Have a few hours to spare and wondering what to do at London Heathrow Airport? One of my favorite things to do is to take the RailAir bus to Guildford, West Surrey (where you'll find a pretty High Street, cathedral and castle)- it only takes around an hour, depending on which Heathrow Terminal you're starting from.
I spent a lot of time in Guildford as a child, as my Aunt lived nearby.
It's a historic, cute place to visit- there's a cathedral and a castle- with convenient links to Heathrow and London city centre, so I can see why she moved there!
You can easily spend a half-day at Guildford (or longer if you visit more of the attractions.)
If you've already been to Guildford, another easy day trip from London Heathrow is Windsor.
How to Get to Guildford from London Heathrow
I took the RailAir direct bus- buses run pretty regularly. The bus wasn't crowded and I bought my ticket about 10 minutes before my journey. (Note that you can also buy the ticket on the bus, but it will be more expensive.)
Guildford is the terminating stop for the RailAir bus- just make sure you get on the right one as not all the RailAir buses go to Guildford. You'll be dropped off outside the Guildford Train Station, by the bike rack and M&S.
The duration depends on which Heathrow Terminal (2, 3, or 5) you're catching the RailAir bus from- it can vary from 50 minutes to 1hour 10 minutes.
Note: there is a place to put your luggage on the RailAir Bus. The seating is similar to British trains: you can choose between the 4-seats-around-a-table or regular bus type seating. Some buses also have power sockets by the seats.
For those with deeper pockets, you can also book a cab to Guildford from London Heathrow for £75, at the time of writing.
Don't be too disappointed by what you see of Guildford on the bus ride- I'll admit the newer buildings of Guildford aren't the prettiest. However, it definitely improves when you are at the town centre and Castle!
You can also get to Guildford from London Waterloo by direct train (about 32 minutes journey.) It's 1 of my favorite London day trips that is under 1 hour.
Why Visit
Beautiful setting
It's surrounded by hills and has the River Wey running through it. You'll find several pubs with beautiful riverside seating, and there's a lovely view of the hills from the High Street.
Pretty Town Centre
The town centre is quite picturesque AND it's pedestrianised at certain times of the day, making it much more convenient! The Guildford Clock on the High Street is a lovely piece of work!
If you have any questions about what to do, see or eat at Guildford, you can stop by the Tourist Office, at the top of the Guildford High Street, and ask. The team there is very friendly. There's also a small craft shop on the premises- the selection wasn't really impressive but I did pick up a Christmas tree ornament!
Usually from May-September, there are free guided tours of Guildford town! If you've a taste for the gory, between April and November, there are also ticketed Guildford ghost tours held on Friday nights (8pm, about £10 per person.
Castle & Cathedral
Guildford not only has a ruined castle, it also has a cathedral! Just note that the cathedral is quite modern and it's a bit of a walk from the town centre.
The castle grounds were my favorite part of my Guildford excursion- if you visit before Christmas, it's wonderfully decked out with Christmas lights (and free to enter!)
Feels Safe
As a single female of color, I felt safe wandering around Guildford town centre.
Food
The only thing I didn't like about Guildford was the food. I ate at the gastropub, The March Hare, and wanted to love it but... the food needed more flavor.
It wasn't awful, but it was nowhere as good as the food you can get in London, Edinburgh or even towns like Sevenoaks or Lewes. (That surprised me as Guildford has always been known for being affluent, and given its proximity to London, I would have though the food scene would be more vibrant.)
Any questions about visiting Guildford? Let me know in the comments!
