Pictures of Godalming

a Historic Market Town in the county of Surrey

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About Godalming

The polygogonal white market hall of 1814 marks out the fine centre of Godalming. The building, known locally as "The Pepper Pot" has arcades and a cupola, it is of striking appearance, especially when lit against the night-time sky.

A feature of the town is its long narrow streets, these stretch out from the River Wey and are lined with several gracious historic properties. One of these is the noted Kings Arms Hotel, this can trace its history back to the 14th century, between the 17th and 18th centuries it was a famous coaching inn. Amongst its many illustrious visitors the inn notes King Henry VIII, Czar Peter the Great of Russia, Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. The inn retains much old world character and charm.

The church dedicated to St.Peter and St.Paul stands on a Saxon site, this is a cruciform church with a central tower and spire, it contains work from all periods, showing parts of its Norman origin through to restoration work of the 19th century. The church makes an interesting visit, it possesses wall paintings from the 12th century, statues, carvings, later paintings, carved Saxon stones and many flags and banners.

Godalming Museum shows fine collections and has exhibits tracing the long history of the town. It celebrates the lives of many famous people associated with Godalming, these include Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Edwin Luytens, Jack Philips (hero of the ill fated Titanic) and there is a room in the museum dedicated to Gertrude Jekyll. The museum also honour General James Oglethorpe who lived in Godalming during the 18th century, he founded the colony of Georgia in the U.S.A. in the year 1732. This is a fascinating museum with something to interest everyone.

The town is found in the heart of magnificent Surrey countryside halfway between London and the south coast, it is this favoured location that has been responsible for its development since it was first mentioned by Alfred the Great in his last will. It has always been an up-market town, and interestingly in 1881 this was the first town to be lit with public lighting.

Charterhouse School is just outside the town, this was founded in London in 1611 and moved to Godalming in 1872. The school buildings are dominated by the 150 foot Founder's Tower. Also a short distance away, but within easy driving distance is Winkworth Arboretum, here you can see a fine collection of trees, stunning when clad in their "autumn glory" of orange, red and gold. Spring brings a different vista, then there are pretty bluebells beneath branches bursting with buds. The arboretum has magical flower beds, hillside woodland, two lakes and many rare plants and shrubs. It makes an exceptional visit and is of interest to both gardeners and anyone passionate about nature.

Today, this charming rural town offers visitors an interesting time, it has a rich mixture of architecture, pleasant parks and gardens, excellent shopping facilities with a strong emphasis on individual shops such as craft and antiques. It has excellent restaurants serving cuisines of many cultures, good pubs, entertainments centres, a golf course and leisure facilities.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Godalming

Winkworth Arboretum	(2.0 miles, 3.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Loseley House	(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Guildford Castle	(4.0 miles, 6.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Guildford Cathedral	(4.2 miles, 6.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
Chilworth Manor	(4.3 miles, 7.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Hog's Back	(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Newlands Corner	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Shere Museum	(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction E)	Pictures
Devils Punchbowl	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Farnham Castle	(8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction W)	Pictures
Aldershot Military Museum	(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction NW)	Pictures
St Michael's Abbey	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Birdworld & Underwater World	(10.0 miles, 16.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
RHS Garden Wisley	(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Polesden Lacey	(11.2 miles, 18.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Godalming

Wonersh, a Picturesque Village in the county of Surrey (3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction E)
Picturesque village on the road from Guildford to Cranleigh. Here visitors will find a wealth of timber-frame black and white properties dominating the narrow village streets, thus the village retains a lovely timeless atmosphere.
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Hascombe, a Picturesque Village in the county of Surrey (3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction SE)
Part of the charm of Hascombe, are the several delightful gardens in the area, designed by Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) celebrated landscape designer of the 19th and 20th-century.
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Guildford, in the county of Surrey (4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction NE)
It has a High Street of mellow Georgian buildings, and despite changing times Guildford is a town that has managed to maintain its charm and character.
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Cranleigh, a Picturesque Village in the county of Surrey (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction SE)
The church is perhaps one of Cranleigh's most interesting features, in the south transept carved on an arch visitors can see the head of a grinning cat, this is believed to have been the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat.
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Shere, a Picturesque Village in the county of Surrey (6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction E)
This lovely tranquil village on the picturesque Tillingbourne, nestles beneath the rolling countryside of the North Downs.
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Farnham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Surrey (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction W)
It was King Caedwalla of Wessex who, in 688 bestowed the Manor of Farnham on the Bishop's of Winchester.
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Farnborough, in the county of Hampshire (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction NW)
This town is listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086, then it was a mere settlement which over the passing centuries developed into a village.
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Woking, a Historic Market Town in the county of Surrey (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction N)
In the 17th-century the old part of Woking was a thriving market town with a lively population.
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Dorking, a Historic Market Town in the county of Surrey (12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction E)
It is here that romantically Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton said their good byes before Nelson departed for the Battle of Trafalgar in the year 1805.
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Cobham, in the county of Surrey (13.3 miles, 21.3 km, direction NE)
Cobham Mill rests on a picturesque stretch of the river surrounded by dipping weeping willows and graceful swans.
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Petworth, in the county of West Sussex (13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction S)
Petworth is an atmospheric place, it has a wealth of historic visitor attractions nearby and its close proximity to the attractive town of Chichester and its famous harbour.
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Leatherhead, a Historic Market Town in the county of Surrey (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction NE)
This is an ancient town, where the parish church of St.Mary and St.Nicholas has existed since Anglo-Saxon times.
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Midhurst, in the county of West Sussex (14.8 miles, 23.8 km, direction S)
Popular small market resort town whose beautiful 19th-century church stands close to the banks of the River Rother, on which the town stands.
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Horsham, in the county of West Sussex (15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction SE)
A feature of the town is St.Mark's Church in North Street, this was built in 1839 but was considerably altered during restoration work of around 1869.
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Fittleworth, in the county of West Sussex (15.3 miles, 24.7 km, direction S)
This picturesque little village is dominated by the Church of St.Mary, which stands proudly on top of a hill.
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Nearby travel help

Godalming Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Farncombe Station	(1.1 miles, 1.8 km)
M3 Junction 4	(11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction NW)
M3 Junction 4A	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction NW)
London Gatwick Airport	(19.0 miles, 30.6 km, direction E)
London Heathrow Airport	(21.1 miles, 34.0 km, direction N)
Godalming to London	(30.7 miles, 49.4 km, direction NE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Godalming

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Godalming center
The Kings Arms and Royal Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Barnett Hill	(3.6 miles, 5.7 km, direction E)
Holiday Inn Guildford	(3.8 miles, 6.0 km, direction N)
The Guildford Hotel	(4.0 miles, 6.5 km, direction NE)
Mandolay	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction NE)
The Swan Inn	(5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction S)
Ramada Farnham	(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction NW)
Manor House Hotel	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction NE)
The Pride Of The Valley Hotel	(6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction SW)
Burrows Lea Country House	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction E)
All hotels in Godalming