10 Best Things to Do in Guildford

Guildford Castle is an 11th-century structure you can explore that's intact to a surprising degree and features impressive gardens with an array of colorful flora. Of course, many modifications were made throughout the centuries after its initial construction, so much of the ruins, including the main keep, don't date back quite a full millenium.

The gardens around the ruins are one of the more popular attractions thanks to their intricately designed flower beds arranged to display impressive and diverse colors. You can explore it all just a few steps from the town center.

Frederic Watts and housing an extensive collection of his works. Not only will you find a wide collection of paintings and sculptures, but you can tour the artist's former home to learn more about him as a person in addition to his art.

Among the gallery, you'll find a shop where you can purchase souvenirs of your trip along with artwork. Don't miss out on your chance to bring home some impressive creations. You'll find this gallery west of the town center in Compton.

The Watts Cemetery Chapel is an iconic destination most widely known for its intricate designs and Celtic Revival architecture with an art nouveau twist. When you visit, you'll find lavish decorations along the exterior in terracotta relief on a scale that's not normally this massive. You'll even find some Egyptian influence in the design.

All of its intricacies exist thanks to the dedication of Mary Fraser-Tytler, a talented architect who designed this 19th-century masterpiece. You can see it for yourself in Compton west of the town center.

Hatchlands Park consists of 174 hectares of parkland along with a Georgian house you can explore offering outdoor and indoor adventure alike. The outdoor paths feature extensive walking opportunities as well as fields perfect for sports or for the kids to play.

When you explore the house, you'll find an 18th-century marvel that contains numerous artifacts from the area. The interior is notably opulent with rich decorations that are impressive yet comforting, making it clear that a loving family once called it home. You can find the house and the surrounding parkland a few miles east of the town center.

The Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex is home to a wide variety of activities that the whole family can enjoy including sports, pools and playgrounds. The complex is most widely known for its 4 bathing pools, one of which has a wave machine perfect for a swim. The Olympic-sized ice rink can be fun as well, while many visitors are drawn to the tenpin bowling center.

In addition to the sports opportunities here, you'll find 2 bars and 4 restaurants, so you won't have to leave the complex to find something decent to eat. You'll find this complex just north of the town center near Abbotswood.

Loseley Park is a large property where you'll find plenty of well-maintained parkland with fields and lakes along with a 16th-century manor house that you can tour. The opulently decorated manor is a fascinating building to visit as it contains an impressive great hall and is one of the only places where you'll find a genuine painting of Anne Boleyn.

The gardens are quite popular and are separated into distinct sections, each with its own theme. You'll find a rose garden, a flower garden and an herb garden within the area. You can explore it all to the southwest of Guildford in Charterhouse.

High Street is one of the most popular streets in town and is home to a variety of shops and restaurants housed within impressive historical buildings. The street is still cobbled, so you can take in that old-world feel as you shop for all the latest in fashion, accessories and food. Walking along High Street is easy no matter when you visit.

It's open to traffic in the early morning and late afternoon, but vehicles are blocked from entering the street at other times. You can find High Street running through the town center from the River Wey to the A3100.

Greyfriars Vineyard is a local wine producer specializing in English sparkling wine, and you can take a tour of the vineyard while enjoying a taste of their creations. You'll find a small range of wines on offer here including pinot noir, pinot Meunier and chardonnay. Their wine production is meant to take advantage of the unique soil conditions found in The Downs.

The conditions are reminiscent of those found in France's Champagne region, so you'll find a lot of similarities between Greyfriars champagne and the ones from France. You can visit this vineyard by heading a few miles west of the town center on the main highway.

G Live is a music venue that hosts a wide variety of performers from local acts to big-name touring artists. The main hall is the primary venue for performers, as you'll find room for over 1,000 attendees for a seated event and 1,700 for a standing event. Aside from the main hall, you can also find the Bellerby Studio.

This smaller space seats only 100 people, so it's the place to go for more intimate performances. You can find it all near the town center a short walk from the Allen House Grounds.