Guildford, County town in Surrey, England
Guildford is a county town in Surrey, in the south of England, located roughly 40 kilometers southwest of London. The old town spreads on both banks of the River Wey, with a steep high street climbing the hill and flanked by Georgian facades and medieval buildings.
The first fortress rose in the years following the Norman Conquest as a royal stronghold. During the Middle Ages the town became a trading center for wool and cloth, with a market that continues to this day.
The name comes from Old English and means golden ford, referring to merchants crossing the river at this point. Today you see shoppers climbing the cobbled lanes while cafes and independent stores line the historic buildings along the slopes.
The walk from the train station to the center takes about 10 minutes and follows a flat path. Many shops and cafes sit on the steep section of the main street, so comfortable footwear helps.
Lewis Carroll wrote parts of Alice in Wonderland while visiting the Liddell family nearby. The cathedral on the hill was only completed in the 20th century, making it one of the youngest Anglican cathedrals in England.
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