Situated in the heart of Surrey, 30 miles south-west of London, Woking’s modern and vibrant town centre is surrounded by attractive waterways and beautiful countryside dotted with charming villages. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend break.
Visitors to Woking will discover convenient high-quality and accessible shopping, the latest entertainment facilities, special cultural events and a superb range of dining options across a world of cuisines.
The Basingstoke Canal runs for nine miles through the borough and can be explored year-round on the all-weather towpath. The Wey Navigation also weaves through the west of the borough, and Horsell Common offers thousands of acres of peaceful woods and heathland, all on the town centre’s doorstep.
Woking travel links
Direct trains from London Waterloo to Woking is just 25 minutes, Woking is ideal for visitors and also offers residents a frequent and easy journey into the capital combined with a great standard of living. Excellent rail links to the south coast and northern cities mean that Woking is perfectly positioned for business and leisure, with London’s airports easily accessed by RailAir coach link to Heathrow, and Gatwick by rail (via Guildford).
Get the best value for your train ticket to Woking by booking in advance or set up cheap ticket alerts to be notified when the best-priced tickets are available.
To view live departures and arrivals for Woking, station facilities, accessibility information and book cheap train tickets, check out our Woking station page.
Woking attractions
The Ambassadors’ theatre and cinema complex includes the New Victoria Theatre, which hosts West End touring shows on the largest stage in the region outside London, as well as the Rhoda McGaw and BUZZ community theatres, and seven state-of-the-art screens at the stylish Nova Cinema.
The Lightbox gallery and museum attracts exhibitions from well-known artists as well as artistic gems from private collections. Its waterside café is a popular spot to watch walkers, cyclists and boaters enjoying the Basingstoke Canal.
The town’s new entertainment centre, Woking Superbowl, offers a variety of fun and games, from 10-pin bowling and Laser Quest to pool tables and arcade amusements.
Woking shopping
Woking is one of the most accessible towns in Surrey, with its level, fully pedestrianised town centre and multiple car parks mainly under-cover, offering visitors an easy and convenient shopping experience.
Victoria Place, one of the South East’s most ambitious developments, brings all your favourite brands under one roof, alongside contemporary street-food in Market Walk, innovative public art, and independent outlets nearby.
In addition to Marks & Spencer’s two-level clothing and food store, the transformed western quarter of Woking town centre also offers apartments, additional parking and two new public plazas.
Eating out in Woking
A world of cuisine awaits in Woking, all within walking distance of the railway station. When it comes to eating out, Woking's diverse community means that the best authentic food from around the world can be enjoyed any time of day. Casual dining is well established in the town centre, with many popular bistros and cafés sitting alongside some of Woking’s most well-loved restaurants.
Woking hotels
DoubleTree by Hilton is just a few minutes’ walk from the station, and a popular choice for business visitors, as well as families looking to visit the nearby attractions at Thorpe Park and LEGOLAND Windsor. Premier Inn has established not one but two hotels in Woking, and Gorse Hill Hotel – found just a few miles outside the town centre - is an elegant mansion house hotel in a peaceful location, surrounded by expansive manicured gardens.
Woking heritage
Woking is proud of its long and significant links with the Muslim community in Britain. The establishment of the Oriental Institute by Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, in 1884, was soon followed by the building of the Shah Jahan Mosque in 1889 - the first purpose-built mosque in Britain and now a Grade I listed building.
More recently, The Peace Garden at the Muslim Burial Ground was restored to its former glory with the help of English Heritage and Woking Borough Council. The garden was the very first burial site dedicated to Muslim soldiers, and the Grade II listed monument was formally reopened in 2015.
Further afield from Woking
Britain’s first Muslim cemetery can be found within what was once the largest necropolis in Western Europe, at Brookwood Cemetery - part of the old London Necropolis Railway. Just a five-minute journey from Woking by rail, the cemetery’s historic landscaped gardens are found adjacent to Brookwood railway station.
RHS Garden Wisley is one of the Society’s prestigious five main national gardens. There is a direct RHS shuttle bus service between Woking station and RHS Garden Wisley, plus you will get a 25% car-free discount on garden admission when booking tickets online.
For more information about Woking visit the Celebrate Woking website.
