Guildford

Guildford, the largest town in Surrey and the county's capital, has a lovely historic center with charming original storefronts. Gabled merchants' houses line the steep, pleasantly provincial High Street, where the remains of a Norman castle are tucked away in a peaceful garden, and the iconic clock on the old guildhall dates to the 1683. The outskirts of Guildford, and the area around the train station, are very busy and crowded, but once you make your way to the center it's a more peaceful, pleasant town. Guildford is a good place to base yourself if you're planning to visit Wisley, one of the Royal Horticultural Society's display gardens, 10 mi away.