Just south of London, Surrey offers a version of England where the countryside feels particularly well looked after. The hedgerows are neatly trimmed, the villages come with proper pubs and matching Range Rovers, and the countryside always seems ready for a spot of gentle rambling followed by a very nice lunch.
It is a county of rolling hills, market towns, grand houses and a quietly prosperous charm that seems very pleased with itself – and quite understandably so.
Hills, commons and very orderly countryside
For a county so close to London, Surrey is surprisingly green and hilly. The North Downs cut a chalky line across the county, offering fine walking routes like the North Downs Way, where you can amble for miles accompanied by views that seem determined to remain pretty at all times.
Box Hill is one of Surrey’s more famous high spots, its gentle climb rewarded with sweeping views and just enough benches for people to sit and admire the landscape while pretending not to be out of breath.
The county is also generously dotted with commons, woodlands and National Trust properties, all carefully maintained and politely shared by walkers, cyclists and very well-behaved dogs.
Stately homes, manicured gardens and grand driveways
Surrey’s grand houses do not disappoint. Polesden Lacey, with its Edwardian elegance and hillside setting, offers splendid gardens, lavish interiors and the distinct sense that house parties here were once rather lively.
Clandon Park, Hatchlands Park and Loseley Park add further stately options, each with their own collection of portraits, antique furniture and slightly intimidating family trees.
The RHS Garden at Wisley remains one of England’s great horticultural treasures, where generations of dedicated gardeners have perfected the art of coaxing plants into spectacular displays that attract both serious botanists and casual admirers in search of tea and cake.
Market towns that quietly thrive
Surrey’s towns tend to lean towards the prosperous end of the scale. Guildford, the county town, offers handsome high streets, a castle keep with fine views, and enough boutiques, bookshops and restaurants to keep even the most committed shopper entertained.
Farnham, Dorking, Reigate and Godalming all offer variations on the same comfortable theme: attractive centres, independent shops, farmers’ markets and pubs that have been doing steady trade for several centuries.
Rivers, canals and the English pastime of messing about in boats
The River Wey, gently threading through the county, offers canalside walks, locks and narrowboat trips at an admirably relaxed pace. The Wey Navigation and Basingstoke Canal provide quiet corridors of water where wildlife thrives and boat owners glide past waving cheerfully.
Even the River Thames makes an appearance along Surrey’s northern edge, adding riverside pubs, rowing clubs and views that feel borrowed from a very well-behaved version of the English countryside.
Artists, writers and England’s cultural side
Surrey has long attracted creative types looking for inspiration (and a large house with good train links to London). The novelist Jane Austen spent part of her youth in the county, while Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many of his Sherlock Holmes stories here. The village of Shere has starred in countless films, thanks to its postcard-perfect cottages and a church that looks as though it was designed specifically for Christmas cards.
Where England puts its feet up in style
Surrey may not offer dramatic cliffs or ancient castles, but it does quiet prosperity better than almost anywhere else. It is England doing very nicely, thank you — with rolling hills, handsome houses, tidy villages and an excellent selection of garden centres. After a few days here, you may find yourself considering whether you too might enjoy a house with slightly more driveway.
