Surrey - One of England's Most Overlooked Regions

The United Kingdom of Great Britain is a rich tapestry of diverse countryside, cities and cultures making it one of the finest vacation destinations in Europe. Whether you visit England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can be sure that, whatever your tastes, you will find plenty to keep you entertained for at least a week or two. While cities such as London and Edinburgh prove the most popular places to visit there are plenty other places which are well worth a visit and one of the most often overlooked regions in England, with regards to vacations, is the county of Surrey.

Surrey is a county situated in the South East of England less than an hour away from the nation's capital, London. Due to the close proximity to London the county is highly popular with commuters and while this has increased the population, and the cost of living, it has, surprisingly, had little impact upon the countryside. While Surrey is often overlooked in favour of the capital, and the nearby counties of of Kent and Sussex, this is to the great advantage of the adventurous tourist.

Many visitors are attracted to England because of its rich and influential history and places like London benefit from having a huge selection of world class visitor attractions and many historic sites and buildings. While Surrey is unable to offer such prestigious tourist attractions as many other parts of England it is home to a vast range of historic buildings, many of which are of extreme importance.

Dotted across the county are numerous fascinating structures including a fine selection of windmills including Almer's Mill, Hungry Corner Mill and Mugswell Mill. Many of the religious buildings can be dated back many centuries and even as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries. Wherever you travel in this part of England you will not get too far before you happen upon a small village or hamlet most of which feature a row of pretty old houses, a village green, the local pub and, of course, the local church. These are great places to stop for a bite to eat and it is often worth investigating the church as many feature ancient architectural delights, fascinating graves and wonderful stained glass. As well as the multitude of churches there are a number of priories which are also worth visiting. Worthy of a special mention are the remains of Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey in the UK.

If you prefer to visit more stately houses then Surrey does not fail with a huge range of historic houses and stately homes such as Clandon Park, Hatchlands Park, Loseley Park and Polesden Lacey. If, like many, you enjoy visiting English castles then you are also in luck as Surrey has a few castles of interest including the 13th-century Farnham Castle Keep and the earlier Guildford Castle Keep.

There are plenty of other things to see and do in the wonderful county of Surrey. The countryside is often breathtaking and there are a number of beautiful parks and gardens such as the Busbridge Lakes which features a variety of waterfowl and gardens. Also worth a visit are the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley. Museums in the county include the Army Medical Services Museum and the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, as well as Guildford Museum.

One final reason for choosing to take a vacation in Surrey, mentioned earlier, is that you are within forty five minutes to an hour away from London. This allows you to base yourself in the countryside while taking daytrips to England's most famous visitor attractions. Other places to visit near to Surrey include the popular town of Canterbury however you will find a great many places to visit in the county town of Guildford and the town of Dorking which can act as an excellent base for a vacation exploring the surrounding countryside which features such popular places as Box Hill and the North Downs.

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