10 best historical sites and landmarks to visit in Surrey and SW London

10 best historical spots and landmarks in your area

The area of Surrey and South West London is rich with history that is just waiting to be explored. Take a trip into the past...

Guildford Castle

A Norman-built fortress, Guildford Castle was likely constructed to protect the important Surrey town from rebellion and secure routes between London, the south coast and the west of England.

Starting life as a motte-and-bailey castle, this site has served a variety of purposes ranging from a county gaol to a royal residence. 

What remains at the location is the restored Great Tower, which visitors can climb to take in 360-degree panoramic views of Guildford and the surrounding countryside.

Alternatively, visitors are invited to walk around the castle grounds that feature vibrant flower beds and a life-size Alice Through the Looking Glass statue.

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2. Waverley Abbey

📍 Location: Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8EP

📅  Open daily; during daylight hours

Free admission

Waverley Abbey holds the title of being the first monastery founded in the British Isles. Dating back to the early 12th century, the Abbey became the home of a select group of Cistercian monks who emigrated from France. What now remains of the original dwelling of those religious trendsetters is a set of atmospheric ruins, which have provided the setting for scenes in Elizabeth (1998) and Disney’s Into the Woods (2014).

Take your family and the dog along and enjoy a picnic next to the ruins of the 13th-century vaulted refectory where the monks ate their meals hundreds of years ago. This site provides a fun and free holiday outing for adults and children alike.

3. Richmond Park

📍 Richmond Park, Richmond, TW10 5HS

📅  Daily; 7 am - 8 pm

Free admission

Stretching over an area of 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is an example of ancient parkland that has remained unchanged for centuries. This park has close ties to past royals; Henry VIII used the space for hunting and was long thought to have watched a rocket fired from the Tower of London, signalling Anne Boleyn’s execution from a spot in the park. 

Meanwhile, in 1625 Charles I used the area as a refuge from an outbreak of the plague in London and subsequently decided to turn the land into a red and fallow deer park. If you get peckish whilst wandering around this green space, you can stop off at the Georgian Tea Rooms of Pembroke Lodge for lunch. Or, you can check out the famous evergreen azaleas of the Isabella Plantation.

4. Sir John Soane's Museum

📍 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP

📅 Wed-Sun, 10 am - 5 pm

Free admission (must book times ticket slots)

Down a street in Lincoln’s Inn Fields nestles the former home of eccentric 18th-century architect Sir John Soane. Soane created this remarkable house through the purchase, destruction and rebuilding of three neighbouring properties. Filling his home with a large collection of artefacts, he later negotiated an 1833 Act of Parliament which stipulated that after his demise the house would be preserved as he left it.

This extraordinary treasure-trove now welcomes 100,000 visitors each year, who marvel at collection highlights including the sarcophagus of Egyptian king Seti I. With a museum shop, and a café in the park across the road, this site has all the ingredients for an enjoyable day out.

5. Strawberry Hill House & Garden

📍268 Waldegrave Rd, Twickenham TW1 4ST

📅 Sun-Wed 11 am- 4 pm (house and shop); Sun-Thurs 10 am - 4 pm (garden and cafe)

Prices: House; £14.50 adult, £7.25 student, children under 16 free; Gardens: free admission

This beautiful example of gothic revival architecture was transformed by high society figure Horace Walpole in 1747 from a potential-filled riverside site named ‘Chopp’d Straw Hall’. Building his ‘little Gothic castle’ with crenellations, a turret and a gleaming white façade, Walpole welcomed royalty, aristocracy and touring visitors into his creation. 

Almost allowed to fall into ruin when inherited by the Seventh Earl of Waldegrave, his wife rescued the site upon his death. Today, visitors can venture into this fairy-tale mansion and take in the sight of grand staircases and intricate stained glass windows. Also on offer is a chance to take a stroll around the grounds and then stop off at the Garden Café.

Upcoming events: 

Strawberry Hill House frequently holds a range of events. HandleBards, a sustainable living Shakespeare troupe that transport their entire set from venue to venue by bicycle, will perform 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (3 Sep 2023). Bring along your camping chair and cagoule for this outdoor production.

6. Hampton Court Palace

📍Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU

📅 Mon-Sun; 10 am - 5:30 pm

Prices: £26.30 adult, £13.10 child (under 5s go free)

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey built Hampton Court Palace in the early 16th century as a private residence. The grand palace captured King Henry VIII’s attention; he later added it to his own property portfolio. Christopher Wren almost tore down the palace in 1689 when commissioned to build a new baroque royal residence; this plan was abandoned in favour of the creation of the Fountain Court. 

Today, visitors can experience a tour of Henry VIII’s Kitchens, then cool off in the palace gardens and explore the world’s oldest puzzle maze. The entrance fee also includes access to the Great Hall where you can see Anne Boleyn’s coat-of-arms carved into the roof, as well as the luxuriously woven Abraham Tapestries.

Upcoming events: 

Hampton Court Palace often holds events that can be enjoyed by the whole family. There will be a family-friendly food festival over the August bank holiday weekend (Aug 26-28 2023), with live cooking demonstrations from famous chefs and stalls ranging from seafood to delicious baked goods. Face painting, arts and crafts activities, and live music mean there is plenty to entertain young children.

