Things to Do in Guildford With Kids

Free and outdoors

Stoke Park

Stoke Park is Guildford's largest park, with 52 hectares of open grass, on Nightingale Road, GU1 1ER. For children it has:

• a playground with a helter skelter, swings and multi-play units
• a free skate park, behind Guildford College off Lido Road, GU1 1HB
• a model boating pond, free to use
• a paddling pool in summer (closed for the season when we checked)
• two refreshment kiosks and public toilets in the gardens

The gardens open daily at 8am and close at dusk or 8pm, whichever is sooner. Nightingale Road and Lido Road car parks give four hours free between 6am and 6pm. You still need to display a ticket.

Mini golf at Stoke Park is paid. As listed on 9 October 2026 it is £5.50 for adults, £3.80 for juniors and concessions, and £16 for a family of up to two adults and three under-18s. It was listed as open at weekends through October and from 26 October to 1 November 2026, 11am to 4pm, but closed on Thursday 29 October and in bad weather. Check the council's Stoke Park page before you go.

Guildford Castle grounds

The Castle Grounds on Castle Street, GU1 3UW, are free to enter. They open by 9am all year and close at 7.30pm in summer and 5pm in winter. There are flower displays, a bandstand and a life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Playgrounds

Guildford Borough Council lists around 30 playgrounds across the borough. In and near the town these include Stoke Park, Stoke Recreation Ground (Recreation Road, GU1 1HE), Foxenden Quarry (York Road, GU1 4DN), Onslow Village Recreation Ground (Wilderness Road, GU2 7QP), Stoughton Recreation Ground (Worplesdon Road) and Sutherland Memorial Park (Clay Lane, GU4 7JU).

The council says most playgrounds are designed for children aged 4 to 8, and only assistance dogs are allowed inside. The full list and a map are on its playgrounds page.

Westnye Gardens at Millmead, GU2 4BE, is a play garden for young children, open daily from 8am until dusk. The council's page said the playground would be closed from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 October 2026.

Nature

• Riverside Nature Reserve, off Bowers Lane in Burpham, GU4 7ND: a lake, a bird hide and picnic tables. The council suggests frozen peas for feeding the ducks. The boardwalk is closed for replacement until around the end of October 2026.
• Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, Blacksmith Lane, GU4 8NQ: woodland ruins, a picnic area and a stream to paddle in. Parking is very limited.
• Chantry Wood, Pilgrims Way, GU4 8AW: 200 acres of woodland, with bluebells in spring.

Indoors and low cost

Guildford Museum

Free entry. The museum is at Castle Arch, Quarry Street, GU1 3SX, next to the castle grounds. It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 4.30pm, with last entry at 4pm.

For under-fives there is the Scullery Playroom, with a toy kitchen, role play, colouring and books. Children must be supervised.

Guildford Castle Keep

The keep costs £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. A family ticket for two adults and up to three children is £12, and under-fives are free. It is seasonal. When we checked, the council said the keep had closed for the season but would reopen for "Half-term hauntings" from 14 to 31 October 2026, Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 4.30pm.

Council heritage events

The council's heritage team runs children's activities in school holidays. Listed for October 2026:

• Spooktacular Trail, Guildford Museum, 14 to 31 October, free, for ages 4 and over.
• Spring Bulb Planting, Guildford Museum, Friday 23 October, 12pm to 2pm, £2.50 per child, ages 5 and over.
• Creative Collages, Guildford House Gallery, Tuesday 27 October, 10am to 12pm, free, ages 5 and over.

New events are added to the council's What's on page.

Library rhymetime

Guildford Library on North Street is running a click and collect service only while it is refurbished. Surrey County Council says rhymetime and storytime have moved to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre for now, on Wednesdays at 10.30am in the River Room.

Paid days out

Guildford Spectrum

Guildford Spectrum is on Parkway, GU1 1UP. Phone 01483 44 33 22. Its own website lists:

• Swimming: four pools. The Leisure Pool is open to everyone at weekends and in school holidays. Toddler Splash sessions for under-fives run Tuesday to Thursday.
• Ice skating: an Olympic-sized indoor rink. Public Skate for All sessions last 90 minutes. Skates run from child size 5 to adult size 14, and penguin and snowman skating aids can be hired on a first come, first served basis.
• Tenpin bowling: lane bumpers and ball ramps are available for younger bowlers.
• Soft play: Specky's Soft Play Pirate Ship is on the booking menu.

Spectrum advises booking online in advance, as sessions sell out. We have not listed prices, as they vary by session. Check guildfordspectrum.co.uk.

Guildford Lido

The Lido is a 50-metre outdoor pool on Lido Road, GU1 1HB. Phone 01483 449108. The operator, Freedom Leisure, says the 1930s pool is now open all year round. Opening hours differ between summer and winter, so check its website for session times.

Planning tips

• Surrey's half term for community schools is 19 to 30 October 2026, so expect holiday sessions to be busy.
• The Guildford Tourist Information Centre is at Guildford House Gallery, 155 High Street, GU1 3AJ. Phone 01483 444333.