Keeping up the things they love is most of what makes a day good. 475 vetted live-in carers could come to live in Surrey. This page shows what they enjoy, what Surrey offers for each interest, and how to find someone who shares your mother's or father's.
87 carers near Surrey have told us what they enjoy
What the carers enjoy
Live-in carers move in rather than travel each day, so the choice is wide: 475 are within about three hours of Surrey. These are the interests on the profiles of the nearest of them. Tap one to see what Surrey offers for it.
Listed by manyLess common, so a better matchFrom the profiles of the 100 nearest live-in carers within about three hours of Surrey, September 2026; 87 of them list interests.
Common ground is easy
Most carers list walking, music and watching TV. If that is what your mother or father enjoys, nearly anyone will share it, so choose on the things that matter more: experience, manner and whether they get on.
The less common interests
Fewer carers list these, which is exactly why they are worth searching on. Someone who shares a real passion makes a long week go quickly.
Carers choose the interests on their own profiles. A shared hobby is a good start, not a guarantee, so talk about it when you meet them.
Interest 1
Surrey is chalk downland, heath and river valley, with the North Downs and old towpaths giving walkers everything from hilltop views to flat waterside routes.
81 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list walking
Somewhere to go
Box Hill, Dorking
Box Hill is a National Trust chalk hill above the Mole valley with a viewpoint, cafe and a network of waymarked trails of varying difficulty. A carer can drive to the top car park, choose one of the shorter level loops rather than the steep hike, and plan a tea stop partway round.
Source: nationaltrust.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
River Wey and Godalming Navigations, Guildford
The National Trust looks after about 20 miles of towpath between Godalming, Guildford and the Thames, passing locks, wharves and boats. A carer can pick a short there-and-back stretch from a car park or station, so the walk can be cut short at any point.
Source: nationaltrust.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion walks at their pace, knows when to turn back, and drives to the flat, well-surfaced routes so a short walk is still possible when a long one is not.
Live-in carers who enjoy walkingSome who could come in Surrey
Nyarai N.£180 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Sithabile Tabile M.£175 a day33 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, cooking & baking, puzzles, gardening
Mary K.£217 a day4 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Christina N.£160 a day9 yrsAlso enjoys cooking & baking, puzzles, DIY, readingInterest 2
Surrey has a strong amateur choral and church music tradition, shaped by composers who lived and worked in the county.
68 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list music
In the calendar
Dorking Halls, Dorking
Founded in 1905 and long conducted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, this choral festival brings Surrey choral societies together each spring at Dorking Halls. A carer can book seats near an aisle, arrange the parking and handle the evening travel so a long-time concertgoer can still attend.
Source: en.wikipedia.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Guildford
The cathedral keeps a daily pattern of services with sung evensong from its choir, and there is no admission charge. A short late afternoon service suits someone who tires easily, and a carer can check the service list first as times vary.
Source: guildford-cathedral.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Old records, a choir concert, singing along in the kitchen. Music often stays with people long after other things fade, and a companion who enjoys it makes it part of the day.
Live-in carers who enjoy musicSome who could come in Surrey
Aman A.£140 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & baking
Reda S.£160 a day11 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Nyashadzaishe Sharon C.£160 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Jolly S.£148 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys cooking & baking, DIY, socialising, readingInterest 3
Surrey cooking leans on the produce of its farms and market towns, with dairy, orchard fruit and smallholding vegetables still sold direct to local people.
65 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list cooking & baking
Local food
Albury
Norbury Blue is a handmade blue cheese from Norbury Park Farm Cheese Co, described as Surrey's only commercial cheesemaker, now made at Sherbourne Farm on the Albury Estate. A carer could bring some home for a cheese and biscuit afternoon, or use it in a familiar recipe such as a soup or a savoury tart.
Source: guildford-dragon.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
In the calendar
Guildford
Held in Guildford High Street on the first Tuesday of most months, the market brings together over 50 local and regional producers selling direct. A carer can turn the trip into the first half of a cooking session, choosing what to buy and then cooking it together at home.
