Cranleigh

About

Cranleigh, said to be one of the largest villages in England, located on the southern tip of Surrey in the borough of Waverley, between Guildford and Horsham.  Nestling in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village is best known for its access to the Surrey Hills, with a quaint High Street full of independently owned restaurants, cafés, shops, and a flourishing art scene. For historians, a gargoyle in St Nicholas Church, built in 1170, is reputed to be the source of Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat in his Alice in Wonderland book.

The village hosts a regular Farmers Market every Thursday in the car park of Cranleigh Leisure Centre, a monthly Surrey Hills Artisan Market full of locally produced food, drink and crafts makers in the High Street on the first Saturday of the month, and regular Arts and Crafts Fairs in the Village Hall.  The village plays host to a number of events, including Classics on the Drive (May) the Summer Carnival (last Saturday of June), the Classic Car Show (mid August), the Surrey Hills Wood Fair (early September), Cranleigh Bonfire and Fireworks Night (November) which includes a torchlit procession along the High Street. 

Cranleigh Arts Centre runs a year-round calendar of live music, theatre, comedy, and film nights.  Open Tuesday – Saturday there are also art exhibitions, a café, a state-of-the-art pottery with courses and workshops throughout the year.

Cranleigh’s café culture, including its continental outdoor dining in both Stocklund and Fountain Squares, good amenities and location make it a welcome stopping point if you are walking, cycling or riding in the Surrey Hills. In addition to the newly created 70 acre Knowle Country Park, with easy disabled access and facilities in the centre of Cranleigh, opening in 2023, there are a host of places to discover on the doorstep including Holmbury Hill, Winkworth Arboretum, Leith Hill and Tower  for walkers and cyclists, and The Wey & Arun Canal for narrow boat cruises.  Cranleigh also provides easy access to the Downs Link 37 mile trail, along the former railway line, which starts at St Martha’s Hill, outside Guildford and ends at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.   

Looking for somewhere to stay in Cranleigh?  The Richard Onslow is a gastro pub on the high street offering bed and breakfast accommodation (some dog friendly rooms available), providing a warm welcome and a great village location.

Nearby Surrey Towns

Godalming (8.9 miles)

Haslemere (14.6 miles)

Farnham (19 miles)