Surrey
Despite its position on the cusp of the capital (much of the county sits within 40 minutes' train ride of central London), Surrey has been lustily protected by the guardians of the greenbelt and still boasts plenty of wild woods, open commons, verdant rolling hills and ever-so-English country villages, filled with picture-perfect B&Bs, rustic inns, boutique hotels and charming holiday cottages. Even amid stiff competition from its Home County neighbours, it's an affluent place – a fact reflected in the cost of living and in the shop windows of its main towns. Yet there's grit beyond Range Rover tyre tracks and Surrey has still managed to produce a number of angry artists, including influential punk outfit The Stranglers and the Modfather Paul Weller, as well as mellower musicians like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel and Fat Boy Slim. It has been called home by authors ranging from George Bernard Shaw, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.M. Barrie and Lewis Carroll, through to H.G. Wells, Douglas Adams and Aldous Huxley, whose dystopian novel Brave New World ends in Surrey, and it's been invaded by aliens at least twice (the action in both The War of the Worlds and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy starts here).
The Magna Carta was issued in Surrey on June 1215, at Runnymede on the banks of the Thames, and Guildford Castle was a favourite haunt of King Henry III later in the 13th century. Guildford – the county capital – is an old Saxon market town located in a beautiful cleft in the North Downs on the banks of the River Wey. It features a cobbled High Street, wickedly slippery when wet. Besides the 11th Century Castle, Guildford boasts an iconic Guildhall Clock, plenty of atmospheric alehouses and an imposing Art Deco cathedral that fans of classic horror flicks will recognise from its staring role in The Omen. Guildford is surrounded by quiet and quintessentially English hamlets, such as Bramley, Shere, Albury and Shalford, all linked by numerous walking trails across the North Downs, which run along the length of the county like a chalky spine. Other sizeable Surrey towns include Godalming (the first place in the UK to get electricity), Woking (hometown of Paul Weller and the Jam) and Cranleigh – a village on the edge of the Weald, surrounded by forest, whose church gargoyle is said to have inspired Lewis Carroll to create the Cheshire Cat.
Best Places to Stay in Surrey Holidays – Accommodation and Places to Stay in Surrey I Cool Places
Best Places to Stay in Surrey
Good food and stylish rooms at this classic Surrey riverside pub.
The Stag on the River, Lower Eashing Lane, Eashing, Surrey GU7 2QG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Godalming
Boutique, luxury, en-suite rooms in a chic Surrey dining pub, near Runnymede and Windsor
The Kings Arms, 5-6 High St, Egham, Surrey TW20 9EA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Chertsey
A relaxed, rural wine retreat with more than a dash of luxury in the rolling Surrey Hills
Denbies Vineyard Hotel, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
YHA Tanners Hatch, off Ranmore Common Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
A 500-year-old hotel and ex-coaching inn that's been at the heart of Guildford since Saxon times, with a cool Crypt Bar and a collection of ghosts.
Angel Hotel, 91 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3DP
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Guildford
A cosy and unpretentious Surrey village pub by Box Hill with good food and comfy rooms
The Running Horses, Old London Road, Mickleham, near Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DU
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
This stylish and extremely comfortable Surrey hotel celebrates the golden age of motor racing - and is also home to Merceded Benz World and the Brooklands Motor Racing Museum
Brooklands Hotel, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0SL
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Weybridge
Modern rooms in a heritage building above a stylish Surrey restaurant and bar
The Georgian House at Haslemere, Coppa Club, Coppa at The Georgian, High Street, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2JY
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
Historic gastropub with 10 en-suite boutique bedrooms.
The Richard Onslow, 113-117 High St Town Centre Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8A
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Godalming
Fine dining and classy accommodation in a historic and rural setting, close to the Surrey-Sussex border.
Lythe Hill Hotel, Petworth Road, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3BQ
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
A boutique Surrey gastropub with rooms just minutes from Weybridge station
Hand & Spear, Old Heath Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8TX
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Weybridge
Great food and rooms in a fabulous Surrey pub that’s also handy for airports and major roads.
The Inn West End, 42 Guildford Road West End Surrey GU24 9PW
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Woking
This Surrey inn is one of England's oldest places to stay – and dispenses plenty of contemporary hospitailty
The Crown Inn Chiddingfold, The Green, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Surrey GU8 4TX
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
Chic riverside accommodation opposite Hampton Court Palace
The Mitre, Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9BN
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Kingston upon Thames
It's hard to image imagine a more relaxing place for a couple to unwind this close to London.
The Cowshed, The Brew, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8JN
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Guildford
Comfy rooms in a welcoming and classy pub in a beautiful countryside location on the Surrey-Sussex borders.
The Mulberry Inn, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Surrey GU8 4SS
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
This one-bed Surrey boutique B&B is one of best antidotes to inner city blues that we know of.
Walnut Tree Cottage, Vann Lane, Hambledon, Surrey GU8 4EF
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Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Godalming
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