Source: guildford.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer does the lifting, the hot trays and the washing up, so the recipes, the judging and the tasting stay with the person who knows them.
Live-in carers who enjoy cooking & bakingSome who could come in Surrey
Charity N.£135 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Zion S.£189 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, knitting, socialising, board games
Rona C.£200 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, watching TV
Calvin M.£200 a day14 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, puzzlesInterest 4
Surrey has a well used county library network and a long standing literary festival tradition in its larger towns.
57 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list reading
In the calendar
Guildford
Established in 1989, the festival brings authors to Guildford venues each October for talks and readings. A carer can choose a daytime event, book accessible seats and read the author's book together beforehand so the talk means more.
Source: guildfordbookfestival.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Surrey County Council libraries arrange for a volunteer to bring library items to people who cannot get to a branch because of illness or disability. A carer can help set up the service, keep a list of favourite authors, and read aloud when eyesight or concentration makes reading hard.
Source: surreycc.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Library trips, reading aloud when eyes tire, audiobooks set up and ready, and somebody to talk about the book with.
Live-in carers who enjoy readingSome who could come in Surrey
Tendai N.£180 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys decorating, embroidery, knitting, music
Halima S.£140 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Eniola A.£172 a day16 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking
Erika P.£145 a day1 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, cooking & bakingInterest 5
Surrey keeps both the old village dance customs of the Thames valley and a steady round of social ballroom afternoons in its towns.
53 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list dancing
In the calendar
Age UK Surrey runs tea and dance events with ballroom and Latin demonstrations, a chance to try the steps and afternoon tea. A carer can book a place, go along as a partner, and keep the dancing to one or two numbers with tea in between.
Source: ageuk.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
From tea dances to seated movement to music, a companion can find the right session, drive there, and make sure it is enjoyable rather than tiring.
Live-in carers who enjoy dancingSome who could come in Surrey
Natasha Perpetua M.£180 a day17 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Veronica K.£150 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, gardening, knitting
Andres Felipe C.£150 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, puzzles, decorating, fishing
Jaison M.£145 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, puzzles, fishing, gardeningInterest 6
Surrey is racing and cricket country, with downland courses and town grounds that have hosted the county game for generations.
37 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list sports
Somewhere to go
Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom
Epsom has staged racing since the seventeenth century and hosts the Derby and the Oaks each June alongside other fixtures through the year. A carer can book an ordinary weekday or evening meeting rather than Derby day, and use the published access guide to plan parking and viewing.
Getting around: AccessAble publishes a detailed access guide for the racecourse covering parking, entrances and facilities.
Source: accessable.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
In the calendar
Guildford
Surrey County Cricket Club has played an annual festival week at Guildford Cricket Club's Woodbridge Road ground since 1938. A carer can bring a folding chair and a flask, and treat it as a few hours of watching rather than a full day.
Source: guildfordcc.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Watching the match together, a trip to the bowls green or the cricket, or gentle exercise done safely with someone alongside.
Live-in carers who enjoy sportsSome who could come in Surrey
Titus M.£160 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, puzzles, fishing, board games
Allen N.£160 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys puzzles, gardening, socialising, watching TV
Sherlan B.£160 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, cooking & baking, gardening
Beatrice M.£140 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, cooking & bakingInterest 7
Surrey has a large network of conservation and community organisations that rely on regular volunteers, including many older ones.
29 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list volunteering
Somewhere to join
The trust takes volunteers for reserve work, education and community projects as well as office, administration and membership roles. A carer can help look through the current listings for a sitting-down or short-shift role and provide the lift there and back.
Source: surreywildlifetrust.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Surrey Libraries uses volunteers across its branches and services, from events and wellbeing activities to sorting stock. A carer can help with the expression of interest form and settle someone into a regular weekly slot at their nearest branch.
Source: surreycc.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can help find a role that suits sitting down or short sessions, and handle the lifts there and back.
