Guildford was originally an Anglo-Saxon town called Golden Forde. The town was named after the Monastery at the sandy crossing of the River Wey.

By the mid 10th century Guildford had become the commercial centre for Surrey. It even minted it's own coins which are displayed in the Guildford Museum. Located behind the Museum is castle grounds and the recently restored mid 12th century castle keep. The grounds were formally laid out as gardens to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1888. The bowling green dates from the early 1700's.

A wealthy wool town by the reign of Henry III, Guildford received charter in 1257 as confirmation of the County Town for 'Surrey'.

In 1653 the Wey navigation opened linking Guildford to the River Thames and London. It was later extended to the South Coast and helped maintain prosperity. In the Summer months boat hire and guided tours are available from Guildford 'Boat House'.

A major coaching town in the mid-18th century, being strategically located on the London to Portsmouth route. The only remaining coaching Inn is the 'Angel Post House' and Livery, in continious use since 1522 with its fare share of ghosts and a haunted room.

This historic Surrey town has a picturesque cobbled 'High Street'. The impressive Guildhall with its famous 1683 clock is located in the High Street opposite Tunsgate. Guildford's general market is held on Friday and Saturday in North Street and on the first Tuesday of each month a farmers market in the High Street.

At the top of the High Street stands the Royal Grammar School built in 1553 when Edward VI re-endowed the school and Abbot's Hospital founded in 1619 by local George Abbot when he was the then Archbishop of Canterbury.

Lewis Carroll (Rev. Charles Dodgson) lived with his seven sisters at 'The Chestnuts', located adjacent to Guildford Castle, from 1868 to his death in 1898. It was here in 1871 that he wrote much of Alice Through The Looking Glass.

The 'Cathedral', 'University', 'College', 'Theatres', 'Sports and Leisure', 'Cinema', Lido, Night Clubs and 'Restaurants', all help to make Guildford a lovely and lively 'Place to Visit'. The surrounding countryside has been designated an area of outstanding beauty with considerable areas of the 'Surrey Hills' open to 'Public access'.

The Rotary Clubs of Guildford, to mark Rotary International's Centenary, gifted to the town the pavement bronze discs marking the route of an Historic Trail. The free trail map and historic information leaflet are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Tunsgate and 'Guildford Museum' in Quarry Street. A copy of the detailed map of the historic trail also appears on line at the website of The Rotary Club of Guildford Chantries www.guildford-chantries.org.uk.