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Guildford is a top student town located in the heart of Surrey, offering the perfect balance of city and countryside living. It has a great university which fuels a lively social scene with plenty of activities that cater towards student interests and budgets. Students love how easy it is to access Guildford’s green spaces, and there are more than 80 parks and gardens to explore across town. Students also have excellent access to the capital, which is within easy reach for a day trip or night out. Here’s ten of our top things to do in this excellent uni town.
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1. Guildford Castle
Good for: Panoramic views across Guildford.
What it is: A Norman era castle with Victorian gardens and live events.
Why you should go: So you’ve arrived in Guildford, and what better way to survey your new hometown than by climbing to the top of Guildford Castle’s Great Tower for a 360 degree panoramic view of the town and surrounding area? The castle is a fantastic heritage site with beautiful gardens featuring both spring and summer bedding displays. There’s a pond, bowling greens and bands play live music at the Victorian-era bandstand every Sunday in summer.
2. Stoke Park
Good for: Having a stroll around, or a picnic with mates.
What it is: 52 hectares of unspoiled rolling grassland and open views across Guildford.
Why you should go: Stoke Park is the largest park in Guildford and certainly one of the most popular. You’ll find loads of space to relax, with several top attractions such as a recently restored Japanese garden, mini golf, and a relaxing and beautifully scented rose garden. Perfect for a picnic or a cheeky game of rounders.
3. Greyfriars Vineyard
Good for: Popping corks and pouring glasses.
What it is: Commercial vineyard producing award winning English Sparkling wine.
Why you should go: Believe it or not, England’s southern Downs have similar geological conditions and soil composition to the Champagne region in France! That’s great for growing grapes, and Greyfriars Vineyard has been doing this for more than 20 years. They produce a sensational English sparkling wine and have built a state-of-the-art winery, cellar and tasting room which you can visit for a tour and an all-important tasting session.
4. Guildford Cathedral
Good for: Enjoying monumental architecture
What it is: A great example of 20th Century modernist design, on a grand scale.
Why you should go: This distinctive cathedral relies on proportion, mass, volume and line rather than on elaboration and ornament. It is undramatic yet imposing, with clean lines and unadorned surfaces within and without. Definitely worth a visit, this Grade II listed building is finished with Somerset limestone pillars and Italian marble flooring, and the tower is home to twelve giant bells which chime together in the key of D. A good fact if you’re trying to impress your friends.
5. AirHop Trampoline Park
Good for: Bouncing your troubles away.
What it is: A huge indoor trampoline park, suitable for all ages and abilities.
Why you should go: AirHop Trampoline Park contains over 30,000 square feet of space, and more than 50 (yes, 50) interconnected trampolines that stretch across the floor of the main court and up the wall, making it possible to pull some serious moves! Other activities include an obstacle course, wipe out, AirHop bag, extreme dodgeball and even virtual reality trampolining.
6. The Boileroom Music and Cultural Arts Space
Good for: Losing yourself in the music.
What it is: A music event space specialising in emerging artists and community building.
Why you should go: Established in 2006, The Boileroom is an award-winning venue which runs a diverse and exciting program of talented artists across all genres of contemporary music. This inclusive 275-capacity venue is an intimate space for musicians, performers, artists and audiences to revel in the culture of live art.
7. The Star Inn
Good for: Putting your feet up and nursing a few pints.
What it is: A beloved pub and Guildford’s longest-running live music venue.
Why you should go: Amazingly, the Star Inn has been around since the 16th Century. Recently renovated in its original style, and split over three levels, it features a real fire, cosy courtyard area, traditional pub food, live music and a fine selection of cask ales. Hard to beat, really. They even have their very own ghost, a mysterious man in uniform who sometimes chats to guests.
8. The Spike Heritage Centre
Good for: Counting your blessings.
What it is: Guided tour of a 20th Century Workhouse.
Why you should go: The Spike Heritage Centre offers a unique museum experience. Imagine being on the road, looking for work and homeless in the early 20th Century, lining up along a cold brick wall to be admitted to a workhouse? The museum takes you through the memory of this experience, with guided tours of The Spike, a purpose-built Vagrants Casual Ward, built in 1906 alongside Guildford Union Workhouse. While unusual and not entirely pleasant, it’s an important part of the country’s history and deserves to be remembered.
9. Thirty3hz
Good forb Getting wild.
What it is: One of Guildford’s best late-night clubbing spots.
Why you should go: When Friday night rolls around, Thirty3hz is the place to be. A pumping dance floor until 3am, with reasonably priced drinks and a chilled out rear terrace complete with a fire to keep you warm. Guildford has a fantastic late-night scene and has been awarded the Purple Flag for the last three years in a row, signifying the town as a safe and inclusive place to party.
10. Guildford High Street
Good for: Mooching around.
What it is: Guildford’s main and oldest commercial street.
Why you should go: While this might seem like a vague addition to our list, hear us out. Guildford’s High Street is many things at once. If you need to pop down for a pint of milk, a fresh t-shirt or a box of paracetamol after last night at Thirty3hz, then it certainly has you covered. But as well as this, it’s a place of great beauty, with cobbled streets and Tudor style wood-framed buildings leaning out over the pavements, brightly painted independent shopfronts, Portland stone pillars, and of course the famous Guildford town clock.
Key info about Guildford
The University of Surrey is Guildford’s major student hub, and hosts a population of around 13,000 enrolled students, who drive a lot of the town’s emerging cultural scenes and late-night activity. Guildford is influenced by its proximity to both countryside and capital, and remains one of the best connected places to live in the UK. Whether you fancy a day trip to see big city lights, or the beaches of Brighton, Portsmouth or Eastboune, you’re never more than 90 minutes away by train. It’s a top UK destination, with a strong community feel and is a great place to work towards an undergraduate degree.
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