From the rolling hills and iconic white cliffs of Dover to the trim hedgerows of Buckinghamshire, nowhere offers travellers the quintessential feeling of 'Englishness' quite like the Home Counties. Nestled in the heart of this paragon of 'Englishness', the county of Surrey epitomises 'England's green and pleasant land' like no other. The accommodation that is presented here offers the discerning visitor an array of Surrey hotels, each as distinctive and charismatic as they are value for money.
Few places within Great Britain can offer as many contrasting facets to travellers as Surrey. With some of the widest green spaces and original woodland to be found anywhere in England, the county also borders the Greater London area, benefiting from an extensive transport network that manages to support the local infrastructure without overwhelming it.
Built on the ancient chalk of the North Downs, the county has avoided much of the intensive agriculture that has scarred many other English rural areas, leaving much of the area with traditional pastures and low-lying hedgerows, many of which have become sanctuaries for rare or endangered wildlife.
Surrey is famed throughout the United Kingdom for the natural beauty of many of its landmarks, such as Crooksbury Commons and Box Hill, and many public-access footpaths and bridleways extend throughout its enchanting countryside.
It would be wrong to suggest, however, that the county is merely of interest to those of a bucolic disposition. Its close proximity to London means that this area is amongst the most prosperous in Great Britain, with many City executives choosing to stay in its famous 'Stockbroker Belt' and commute into the metropolis on a daily basis.
Gatwick Airport, one of the world's busiest, is in the neighbouring county of West Sussex and most visitors to the UK who land there will travel through Surrey on their way to the capital. The area is also served by most of the major arterial transport routes, including the M3, M4 and M25 motorways and an extensive rail network.
The county is home to some of the most prosperous towns in the UK, many of which still maintain a sense of rustic charm, having resisted pressures for over-development during the nineteen sixties. The largest town is Guildford which, despite being less than thirty miles from London via the A3 trunk road, maintains its own distinct market town charisma. Other towns in the area include Woking, Leatherhead and Epsom, famed for its horse-racing.
With an economy that is far larger than its geographic boundary would suggest, the area has developed a leading-edge entertainment and hospitality industry, which is nowhere better exemplified than by the Surrey hotels listed here.
As mentioned earlier, a large proportion of Surrey’s wealth comes from its close connection to the city of London, and a huge variety of places to stay has arisen throughout the county to provide for the resultant clientèle.
The towns of Guildford and Woking, in particular, are well-served by most of the major brand hotel chains, which offer the standard 4 and 5-star accommodation that is familiar to travellers around the world. For travelling businesspeople, the M3 and M4 motorways which pass through the county are dotted with many varieties of affordable, yet comfortable motels, which offer all the facilities of larger establishments at a cheaper rate.
Many of the hotels are ideal for holding business meetings, exhibitions or conventions. The region's proximity to London and extensive transport network means that attendees can travel from all four corners of the British Isles with relative ease.
As home to several university towns, the area provides visitors with much in the way of cheap bed & breakfast accommodation. Whether it is a backpacker's hostel or a family-run B&B in a grand Victorian mansion, the range of hotels on offer ensures that guests of any budget or taste are well-catered for.
For those in not so much of a hurry, a meander along the smaller 'B' roads that snake through the county can often provide picaresque travellers with some of the best Surrey hotels there are. Many of these premises are hundreds of years old, often converted from coach-houses and stables and offer a distinct alternative to often faceless corporate lodgings.
The countryside also offers visitors the opportunity to spend the night in a traditional English tavern. The county's smaller roads are peppered with small, often family-run establishments that offer guests a real slice of old-England, with lattice windows and even thatched roofs. Tourists should not ignore establishments like this merely because they do not have a recognised corporate logo.
With such an eminent heritage, the area is not short of classic and stately architecture and many of it's most historic and prestigious addresses have been adapted in recent years to serve as world-class 5-star (and upwards) hotels and resorts.
These Surrey hotels offer guests the last word in pampered luxury, and the chance to live like a Lord or Lady in surroundings of neo-classical perfection. Most stately homes that have been converted into places to stay have maintained their immaculately-cultivated gardens and lawns, many of which date back hundreds of years.
Facilities that are offered by premier accommodations such as these can include tennis courts, horse-riding, shooting and full-service spa treatments. Dining facilities are also amongst the best to be found anywhere in the UK, with internationally-famed chefs lending their names and culinary skills to the kitchens at several establishments.
The county presents its visitors with a wide array of accommodation to choose from. By visiting our Surrey Hotels website, they can rest assured of choosing lodgings that provide first-rate comfort, value and service.
