You’ll find the town of Guildford in the central southern area of England. Part of the circle of commuter towns found around 30 miles from the centre of London, much of the town’s life is dominated by the giant city to the northeast. But if you hire a car in Guildford you’ll find it is surrounded by some surprisingly green and rural countryside in the county of Surrey. This is mostly an affluent area populated by London commuters. There’s even an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural beauty outside the town. Not surprisingly, road links to London are good: the A3 trunk road heads directly to the capital’s orbital road, the M25.
Guildford has managed to keep its own identity despite its suburbs almost joining those of London. You’ll find a great variety of things to see and do around the town; with car hire in Guildford it’s easy to get around. Look out for the National Trust’s beautifully restored historic river port, Dapdune Wharf. There are plenty of classic English stately homes to visit in this area too including Hatchlands Park, built in the 1750s, and the resplendent Edwardian estate of Polesden Lacy. Guildford itself is a stylish centre for shopping, eating and culture – its Yvonne Arnaud and Electric Theatres are particularly highly rated.