Live-in carers who enjoy volunteeringSome who could come in Surrey
Kobina E.£200 a day3 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & baking
Daniella H.£161 a day24 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Raja S.£157 a day13 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, yoga
Beckee W.£200 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, yoga, socialising, board gamesInterest 8
Surrey's sandy, acid soils and long history of grand country estates have left the county with some of the best known gardens and plant collections in England.
27 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list gardening
Somewhere to go
RHS Garden Wisley, Woking
Wisley is the Royal Horticultural Society's main garden, with glasshouses, trial beds, mixed borders and plenty of seating and catering. A carer can check the visit planning page in advance, book a quieter weekday and keep the route to one or two areas rather than the whole site.
Source: rhs.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Cobham
Painshill is a restored eighteenth century pleasure ground of lake, follies and planted walks, with a visitor centre and cafe. The garden publishes an accessibility page, so a carer can read it beforehand and plan a route that suits the day.
Source: painshill.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Potting on at a table rather than kneeling, deadheading from a stool, visiting gardens with level paths and a tearoom: a carer keeps the garden in their week.
Live-in carers who enjoy gardeningSome who could come in Surrey
Interest 9
The Surrey Hills give photographers big downland views and woodland light within a short drive of most of the county's towns.
23 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list photography
Somewhere to go
Guildford
Newlands Corner looks out over the Surrey Hills from the North Downs and has a waymarked easier access trail from the Discovery Centre with a surfaced viewpoint. A carer can drive to the free car park, stay on the surfaced loop and let the camera work happen at an unhurried pace.
Getting around: The waymarked easier access trail has no gates or stiles, a surfaced viewpoint and disabled parking, though there is a moderate incline.
Source: surreyhills.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion can plan an outing around the light and the tide, carry the kit, and help sort the pictures afterwards.
Live-in carers who enjoy photographySome who could come in Surrey
Margery N.£160 a day25 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, knitting
Favour K.£149 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, cooking & baking
Martha P.£180 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & baking
Safiyo M.£161 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesInterest 10
Surrey drew artists out from London in the Victorian era and still has a large community of working painters in its villages.
17 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list painting
Somewhere to go
Compton
This Arts and Crafts village near Guildford holds the work of G F Watts and Mary Watts, with galleries, a chapel and a tea shop. A carer can book ahead and plan a short visit around the galleries, noting that wheelchair access is limited in some parts of the historic site.
Getting around: Because of the landscape and historic buildings, wheelchair access is limited in some parts of the site.
Source: wattsgallery.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
In the calendar
Every June artists across Surrey open their studios to the public free of charge, showing painting, ceramics, jewellery and mixed media. A carer can pick two or three studios close together, ring ahead about steps and parking, and turn it into a short afternoon out.
Source: surreyopenstudios.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Setting up the table, washing the brushes, finding a gallery with a lift: a carer handles the practical side so the time goes on the painting.
Live-in carers who enjoy paintingSome who could come in Surrey
Interest 11
Surrey has an active textile craft scene, with guilds and library craft circles keeping spinning, weaving and knitting going in its towns and villages.
17 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list knitting
Somewhere to join
Victoria Hall, Ash
The guild meets twice a month at Victoria Hall in Ash, on the first Monday and second Wednesday, with other craft days and exhibitions around Farnham. A carer can carry the bag of wool and equipment, provide transport and sit in for the session.
Source: ashpcsurrey.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Guildford
A free drop-in group for adults of all abilities to bring knitting, crochet or embroidery, share patterns and meet people, with no need to book. A carer can check the current date on the library's events page and go along for the company as well as the craft.
Source: surreycc.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Winding wool, reading the pattern aloud, picking up dropped stitches, and a trip to the wool shop or a knitting group.
Live-in carers who enjoy knittingSome who could come in Surrey
Rosemary S.£160 a day17 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, music
Elizabeth B.£140 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Sarah S.£167 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Rosemary M.£180 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, puzzlesInterest 12
Surrey's old estate lakes and its stretches of the Thames and Wey give the county a long coarse fishing tradition within easy reach of its towns.
