Dorking is in Surrey.
Understand
Dorking is a small market town in north-eastern Surrey surrounded by the Surrey Hills.
Get in
Dorking is at the junction of the A24 (London to Worthing) and the A25 (Maidstone to Guildford)
Dorking has three railway stations: Dorking (Main), Dorking Deepdene and Dorking West. Dorking (Main) is served by South Western Railway services to London Waterloo and Southern Railway to London Victoria. Dorking Deepdene and Dorking West are served by Great Western Railway services between Gatwick Airport and Reading, however, fewer trains serve Dorking West.
Nearby Westhumble has its own station, Box Hill and Westhumble, which as you might guess is convenient for getting to Box Hill.
Get around
See
- 1 Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre, 62 West Street, ☏ 44 1306 876591, ✉[email protected]. Th-Sa 10AM–4PM. Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre provides a 21st-century interactive and multi-sensory experience. There are things to touch, to listen to and smell, things to puzzle over and costumes to try on. Adult £2.00, seniors & under 18’s £1.00, under 5’s free, family ticket £4.50.
- 2 Denbies Wine Estate (Denbies Vineyard), Denbies Wine Estate Ltd, London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA, ☏ 44 1306 876616. Vineyard and winery.
Do
- 1 Leith Hill, near Coldharbour village, ☏ 44 1306 712711, ✉[email protected]. Leith Hill is the highest point in Southeast England and is set within the Surrey Hills. Its gothic tower rises above the surrounding hills and from the top you can see views towards London in the north and the English Channel in the south. access to the countryside on the estate is free for all.
- 2 Box Hill, Tadworth (take National Rail to Box Hill and Westhumble Station, turn right out of the station, and there are a few trailheads along the motorway), ☏ 44 1306 885502, ✉[email protected]. Forming part of the North Downs, Box Hill has views across Dorking and the surrounding countryside. It's home to wildlife and plants too, including the Adonis blue butterfly and bee orchid. The hill is a popular place for a picnic or a walk, and the trails are dotted with a handful of historic ruins and monuments. Free.
Buy
Eat
Drink
1 The Cricketers Inn, 81 South St, Dorking RH4 2JU, ☏ 44 1306 889 938. Runs quirky events: annual Scalextric championship, an onion-growing competition.
2 Kings Arms, 45 West St, RH4 1BU, ☏ 44 1306 886 496. Dating from 14th century.
3 The Queen's Head, Horsham Rd, RH4 2JS, ☏ 44 1306 883 041. Former coaching inn for 1780's.
Sleep
1 White Horse Hotel, High Street, ☏ 44 20 7660-0685.
2 Wotton House, Guilford Road, Dorking, ☏ 44 1306 730000, fax: 44 1306 737300, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. This hotel and event venue has 111 bedrooms, 38 meeting or event suites, a leisure club and restaurant. It's a 10-minute drive from Dorking, on the road to Guildford. Originally the centre of the Wotton Estate and the seat of the Evelyn family, it was the birthplace in 1620 of diarist and landscape gardener John Evelyn, who built the first Italian Garden in England there. Its architectural features include distinctive terracotta decorations on brickwork, octagonal turrets and stacks, winged gryphons on the porch, and more. £89-139.
3 Beaverbrook, Reigate Rd, Leatherhead KT22 8QX, ☏ 44 1372 227670. Fabulous upscale hotel and spa, in former pile of press tycoon Lord Beaverbrook. B&B double £250.
Connect
Go next
- North to Leatherhead 6.2 mi (10.0 km) along the A24 over the Surrey Hills.
- South to Horsham 13.4 mi (21.6 km) along the A24.
- West to Guildford {13 mi (21 km) along the A25.
| Routes through Dorking |
| London ← Leatherhead ← | N  S | → Horsham → Worthing |
| Guildford ← | W  E | → Redhill → Sevenoaks |