University of Surrey International Study Centre

Life at Surrey

An Unrivalled Location

The University of Surrey is ideally located for international students. Close to the two main international airports, it is based in a safe, attractive town in the beautiful South East of England and is less than an hour from all the world-class attractions of London.

Guildford - your university town

Guildford was voted one of the top ten places to live in a recent survey on UK television. Set in the heart of Surrey's rolling countryside, the bustling, historic town is just ten minutes' walk away from the University. Offering all the amenities of a modern city, Guildford has great shopping, a huge variety of pubs and bars, great restaurants, lively clubs and excellent sports facilities.

The town boasts:

A lively nightlife - an eclectic mix of over 25 pubs and bars, restaurants and cafes for all tastes and budgets
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre - a major regional theatre and performance venue
The Electric Theatre - community arts, comedy, music and cabaret
The Spectrum Leisure Centre - recently rated the top leisure centre complex in the country through the Quest assessment
Home of Guilfest - one of the most popular and fastest growing festivals in the country
Some of the best shopping in the South East

London on your doorstep

One of the great things about Guildford is that it is so close to London. In only 40 minutes you can be right in the heart of this great city meaning that it's close enough to visit for the evening or weekend. If you want to really explore some of the best culture, shopping, entertainment and tourist attractions on the planet then you need to be near London. The University of Surrey gives you easier access to London that nearly every UK university.

Transport links - local, national and international

It is also a great base from which to explore further. With both Heathrow and Gatwick airports less than an hour away, it will be easy to get to the University when you first arrive. It also means that, if you want to, it's very easy to take a quick trip over to Europe during the vacations. England's beautiful south coast is also within easy reach; the seaside city of Brighton is ever-popular with international visitors and UK nationals alike.

Locally, there is a regular bus service between the campus and the town which runs late into the night while trains to London and elsewhere run very frequently.

Quick trips and places to visit include:

Surrey Hills area of outstanding natural beauty
World-class sporting venues - Wimbledon (tennis), Twickenham (rugby union), Epsom and Ascot (horse racing), Sunningdale and Wentworth (golf), The Oval (cricket)
Historic places - Hampton Court, Windsor Castle
Theme parks - Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures

Key journey times

7-12 minutes from the University campus to the centre of Guildford
50 minutes from Guildford to Heathrow airport
40 minutes from Guildford to Gatwick airport
35-40 minutes from Guildford to London

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