Parks and Walks in Guildford: Where to Go

The big picture

Guildford Borough Council says the borough has over 65 parks, gardens and green spaces, and that it manages more than 50 countryside sites. The council's parks page and countryside page each have an interactive map.

Two rules apply everywhere: no barbecues and no bonfires on any council park or countryside site.

Town centre parks and gardens

Stoke Park

The largest park in Guildford, at 52 hectares, on Nightingale Road, GU1 1ER. It has open grassland with views across the town, a rose garden (dogs on a lead there), a playground, mini golf, a fitness trail, a skate park and a model boating pond. The council says it also hosts the Guildford parkrun.

The gardens open daily from 8am and close at dusk or 8pm, whichever is sooner.

Parking: Nightingale Road (GU1 1ER) and Lido Road (GU1 1HB) car parks give four hours free between 6am and 6pm, with a ticket displayed. As listed on 9 October 2026, 4 to 7 hours costs £5 and over 7 hours costs £9. Burchatt's Farm car park on London Road (GU1 1TU) is listed as free at all times.

Guildford Castle Grounds

Castle Street, GU1 3UW. Free to enter. Open by 9am all year, closing at 7.30pm in summer and 5pm in winter. Known for its flower displays around the Norman keep, with a bowling green and a bandstand. Most of the grounds are wheelchair accessible, but there are steps and steep slopes around the keep.

Allen House Grounds

Chertsey Street, GU1 4HL. A quiet garden a short walk from the High Street, open daily from 8.30am until dusk. There is no car park, but you can walk in directly from York Road car park.

Westnye Gardens

Millmead, GU2 4BE. A small play garden for young children with picnic seating, open daily from 8am until dusk. Millmead car park is next door.

Neighbourhood parks

• Onslow Recreation Ground, Wilderness Road, GU2 7QP. Open green space on high ground with views over Guildford, a playground, a football pitch and an arboretum next door. Small free car park with 12 spaces.
• Stoughton Recreation Ground, Worplesdon Road. Play equipment for all ages, an outdoor gym and sports facilities. Open daily 8am to 8pm. Small free car park next to the youth and community centre.
• Sutherland Memorial Park, Clay Lane, GU4 7JU. A large park with a playground and plenty of sports facilities. 83 parking spaces, six of them disabled bays.
• Shalford Park, Shalford Road, GU4 8AA. Eight hectares of open space and football pitches, a short walk from the town centre and the River Wey. 63 parking spaces. Note that the council's car park listing says this car park is open Monday to Friday and closed at weekends.
• Stoke Recreation Ground, Recreation Road, GU1 1HE. A playground and open space.

Stoke Park, Sutherland Memorial Park, Allen House Grounds, the Castle Grounds and Onslow Recreation Ground are all described by the council as Green Flag award winners.

Walks

Chantry Wood

Pilgrims Way, GU4 8AW. Two hundred acres of ancient woodland and meadows in the Surrey Hills. There are many paths and tracks, benches with views over the Albury vale and Chilworth, bridleways round the edge and bluebells in spring. It can be muddy, so wear suitable shoes. The car park is on Pilgrims Way and gets busy at peak times.

The Mount

The Mount, GU2 4RH. A grassy hillside a short walk from the town centre, with panoramic views of Guildford. Skylarks nest in the long grass in summer, so keep to the paths. There is no car park. On-street parking is on Wodeland Avenue and nearby roads, with restrictions.

Riverside Nature Reserve

A 30-hectare reserve along the River Wey in north-east Guildford, with meadow, wetland, open water and woodland. There is a lake, a bird hide, picnic tables and boardwalk routes.

Ways in:

• on foot from Stoke Lock, Woking Road, GU1 1QE
• on foot through Thorneycroft Wood, behind Guildford Spectrum, GU1 1UP
• by car from Bowers Lane in Burpham, GU4 7ND, where there is a car park

The council says the boardwalk is closed for replacement from 10 August 2026 until towards the end of October. The rest of the reserve is open.

The watermeadows

The council manages three watermeadows beside the River Wey: Parsonage, Stoke and Shalford. Footpaths cross all three. Shalford watermeadow lies west of the A281 between Guildford and Shalford, and you can reach it through Shalford Park or from Dagley Lane in Shalford. Stoke watermeadow is next to Stoke Lock and Riverside Nature Reserve.

They can be muddy, very wet and sometimes flooded. There are no car parks. Keep dogs under close control because of cattle and wildlife.

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills

Blacksmith Lane, Chilworth, GU4 8NQ. A woodland walk among the remains of more than 100 buildings from the old gunpowder works, with streams and a picnic area. The Lockner Farm entrance links to the Downs Link long-distance route. Parking is limited to two visitor spaces opposite the Blacksmith Lane entrance, so walking in is easier.

Dogs, cattle and the Countryside Code

Several sites are grazed by cattle for conservation, including The Mount, Riverside and the watermeadows. The council asks visitors to follow the Countryside Code. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside playgrounds.

Reporting a problem in a park

For questions about parks and play areas, call the council on 01483 505050 in office hours or email parks@guildford.gov.uk. The council's Ranger service is on 07880 784947 between 7am and 8pm.