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The south of England has a wealth of towns and cities with universities, meaning students have a lot of choice when it comes to picking where to study. For example, the glorious town of Guildford is home to the University of Surrey, a fab institution with plenty of courses to help students to develop their skills. If you’re considering the University of Surrey but want to know more about Guildford itself, our student guide to Guildford is going to be a great resource for you.
CONTENTS
- Student activities in Guildford
- Nightlife in Guildford
- Student accommodation in Guildford
- Transport in Guildford
- Student costs in Guildford
- What Guildford is famous for
- Universities in Guildford
Student activities in Guildford
Guildford has plenty of things to do for students when they’re not studying. If you’re a fan of getting outdoors, Guildford has some great green spaces like Losely Park and Rosamund Community Garden. Further afield (pun intended), you’ll find the Surrey Hills, which are fantastic for hiking on a sunny weekend.
Love sports? The Spectrum has loads of options for you, including indoor and outdoor pools, ice skating, athletics areas, fitness equipment and even a bowling alley. Prefer your exercise to be a little more outdoorsy? Then you can go punting along the River Wey from the middle of town.
Guildford also has incredibly good shopping, with The Friary being the main shopping complex in town, boasting oodles of clothing outlets, music shops and handy dining spots.
Head just outside of Guildford to Compton and to can check out the Watts Gallery, which has some beautiful artwork to gaze at – and the scenery isn’t too shabby either, with the historic gardens surrounding the gallery.
Nightlife in Guildford
Guildford has a bustling student population, which has created a thriving nightlife scene in the town. There are a fab selection of bars dotted around, including Rogues Bar. For an evening of dancing, you’ll want to visit Popworld and Thirty3hz, both of which offer students a late-night spot for celebrations at the like.
The town also has its fair share of pubs for quieter (but still just as fun) evenings, like the Guildford Tup and The Star Inn. You’ll be able to find some smaller spots too, offering a great range of local ales and more.
If live music is your thing, Guildford has you covered with venues like G Live, Boileroom Music and Cultural Arts Space. There are also three theatres, including the Electric Theatre and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Plus, with the town’s proximity to London, if any unmissable bands miss Guildford on tour, they’re almost certainly going to be playing in the big city, so you’ll be able to hop on a short train to see them.
Student accommodation in Guildford
Most students coming to Guildford to study at the University of Surrey will spend their first year living in the uni halls, which have the benefits of being near the campus and being rather affordable. You’ll be paying between £79 per week for the cheapest room and £215 for the most expensive room with all the bells and whistles. You could also get a studio flat for £266 per week if you’re feeling like being a bit more independent.
Following first year, many students will look to rent privately in and around the town. Renting a one-bedroom flat in the town centre can cost around £1,380 a month, which is quite expensive compared to other towns in the UK (though definitely cheaper than living in London). You’ll be able to find cheaper housing outside of the town centre, and renting with friends can also help to bring down your monthly rent – a three-bedroom house will cost about £2,000 per month, so when split three ways, it’ll be £670 each.
Transport in Guildford
When it comes to getting about town, Guildford has an excellent bus network, with a single journey costing £2. However, you can pick up a monthly pass for £75, meaning you’ll be paying around £2.50 a day for unlimited travel, which is very handy if you plan to use the buses frequently.
Guildford is well connected to the rest of the country via trains, so if you’ve got a spare weekend, you’ll have plenty of choice of where to go. Plus, Guildford is a short train journey from London, so you’ll have even more chances for fun nights out.
Student costs in Guildford
Alongside your tuition fees and rent, groceries will also be one of your big expenses while studying. Guildford is a bit pricier than many other places in England when it comes to groceries, though looking around for deals and figuring out which supermarkets are cheapest for different items will help you to save some money during your time at uni. The average weekly food budget for students in the UK is £44, so it’s a good idea to use that as a guideline.
Of course, there will be other expenses that come along during your three (or more) years of study, like additional uni supplies, entertainment, going out and more. It’s wise to set a portion of your budget aside for things like this.
Read our guide to the cost of living in Guildford to learn more.
What Guildford is famous for
Guildford is quite well-known for its contrasting scenery. On the one hand, it’s packed with green spaces and nestled in some rolling hills – in fact, the nearby Surrey Hills are classified as an Area of Outstanding Beauty. On the other hand, the town has some excellent examples of brutalist architecture, as well as the interesting design of Guildford Cathedral. There aren’t many places like it in the UK!
Universities in Guildford
The University of Surrey will most likely be where you’re headed if you’re going to study in Guildford. With over 13,000 students, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make friends on a beautiful campus which is just a ten-minute walk from the centre of town. The town is also home to a number of exciting companies who have close ties to the uni, including video game developers, websites and more.
In the 2025 league tables from the Complete University Guide, the University of Surrey was ranked an impressive 12th out of 130 UK unis.
Need more convincing? Read our guide to 17 reasons to study in Guildford!