10 of 87live-in carers we looked at
list fishing
Somewhere to go
Bury Hill Fisheries, Dorking
Bury Hill is a long established estate fishery near Dorking with around 20 acres of lakes known for tench, bream and carp, plus day tickets and a tackle shop. A carer can phone ahead about which swims can be reached easily by car, carry the gear and sit out a few quiet hours alongside.
Source: fisheries.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can sort the permit and the tackle, drive to a bank spot close to the car park, and bring the chair, the flask and the patience.
Live-in carers who enjoy fishingSome who could come in Surrey
Nitin S.£135 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Alefah R.£148 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & baking
Sharlene C.£150 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, decoratingCalvin M.£200 a day14 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & bakingCloser to home
Not every good day involves going out. These are the everyday interests the carers who could come list most, and each is easier, and more fun, with somebody to share it.
From interest to introduction
Use the link under any interest on this page. It opens a search of live-in carers in Surrey with the carers who list that interest first; nobody else is hidden, so you still see everyone who could come.
Each profile shows the carer's interests next to their experience, the conditions they have cared for, their day rate and their reviews. Shortlist two or three.
Message and meet them for free. Ask about the hobby: someone who really gardens will tell you what they grow. Nothing is booked until you decide.
We set up the contract, handle invoicing and payment, and insure the care while the carer works. The rest of the week is theirs to fill.
Charlotte
Care manager for families in Surrey
Someone to talk to first
Most families start with a call: what your relative needs, what it would cost, which carers share your parent's interests, and whether live-in care or companionship visits suit them better, and what to ask a carer when you speak to them. Charlotte has those conversations every day and can tell you which of the carers in Surrey might suit, though the choice is always yours.
Questions
Yes. Getting out is a normal part of a live-in carer's week: a walk (Box Hill is a good one), a garden visit, a choir concert, the bowls club or a lunch with friends. Many carers drive, and the search shows who does. Mileage is only charged if you agree it in advance and in writing, and 55p a mile is the usual figure when a carer uses their own car. Entry tickets and cafe stops for the carer are worth agreeing up front too.
Use the link under the interest on this page: it opens a search of live-in carers in Surrey with the ones who list that interest shown first, and the rest still there below them. Every profile shows the carer's interests alongside their experience, rates and reviews. Message the ones you like, and talk about the hobby when you meet them: it is the quickest way to tell whether the interest is real.
For live-in care it matters more than people expect. A live-in carer shares the house for weeks at a time, and the hours between the care tasks are most of the day. Somebody who likes the same programmes, games or garden fills those hours naturally. It is still second to experience and temperament, so treat it as a tie-breaker between good carers rather than the first thing you filter on.
Live-in care through PrimeCarers is typically about £1,120 a week, with our fee included, and each carer sets their own rate, shown on their profile. That covers somebody living in and helping through the day. If your parent needs company rather than round-the-clock help, hourly companionship visits start from about £15 an hour. Companionship care in Surrey compares the two.
Then the interest comes to him. A carer can bring the garden to a table on the patio, put the old records on, set up the jigsaw, read the paper aloud or play cards most afternoons. The interests further down this page are mostly the ones done at home, and plenty of carers share them.
Each local suggestion was researched from published sources, and every one on the page has passed a check before appearing: either it was found on a map inside Surrey, or its source page, which we link to, is live and names the area. Anything that failed was left out. Opening times, prices and access change, so check with the venue before you go, especially for gardens such as RHS Garden Wisley, where it is worth asking ahead about wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Yes. Before a carer appears on PrimeCarers they have passed an enhanced DBS check, an identity check and a right-to-work check, and had an online interview with our team, with renewal or rechecks depending on the accepted route. Carers write their own profiles, including their interests and skills, so ask about anything that matters to you when you meet them. How we vet carers sets out each step.
See live-in carers with their photos, interests, rates and reviews, and talk to your favourites for free. Nothing is booked until you say so.
