Best places to visit in Surrey

Top tourism attractions to visit in Surrey  

As well as our Surrey Hills wine route, of course, we are fortunate to have many fantastic tourism attractions here in Surrey, including National Trust houses, gardens and beauty spots, the internationally renowned RHS Garden Wisley and the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation at Brooklands Museum – but that’s just a start.

Here are just a few of the places you might like to add to your travel itinerary while visiting the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills.

1. Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Even if you haven’t heard of the Surrey Hills, you may have come across some of its iconic sites such as Box Hill, Leith Hill and Newlands Corner through literature and art - they’ve inspired many British and international writers and artists. In 2012, Box Hill even had a starring role in the Olympic road cycling races with its challenging Zig Zag Road becoming an iconic climb. Covering over a quarter of the county of Surrey, the Surrey Hills stretch across the North Downs from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east, also including the Greensand Hills which rise in Haslemere and stretch east to Leith Hill, the highest point in South East England.

• Find more reasons to visit the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

2. RHS Garden Wisley, near Woking
One of Britain’s most-visited attractions, Wisley was given to the RHS in 1903 and is now a hub of horticultural excellence and a top visitor attraction, with 240 acres to explore. RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society and one of the great gardens of the world. In summer 2021, they opened RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science, a state-of-the-art science building surrounded by three spectacular new gardens that embrace the latest ideas in horticulture. Albury Organic Vineyard’s estate manager, Alex Valsecchi, worked at RHS Garden Wisley before joining the Surrey Hills vineyard.

• Find more reasons to visit RHS Garden Wisley here.

3. Brooklands Museum, near Weybridge
The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, Brooklands Museum in Weybridge is a must-visit for anyone with a need for speed, flight and adventure. Step back in time to the days of innovation, determination and record-breaking on the site of the world’s first race track. Make sure to visit Brooklands’ Concorde, G-BBDG or 'Delta Golf', which was the first British production Concorde - you can even re-live the excitement of the supersonic age with their fascinating 25-minute tour.

• Find more reasons to visit Brooklands Museum here.

4. Painshill Park, Cobham
Painshill is regarded as one of the foremost and finest examples of the English Landscape Movement. Created in the 18th century by Charles Hamilton as a living painting, Painshill is a walk around a work of art where you can discover dramatic follies, calming waters and stunning views. They even have a small south-facing vineyard growing grape varieties including Pinot Noir, one of the varieties grown by Hamilton in the 18th century, as well as the modern varieties Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

• Find more reasons to visit Painshill here.

5. Polesden Lacey, near Dorking and Leatherhead
Only 15-minutes down the road from Denbies Wine Estate, the National Trust’s Polesden Lacey was the weekend retreat of Margaret Greville through the early 1900s until 1942. From brewer’s daughter to friend of Kings and Queens, the house is overflowing in rich social history. Remodelled by architects Mewès and Davis, who refurbished the Ritz hotel, the house interiors are a showpiece in their own right. Highlights of the Polesden Lacey gardens include exceptional Surrey Hills views, the walled rose garden, herbaceous border, and the Graham Stuart Thomas-inspired winter garden.

Find more reasons to visit Polesden Lacey here.

6. River Wey and Dapdune Wharf, Guildford
Another fascinating National Trust attraction, this time on the Guildford side of the county, is the River Wey and Dapdune Wharf. The River Wey and Godalming Navigations runs for nearly 20 miles through the heart of Surrey, from Godalming in the south to Weybridge and the River Thames in the north. The Wey was one of the first British rivers to be made navigable, and opened to barge traffic in 1653. Dapdune Wharf in Guildford is the National Trust’s award-winning visitor centre and tells the story of the navigations and the people who lived and worked on them.

• Find more reasons to visit the River Wey and Dapdune Wharf here

7. Runnymede, near Egham
In the north of Surrey, Runnymede is seen by many as the birthplace of modern democracy - this open landscape beside the Thames was witness to King John's historic sealing of Magna Carta over 800 years ago on 15 June 1215. Today, run by the National Trust, Runnymede is an ideal place to relax outdoors, or to pause and reflect on the history of the struggle for freedom. As well as a monument to the democratic legacy of the Magna Carta, you'll find further memorials to John F. Kennedy and the Commonwealth Air Forces, and a unique installation by artists Hew Locke and Mark Wallinger.

• Find more reasons to visit Runnymede here.

8. Hampton Court Palace, near East Molesey
Along the River Thames from Runnymede at the north of the county of Surrey, Hampton Court Palace is famous around the world as the home of Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty. Surrounded by gorgeous gardens and famous features, such as the Maze and the Great Vine (more than 250 years old, it is the largest grape vine in the world!), the palace has been the setting for many nationally important events. Today, run by Historic Royal Palaces, it is one of Britain’s best-loved tourist attractions.

• Find more reasons to visit Hampton Court Palace here

9. Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village, near Guildford
Founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist, Watts Gallery – Artists' Village offers a unique insight into the life and work of 'England's Michelangelo' George Frederic Watts and the designer and artist Mary Watts.

Surrey is also home to some excellent outdoor sculpture parks, including The Sculpture Park at Churt, near Farnham, and Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden at Ockley, near Dorking. Surrey Artists’ Open Studios, meanwhile, sees local artists open their galleries to visitors every June - at the height of the vineyard visiting season.

• Find more reasons to visit Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village here.

10. West Horsley Place and Grange Park Opera
West Horsley Place is a Grade I listed mediaeval manor house and estate of great beauty and historic significance. The manor house dates from 1425, though there has been a building on site since Saxon times. In recent years, the West Horsley Place Trust has set about bringing the house, gardens, 380-acre estate and eight Grade II listed outbuildings back into life as a hub for art, culture, heritage and nature. You may recognise it as Button House in BBC comedy Ghosts. It’s also home to a modern opera house and Grange Park Opera's elegant summer festival.

• Find more reasons to visit West Horsley Place and Grange Park Opera

11. Silent Pool
Albury Organic Vineyard is situated at The Silent Pool, just outside Guildford on the A25 towards Dorking. According to folklore legend, a woodcutter's daughter was drowned in the Silent Pool whilst escaping the clutches of King John who forced her into the water. The pool is now said to be haunted by the young maiden. It is also home to Silent Pool Distillery, famed for its gin, and Mandira's Kitchen, where you can discover delicious Indian street food at Mandira's Chai in the Barn.

• Find more reasons to visit Silent Pool Distillers and Mandira’s Kitchen

12. Surrey NGS garden openings
Both Chilworth Manor Vineyard and High Clandon Estate Vineyard are annual participants of the Surrey National Garden Scheme, opening their glorious gardens to the general public for charity - along with the added bonus of a glass or two of their sublime wines. There are around 60 other private gardens around Surrey that open for the NGS each year, and they all make for unique secret Surrey visits.

• Find out more reasons to visit Surrey NGS garden openings here.

Where to stay? If you’re looking to make the most of your visit to Surrey and our Surrey Hills wine route, then you’re probably looking for somewhere to stay for a few days. We’ve put together a recommended selection of hotels and bed and breakfasts with links to our vineyards.

Easily find our vineyards with the VoSH map

For more seasonal events and fantastic reasons to visit Surrey,
Surrey’s official tourism website is www.visitsurrey.com
and features a daily updated online events diary.