Guildford History and Walking Tour

Come to Guildford to join a walking tour guided by a local expert and learn about the history of the city and see all of our main attractions. The tour begins in our Tudor district and ends at a pub which sits on the Wey.

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Holy Trinity Church

High Street, 5 Trinity Churchyard, Guildford, GU5 0HD

Holy Trinity church was built in the 1750s after the medieval church fell down in 1740. It’s called a Palladian church inspired by Roman architecture. The first church was probably put there around 950 when the highstreet was first laid out.
The church includes the renaissance tomb of an archbishop of canterbury and a Georgian pulpit.

10 minutes

The Three Pigeons, Guildford

169 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3AJ

Opposite here you can see one of the oldest pubs in Guildford, The Three pigeons which dates from the mid 1700s.
It is said to be haunted!

5 minutes

Tunsgate Arch

High Street, Guildford, GU1 3AA

During the 16th and 17th century corn merchants did their trade on the groundfloor off the guildhall and the space had been used for a multitude of events over the years.

10 minutes

Guildford

Guildford

The bell clock :
It displays an original date of 1683 you can just about see there. The case is made of English oak, it has a cast iron internal frame and copper dials.
Conservation work included refinishing and regilding with 23 ½ carat gold. The size is 1.5 by 2.5 metres. It has been in the care of Smith of Derby for many years, which refurbished it most recently in 2014.

Pass by without stopping

Guildford Castle

Castle Grounds Cottage Castle Street, Guildford, GU1 3SX

Access into the castle gardens, royal bowls green, and moat area of the castle keep. The castle was built by William the conqueror or one if his barons shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066. It was used as a royal residence and fortress but it was never attacked. It became a prison in 1256 under Henry III when the sheriff of Guildford has custody of the castle and continued so until 1487.
In 1885 the Lord Grantley of Wonersh sold the castle and grounds to the Guildford Coperation.
The tower and walls were restored and opened to the public as a pleasure garden in 1888, following queen victoria’s golden jubilee.

10 minutes

Guildford Castle Gardens

South Hall Castle Hill, Castle Street, Guildford, GU1 3SX

Learn about the Kings and Queens that visited Guildford castle as well the prisoners it held in the castle keep

10 minutes

White House Guildford

8 High Street, Guildford, GU2 4AJ

Bridge by the White House: This bridge stands over the river Wey. There are often markets along here in the summer. The River Wey was one of the first British rivers to be made navigable and was opened to barge traffic in 1653. A 20 mile route between Godalming and the Thames was created as a highway to London for trade. Barges drawn by horse would carry up to 30 tons. Oak went to the Thames for shipbuilding and corn went to the mills along the water ways. That’s just an example of the trade that occurred. It passes through heathland, woodland and water meadow with species of interest including snipe, lapwing and kingfisher breeding.

Pass by without stopping

The Weyside

Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3XJ, UK

The Weyside restaurant: The final stop.

Pass by without stopping