Surrey

The county of Surrey is situated in southern England. The wealth of places to visit in Surrey including art galleries, farmers' markets, historic buildings, parks and gardens. The county also hosts many towns and villages that are worth visiting, each with its own flavour, history...

The county of Surrey is situated in southern England. The wealth of places to visit in Surrey including art galleries, farmers' markets, historic buildings, parks and gardens. The county also hosts many towns and villages that are worth visiting, each with its own flavour, history and lifestyle. Significant landscapes in Surrey include Box Hill just north of Dorking; the Devil's Punch Bowl at Hindhead; Frensham Common, heathland with a variety of plant, animal and birdlife plus the Great Pond and Little Pond dating from the Middle Ages when they were constructed to provide food for the Bishop of Winchester's estate. Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking is the highest point in south-east England. Witley Common, Thursley Common and Elstead MoatNational Trust are expansive areas of ancient heathland south of Godalming are run by the National Trust and Ministry of Defence. The Surrey Hills are an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). Lawns at RHS Garden, Wisley More manicured landscapes can be seen at Claremont Landscape Garden, south of Esher (dating from 1715). There is also Winkworth Arboretum south east of Godalming which was created in the 20th century. Wisley is home to the Royal Horticultural Society gardens. Surrey has important country houses such as Clandon ParkHistoric House, an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon to the east of Guildford. Nearby there is Hatchlands ParkHistoric House in East Clandon, east of Guildford, was built in 1758 with Robert Adam interiors and a collection of keyboard instruments. Polesden LaceyHistoric House south of Great Bookham is a regency villa with extensive grounds. On a smaller scale, Oakhurst Cottage in Hambledon near Godalming is a restored 16th century worker's home. There is a museum at Rural Life Centre, Tilford. The county is linked to the sea by the River Wey and the Wey and Godalming Navigations. Dapdune Wharf in Guildford commemorates this and is home to a restored Wey barge, the Reliance. Furthermore on the River Tillingbourne, Shalford Mill is an 18th century water-mill. There are many typical English villages including Holmbury St Mary which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to the Greensand Way and North Downs Way. It was developed in the 19th century and still has a mainly Victorian character as on the whole no new building is allowed. The youth hostel, constructed in the village in 1935, was the first purpose-built by the Youth Hostels Association. Runnymede at Egham is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Waverley and Chertsey Abbeys were very significant in medieval Surrey. Guildford Cathedral is a post-war cathedral built from bricks made from the clay hill on which it stands. Brooklands Museum recognises the motoring past of Surrey. The county is also home to Thorpe Park, & Chessington World of AdventuresAmusement Park, sister theme parks of Alton Towers