7. Farnham Castle

📍 Castle St, Farnham, Surrey GU9 0AG

📅 Grounds open daily; keep tours available seasonally

Prices: Free to explore the grounds (guided tours of the keep from around £5)

Overlooking the historic town of Farnham, Farnham Castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest and served for centuries as a residence for the powerful Bishops of Winchester.

The castle’s stone keep, which dates from the 12th century, still stands proudly on its hilltop mound and offers impressive views across the surrounding countryside. Visitors can wander around the castle grounds freely, while guided tours provide a closer look at the interior of the keep and explain the site’s long ecclesiastical and military history.

With its commanding position above the town and centuries of history tied to the English church and crown, Farnham Castle remains one of Surrey’s most impressive historic landmarks.

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8. Leith Hill Tower

📍Leith Hill, Dorking RH5 6LX

📅 Daily; 11 am - 3 pm

Prices: £3 adult, £1.50 child

Built-in 1765 by Richard Hull of Leith Hill Place, Leith Hill Tower holds the title of being the highest point in South East England at 1029ft. Constructed to allow the public to ‘enjoy the glory of the English countryside’, a climb up the spiral staircase reveals breath-taking views that stretch as far as the English Channel.

From the top of the tower, visitors can also spy old quarrying sites in the surrounding hills that provided the materials for the building. An information room halfway up the tower means you can pause to read up on the story of the site. Then, if you feel like a spot of lunch after your visit, pop along to the Servery, managed by the Tanhouse Farm Shop. 

9. Runnymede

📍 Windsor Rd, Englefield Green, Surrey TW20 0AE

📅 Open daily; grounds accessible year-round

Prices: Free admission (National Trust car park charges apply)

Set beside the River Thames, Runnymede  is one of the most historically significant landscapes in Britain. It was here in 1215 that King John agreed to the Magna Carta, a charter that limited royal power and laid important foundations for modern constitutional law.

Today the peaceful meadows are managed by the National Trust with several memorials located across the site. Visitors can see the Magna Carta Memorial and the striking John F. Kennedy memorial, which sits within a quiet woodland clearing above the river.

Walking trails wind along the Thames and through open countryside, making Runnymede both a historically important site and a scenic place to spend a quiet afternoon.

10. Polesden Lacey

📍Great Bookham, Dorking RH5 6BB

📅 Daily; 11 am - 3:30 pm (house), 10 am - 5 pm (garden and cafe)

Prices: £15 adult, £7.50 child

Originally built in 1821-3 by Thomas Cubitt, the site was transformed into an Edwardian dream house in 1906 by Mewès & Davis, the architects of the Ritz Hotel, under the instruction of socialite Dame Maggie Greville. The Queen Mother, who described the property as 'a delicious house', spent a week at Polesden Lacey for her honeymoon, engaging in activities such as golf and garden strolls with her new husband, the future King George VI.

The entrance fee to this stately home includes access to 14 showrooms including the library, central hall and the gold Saloon which features extravagant interior decoration and was created to impress royalty. After you finish exploring the house, wander around the estate grounds which sit in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and spot the range of rare wildlife that calls this area their home. 

Feeling adventurous? Why not travel into Kent to visit these captivating historical sites that are both less than an hour’s train ride from central London….

11. Hever Castle

📍Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG

📅 Daily; 10:30- 18:00 (Grounds open at 10:30 am, Castle opens at 12 noon)

Prices: £23.10 adult (£20.80 online), £13.10 child (£11.80 online)

Originally built in 1270, Hever later served as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. While the Boleyns made many additions to their abode, the majority of what is on view today is a testament to the work of American politician William Waldorf Astor who restored the castle in the early 20th century using traditional Tudor building methods.

Amongst many treasured artefacts in the castle lies Anne’s personal prayer book, which bears her handwritten annotations. Other highlights include the Months and Seasons Tapestry, which dates back to 1550. With 125 acres of grounds, a water maze, and Tudor-themed playgrounds, there is plenty to keep younger visitors entertained.

Upcoming Events: 

Hever Castle is hosting a falconry experience, providing a 2-hour demonstration of falcon's adept aerial grace, alongside other birds of prey. The event is on until 25 Oct 2023

12. Knole House & Park

📍Knole House, Sevenoaks TN15 0RP

📅 House times are variable, check the website before your visit. Park; daily, from dusk till dawn

Prices: £15 adults, £7.50 child, free entry to the park on foot

Knole House, which sits in parkland inhabited by a herd of wild deer, has been the home of the Sackville family for over 400 years. The house was the childhood home of acclaimed writer Vita Sackville-West, who was left heartbroken when passed over as direct heir to the estate due to her gender. 

Built to impress, the property is so expansive that it is impossible to ascertain the number of rooms it holds as every count produces a different figure. Step back in time inside Knole’s showrooms, which are filled with a cherished collection of Stuart furniture and paintings by artists Reynolds and Gainsborough. After exploring the house, stomp around the grounds to encounter the occasional curious stag.