climbing centre at Surrey Sports Park

A 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.

£10 to £25Directions
Ruined walls of the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills beside a woodland pathPhoto: AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
History and heritageChilworth · 4 km

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills

The remains of more than 100 buildings from a gunpowder works that once filled the Tillingbourne valley, now a peaceful woodland walk and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Leaflets at the entrances explain the history.

FreeDirections
The Watts Gallery building in the Artists' Village at ComptonPhoto: Artistsvillage, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arts and cultureCompton · 4 km

Watts Gallery Artists' Village

The 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.

£10 to £25Directions
Snow on the paths across Newlands Corner, with the North Downs beyondPhoto: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
OutdoorsAlbury · 5 km

Newlands Corner

A chalk viewpoint more than 170 metres up on the North Downs, looking south over the Tillingbourne valley to the Greensand Ridge. It has 415 acres of downland and woodland, a Discovery Centre, a natural play area and three waymarked trails.

FreeDirections
Autumn trees beside the vines at Greyfriars VineyardPhoto: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0
Food and drinkPuttenham · 5 km

Greyfriars Vineyard

A 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.

FreeDirections
Timber-framed shops along Godalming High StreetPhoto of Godalming: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0
WatersportsGodalming · 6 km

Farncombe Boat House day boats

A 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.

£50 and overDirections
Food and drinkAlbury · 7 km

Silent Pool Distillers

A craft gin distillery beside the spring-fed Silent Pool, a small lake below the North Downs known for its clear blue water and its legend involving King John. You can taste and buy in the shop, take a guided tour or sit on the terrace overlooking the water.

£10 to £25Directions
Godalming Museum on the High StreetPhoto: Mertbiol, CC0
MuseumsGodalming · 7 km

Godalming Museum

The 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.

FreeDirections
Inside the old Saxon church at AlburyPhoto: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageAlbury · 7 km

Albury Old Saxon Church (St Peter and St Paul)

A flint-walled Saxon and Norman church in the parkland of Albury Park, cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. Inside is a medieval wall painting of St Christopher and a richly decorated mortuary chapel remodelled by A W N Pugin for the Drummond family.

FreeDirections
The red-brick house at Hatchlands Park across its lawnPhoto: David Hillas, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageEast Clandon · 7 km

Hatchlands Park

A Georgian country house built in the 1750s for Admiral Edward Boscawen, with Robert Adam ceilings and the Cobbe Collection of more than 40 keyboard instruments linked to composers such as JC Bach, Chopin and Elgar. Around it are more than 400 acres of parkland and woodland, partly landscaped by Humphry Repton.

£10 to £25Directions

Coming up near Guildford

Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
15 Nov
FreeGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Festive Family Fun Day

Experience Guildford and the borough council launch Christmas in the town centre with walkabout characters, choirs and brass bands at Tunsgate Arch, market stalls on the High Street and a parade. A giant snow globe in Tunsgate Quarter offers a free Christmas card photo.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
5 Dec to 10 Jan
Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

Sleeping Beauty at the Yvonne Arnaud

Guildford's main theatre stages Sleeping Beauty as its 2026 family pantomime, with Lucy Benjamin and Peter Gordon in the cast. Expect slapstick, songs, colourful costumes and plenty of audience joining in.

From £15Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
15 Dec to 16 Dec
MusicGuildford · under 1 km

A Celtic Christmas

A festive concert in the Mill Studio that gives familiar carols such as The Holly and the Ivy and We Three Kings a Celtic sound. The theatre pitches it as a family-friendly seasonal treat.

From £22.50Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
19 Dec to 21 Dec
Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

A Christmas Carol in the Mill Studio

Dyad Productions bring their one-man version of Dickens' ghost story to the theatre's intimate Mill Studio. Andrew Margerison plays every character, from Scrooge to Fezziwig, in a performance inspired by Dickens' own public readings.

From £16Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
7 Nov
Fireworks and bonfiresGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Lions Firework Festival

Guildford Lions Club's charity fireworks night in Stoke Park pairs live music with children's entertainment and a professional display by Pains Fireworks. Profits go to the club's community fund and a knife crime awareness programme run by Guildford Shakespeare Company.

