Godalming has more than 200 listed buildings, a church with a history spanning over a thousand years, and paths along its waterways. This makes it possible to combine different interests during a stay: architectural history and the museum, walks along the River Wey, or time in Phillips Memorial Park. The side of the town you would like to explore more closely can also be a helpful guide when choosing a hotel in Godalming.
Timber-framed buildings and historic landmarks
Church Street is lined with timber-framed buildings dating from the 15th century. It gives Godalming’s architectural history a tangible face: rather than visiting individual historic buildings, you can take in an entire street of this architecture. Godalming is home to more than 200 listed buildings in total.
The Pepperpot is another distinctive landmark in the town’s history. It was built in 1814 to replace the old market hall. Godalming Minster St Peter & St Paul has stood at the heart of Godalming for more than a thousand years. The street, the replacement for the former market hall and the church each lead to a different aspect of the town’s history.
A museum with several historical perspectives
The galleries at Godalming Museum cover the history of Godalming from the Stone Age to the present day. This broad time span makes the museum a fitting counterpart to the town’s buildings: here, the focus is on development over long periods, while Church Street and the Pepperpot point to specific historic places.
Other galleries have their own distinct focus. The Arts and Crafts gallery explores the work of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens. A Jack Phillips gallery tells the story of the young telegraphist aboard the RMS Titanic and his role in saving hundreds of people. Those interested in local history can therefore find both art and design history and a personal story from the world of seafaring at the museum.
Waterways on the edge of town
The River Wey runs along the edge of Godalming and can be accessed from several points. Visitors can walk along the towpath of the River Wey Navigations and explore different stretches of the waterways. This offers a different focus from the historic buildings: here, the waterways and walking by the river take centre stage, rather than streets and exhibition spaces.
The history of navigation is also part of the picture. The Godalming Navigation opened in 1764, allowing barges to travel a further four miles upstream. This historical context adds insight into the waterways’ former use to a walk along the towpath, without equating today’s path with its former transport function.
Park and getting there
Phillips Memorial Park covers 4.5 hectares and has been awarded a Green Flag Award. The park is home to the Memorial Cloister, built in 1913 through public donations in memory of an unselfish act. The park adds another way to spend time outdoors to the historic streets and museum.
For rail travel, Godalming station is a useful landmark: it is on the Portsmouth line, and the town centre is a short walk away. When planning your stay, you can choose according to your interests: architectural history and the museum call for more time exploring the historic sights, while the towpath and park offer other outdoor experiences.
Discover more destinations: Virginia Water, Egham, Peasmarsh, Thorpe, Weybridge, Frensham, West Molesey, Bletchingley
For the broader travel overview: Surrey.
