When planning a stay in Esher, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on: landscape, architectural history or horse racing. The commons represent a large landscape area, St George’s Church has a long building history, and Sandown Park hosts flat and jump racing.
Landscape and guided walks
Esher Commons cover 360 hectares and were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by the government in 1995 because of their biodiversity. A single trail on Esher Common offers a specific route option: it is 500 metres long and level, starts at the Blackhills car park on Portsmouth Road, and passes through deciduous woodland and open heathland to Black Pond. The area describes the size of the landscape; the trail is a single, short route with a named start and destination.
Guided garden walks on various themes are offered throughout the year at Claremont Landscape Garden. The guided format provides a distinct focus within the landscape experiences on offer. As the programme may change, check the dates before your visit.
St George’s Church and its architectural history
St George’s Church, Esher was built around 1540 using a mixture of sandstone and brick; extensions followed between 1724 and 1842. The original construction and later building phases therefore belong to clearly separate periods. The interior contains 18th-century furnishings, including a three-tier pulpit and a pew designed by John Vanbrugh. Vanbrugh was also the architect of Blenheim Palace. The building materials, extensions and furnishings offer different historical points of interest for a culture-focused stay.
Horse racing and golf
Sandown Park Racecourse hosts 23 horse-racing meetings over the course of the year. The racecourse holds flat and jump races. If you want a particular race day to shape your stay, check the event date before booking. The racecourse entrances are about a ten-minute walk from Esher station; this approximate walking time refers to the route from the station to the entrances.
The course at Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Club is right next to Esher station. From the station, walk left across the common; after about 300 yards, the clubhouse comes into view. The club is a members’ club, run by its members for the benefit and enjoyment of its members and visitors. Its location, directions and members’ club character give golf its own distinct focus in travel planning.
Plan your stay around the occasion
When looking for hotels in Esher, it helps to distinguish between a date-dependent visit and a stay focused on the landscape or architectural history. If a race day or a particular garden walk is to determine your travel dates, check the relevant dates or programme before booking your hotel. If you are not planning your visit around a particular event date, the commons or the architectural history of St George’s Church can guide your choice of interests.
Discover more destinations: Sunbury-On-Thames, Haslemere, Peasmarsh, Chaldon, Englefield Green, Ewhurst, West Molesey, Ripley
For the broader travel overview: Surrey.
