A Guide to Living in Surrey

Where is Surrey?

Surrey is a county in England, located approximately 50 miles southwest of London. Surrey has about 132 million residents and covers an area of 1663 square kilometres.

Areas in Surrey

The county of Surrey is split into 12 districts: Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede (which includes the city of Kingston upon Thames), Spelthorne (includes Staines), Tandridge (includes Woking), Waverley (includes the towns of Godalming and Farnham) Wealden (includes East Grinstead). 

Some of the most popular areas for prospective homebuyers include:

Guildford – The town of Guildford is a hugely popular spot for young professionals and families, with excellent schools, plenty of leisure facilities and buzzing nightlife. The primary reason for Guildford’s popularity is its excellent commuter links, with trains to London Waterloo taking less than half an hour, and the M25 circling London just a few miles away.

Reigate and Banstead – This district is located in the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers plenty of scope for outdoor activities. It’s also home to the market town of Reigate, which has a great range of independent shops as well as a few well-known high street names.

Woking – Woking is a thriving town in Surrey with an excellent array of amenities and facilities, including the famous Peacocks Shopping Centre, which provides residents with everything they could need under one roof. All this makes it an ideal place to settle down as a young family or retire from work-life!

Camberley – Situated in the heart of Surrey, Camberley is perfect for those looking for a town with all the amenities they need on their doorstep.

Universities in Surrey

There are a number of excellent universities located in the county of Surrey, including the University of Surrey, Royal Holloway, University of London, and Brunel University London.

University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is a public research university located in Guildford, Surrey. It is the largest university in the county, with over 18,000 students enrolled. The university has been awarded Gold by the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and ranks among the top 150 universities in Europe.

Royal Holloway

The Royal Holloway, University of London is a world-renowned university located in Egham, Surrey. The university is ranked as one of the top 50 universities in the world and boasts an impressive array of alumni, including seven Nobel Prize winners.

University for the Creative Arts

The University for the Creative Arts is a specialist university located in Farnham, Surrey. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in art, design, fashion, media and performing arts.

Top Schools in Surrey

Surrey is home to some top-rated schools which can be found on various rankings such as The Sunday Times School Guide or The Telegraph’s Top 100 Schools. Some examples include:

Charterhouse School, Guildford – placed 12th in The Sunday Times School Guide

Royal Grammar School, Guildford – ranked 23rd by The Daily Telegraph

Tormead School, Guildford – placed in The Sunday Times list of the top 100 co-educational schools

St George’s College, Weybridge – a co-educational school that is part of the prestigious St George’s Hospital Medical School

Population of Surrey

Surrey has an estimated population of about one million people across its area. The majority (almost 80%) live outside Greater London with almost half living in towns such as Guildford, Woking and Staines-upon-Thames – all located on or very near major train lines into central London via Waterloo.