Location: Dorking
Top Things to do in Dorking
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Dorking, United Kingdom (UK)
Dorking /ˈdɔːr.kɪŋ/ is a market town in Surrey, England between Ranmore Common in the North Downs range of hills and Leith Hill in the Greensand Ridge, centred 21 miles (34 km) from London.
Restaurants in Dorking
1. Leith Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 356 reviews
Reviewed By SupermanRuns - Horsham, United Kingdom
A number of different car parks available. We chose Starveall Corner Car Park. It’s free, not too steep a walk to the tower. A small serving hatch at the tower gives way to a tardis of food and drink options. Climbing the tower is free to NT members. No toilets there though.
A superb family and dog walk!
2. Box Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 539 reviews
Reviewed By traceyd706 - Penrith
First visit to Surrey, went for a Sunday morning walk at Box Hill. Enjoyable ramble, even though being slippy under foot due to the recent wet weather. Lots of families and couples out walking and enjoying the countryside.
3. Denbies Wine Estate
Overall Ratings
4 based on 712 reviews
The Denbies Estate, based in Dorking, Surrey, has been family owned and run since 1984. Denbies vineyard was planted in 1986, and since then has become one of the largest wine producers in the UK. Denbies core business is agriculture and we are pleased to be able to offer visitors an insight into wine production in the UK. Denbies wine now competes on an international level, including multiple gold awards for sparkling wine production, the first ever gold for an English rose wine and most recently an international gold for Denbies Noble Harvest Dessert wine. We are honoured over the years to have welcomed several members of the Royal family to the estate, completing the historical connections which date back to Prince Albert in 1851. The Surrey Hills is a beautiful area to live in and while you are visiting do take advantage of the surrounding areas, including 7 miles of public footpath which trail throughout the vineyard. Thank you for visiting Denbies Wine Estate. If you have any questions during your visit, our staff will be very happy to assist you in any matter. We very much hope that you will enjoy your visit.
Reviewed By BobandJosie - Reading, United Kingdom
We went as a family for the Winery Tour - which was interesting and consisted of agood well- prepared video, tour of the production areas, and finally a tasting.
Tour guide clearly knew her stuff and could answer a variety of questions.
Tour was on a Sunday - and might have been more interesting had we gone during the week - when the production area wa in full swing.
4. Leith Hill Place
Overall Ratings
4 based on 127 reviews
Reviewed By Nick A - Ruislip
Out of the way place parking in rhododendron wood,which is a good half mile walk,nice in summer,not so nice in October,when wet.We walked back along the road.The house is work in progress,not shure where they will get the furniture and fittings from.When visited,exhibition of Wedgewood ceramics and was being used as craft centre,there are various events throughout the year,as well as the history of Ralph Vaughan Williams.Cafe light snacks run by volunteers,pay by donaton.
5. Dorking Museum and Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By NatalieAnderson - Banstead, United Kingdom
This museum is an eclectic mix of artefacts from the Dorking area. It covers a range of eras from prehistoric times with an interesting fossil collection through to shop memorabilia and local celebrities. There are nice interactive displays.
6. Gorgeous Gerties
Overall Ratings
4 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By xphaiea - Dorking, United Kingdom
We visited around lunchtime for a late lunch and ordered two bagels and a pot of tea each. The tea came within acceptable time, but it took 45 minutes for the bagels to surface. Understandably by this time we were hungry and impatient.
There appeared to be plenty of staff milling around out back but very few focused on actually serving customers. The bagels were nice, although nothing special.
I've been here several times before and it relies heavily on its cosy twee image, but value for money and service is not exceptional.
They have a nice range of smoothies although the machine regularly breaks and staff are slow to welcome late comers to larger parties. On this visit we were surrounded by indulgent older middle class 'parents' - I use the term loosely here as very little parenting was in evidence. Children and toddlers were shrieking and caterwauling with wild abandon, with no concern or attempt to quieten them. Baby changing is provided in the cramped toilet (more of a cupboard really) upstairs.
All in all rather underwhelming, sugar coated tweeness that doesn't really cut the mustard, or maybe that should be cake...
7. The Deepdene Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By NatalieAnderson - Banstead, United Kingdom
Having read other Trip Advisor reviews, we followed recommendations to park at the car park behind the Dorking Halls. It was a 20 minute walk to get to the Deepdene Trail alongside an extremely busy road! Fortunately the trail is wonderfully peaceful in contrast! Comfortable footwear is highly recommended and the pathway up to the Terrace can be quite steep although you are rewarded with beautiful views. The pathway to the Gardens is more gentle. Interesting features include a grotto and statue. We met only a couple of other visitors while we were there. No refreshments are available here so take snacks or a drink as there is plenty of Seating and picnic tables in the garden. Shame there's no parking - this wasn't a problem for us but am sure this could be for others.
8. St Martin's Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew S - Ormskirk, United Kingdom
Although this town church is primarily a Victorian restoration, there are many interesting items to see inside the church including some fascinating mosaics on the walls commemorating Royal Jubilees - Victoria and Elizabeth 2nd. But the best feature for me was some very fine Victorian stained glass windows. Little expense appears to have been spared on these, and some excellent workshops were used to produce them. Fine details have been preserved - unlike many of the run-of-the-mill Victorian stained glass windows. Well worth a visit to see them.
9. Surrey Hills Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Marty B - Romford, United Kingdom
A very nice little microbrewery tucked away round the back of the Denbies vineyard buildings. You can buy a pint while you're there or, like I did, they have several gift boxes to choose from too. Shere Drop is their main, and most popular ale, which you'll find on tap at a lot of Surrey pubs.
10. Bury Hill Fisheries
Overall Ratings
4 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Keith P - Buckhurst Hill, United Kingdom
Bury Hill Fisheries are the benchmark by which all UK commercial course fisheries should be measured. Clean, and tidy surrounded by beautiful countryside and manicured lawns, Magnolia trees and hedgerows this fishery has everything (except a fish-able river frontage - but that's not their fault!). I have visited twice a year for the past 6 years or so and if you stick to the basics, loose-feed regularly you are pretty-well guaranteed a good day's sport.
Like all modern fisheries you need to concentrate for the best results and a little local knowledge gleaned from the guys in the tackle shop is useful. You can expect mixed bags from Milton Lake using float or feeder, frantic carp action on Bonds on the method feeder fished hard against the island and big bags of bream and tench on the historical Old Lake using feeder/maggots as well as a few decent carp on big rod tactics. A second rod fished in the margins often gets the best fish of the day; the water is cloudy and the bigger fish hide in plain sight here.
The tackle shop is always well-stocked with good quality gear and the loos are clean and well maintained. I've had some great scram from the cafe too but also some fairly average fare, but you don't go to Bury Hill for the food.
I'd like to give Bury Hill 5/5 but a peaceful day's fishing is often disturbed by the groundsmen's noisy tractors/chainsaws/hedge trimmers as they aim to keep the place looking tip-top all the time. Its a big, popular place and needs a lot of TLC.
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