From £17Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
14 Oct to 31 Oct
HalloweenGuildford · under 1 km

Half-term hauntings at Guildford Castle

Guildford Borough Council dresses the castle keep for Halloween before it closes for winter. Families can follow a ghost hunt, hear spooky stories and do Halloween colouring inside the medieval keep.

From £2.50Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
14 Oct to 31 Oct
HalloweenGuildford · under 1 km

Spooktacular Trail at Guildford Museum

A free self-guided Halloween trail at Guildford Museum. Children pick up a sheet and use the clues to find ghosts hidden around the galleries.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
14 Nov to 1 Jan
Christmas lightsGuildford · under 1 km

Illuminate: Guildford Castle winter light trail

A 30 to 40 minute light trail around the grounds of Guildford Castle in the town centre, with a new route and new installations for 2026. It suits young families, with hot drinks at the bandstand and marshmallow toasting pits.

Tickets are sold online for timed sessions; check prices on the Illuminate website.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
16 Dec to 24 Dec
Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

The Ho Ho Ho Mrs Christmas Show at G Live

A short festive show in G Live's studio where Mrs Christmas and the elves rush to get the North Pole Yuletide Party ready before Father Christmas arrives. Children leave with a gift and there is a meet and greet.

From £17Directions

Rainy day ideas near Guildford

A narrowboat on the River Wey at Dapdune Wharf, GuildfordPhoto: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageGuildford · under 1 km

River Wey Navigations and Dapdune Wharf

The visitor centre for the River Wey and Godalming Navigations, one of the earliest canalised rivers in England, on a wharf behind Surrey County Cricket Ground in Guildford. Displays tell the story of the waterway and its boatmen, and electric boat trips leave from here.

Boat trips: adult £9, child £5.50, or £75 to hire the whole boat (same prices for members and non-members). The National Trust page lists prices only for boat trips, so check on arrival for wharf entry.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arts and cultureGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford House Gallery

A 17th-century Grade I listed town house on Guildford High Street, opposite Sainsbury's, now a free gallery with changing exhibitions. It is also home to the town's Tourist Information Centre and a craft shop.

FreeDirections
Paths and flower beds in the Guildford Castle groundsPhoto: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0
CastlesGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Castle and Grounds

The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.

FreeDirections
The entrance canopy of the Yvonne Arnaud TheatrePhoto: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Guildford'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.

Prices vary by show. Pantomime tickets from £15, with babes in arms (under 2) free.Directions
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
MuseumsGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Museum

A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageGuildford · 1 km

Guildford Cathedral

The Anglican cathedral on Stag Hill looks out over Guildford and is open to visitors every day, between daily services that include Choral Evensong. Guided tours, tower tours and a café are offered.

FreeDirections

Free things to do near Guildford

Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arts and cultureGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford House Gallery

A 17th-century Grade I listed town house on Guildford High Street, opposite Sainsbury's, now a free gallery with changing exhibitions. It is also home to the town's Tourist Information Centre and a craft shop.

FreeDirections
Paths and flower beds in the Guildford Castle groundsPhoto: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0
CastlesGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Castle and Grounds

The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
MuseumsGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Museum

A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.

FreeDirections
Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clockPhoto of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageGuildford · 1 km

Guildford Cathedral

The Anglican cathedral on Stag Hill looks out over Guildford and is open to visitors every day, between daily services that include Choral Evensong. Guided tours, tower tours and a café are offered.

FreeDirections
Ruined walls of the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills beside a woodland pathPhoto: AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
History and heritageChilworth · 4 km

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills

The remains of more than 100 buildings from a gunpowder works that once filled the Tillingbourne valley, now a peaceful woodland walk and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Leaflets at the entrances explain the history.

FreeDirections
Snow on the paths across Newlands Corner, with the North Downs beyondPhoto: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
OutdoorsAlbury · 5 km

Newlands Corner

A chalk viewpoint more than 170 metres up on the North Downs, looking south over the Tillingbourne valley to the Greensand Ridge. It has 415 acres of downland and woodland, a Discovery Centre, a natural play area and three waymarked trails.

FreeDirections

Every place near Guildford

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