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RHS Garden Wisley, Woking

Companionship careSurrey

Days out in Surrey for an older parent

Ten places in Surrey that make a good day out for an older parent, from RHS Garden Wisley to Priory Park, Reigate. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

RHS Garden Wisley. Photo: Patche99z, Public domain

Ten days out across nine towns

The best places to take an older parent in Surrey

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for eight confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking

Photo: Patche99z, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Woking

RHS Garden Wisley

RHS Garden Wisley near Woking is the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden, with a large glasshouse, a rock garden, mixed borders, a fruit field and trial beds across a big site. There is a food hall, a terrace restaurant, a glasshouse café and a plant centre.

There is a recommended wheelchair route, 20 manual wheelchairs at the entrance, free mobility scooters to book, accessible parking within 200 metres and adapted toilets at the entrance and in each eating place.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry, free for RHS members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Woking

Polesden Lacey, Great Brookham

Photo: Matt Ellery https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_ellery/, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Great Brookham

Polesden Lacey

Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian country house near Great Bookham, once the home of the society hostess Mrs Greville, set in a 1,600 acre National Trust estate on the Surrey Hills. There are gardens, a rose garden, estate walks, a café and a coffee shop.

A volunteer-driven accessible shuttle runs on some days, a mobility scooter and manual wheelchairs can be borrowed, and the café, coffee shop and courtyards all have step-free access.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Great Brookham

Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher

Photo: Trevor James Allan a.k.a. Tjandspallan at en.wikipedia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Esher

Claremont Landscape Garden

Claremont near Esher is one of the earliest English landscape gardens, looked after by the National Trust, with a lake, an island pavilion, a grotto and a rare turf amphitheatre. There is a café by the Visitor Reception.

The café and amphitheatre are step-free and the lakeside offers level access in places, manual wheelchairs can be borrowed, and Blue Badge bays are in the upper car park.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Esher

Painshill, Cobham

Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Cobham

Painshill

Painshill at Cobham is an 18th-century landscape garden laid out by Charles Hamilton, with a serpentine lake, a Gothic temple, a ruined abbey and a crystal grotto. There is a visitor centre, tea room and garden shop.

There are disabled bays close to the visitor centre, an accessible toilet there, an accessible route that takes in many of the follies including the grotto, and benches around the landscape.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Cobham

Watts Gallery Artists' Village, Guildford

Photo: ©Watts Gallery, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Guildford

Watts Gallery Artists' Village

Watts Gallery in Compton near Guildford is devoted to the Victorian painter G.F. Watts and the designer Mary Watts, with their gallery, their home Limnerslease and the richly decorated Watts Cemetery Chapel. The Watts Café has indoor and outdoor seating.

The gallery, Limnerslease, café and shop are fully accessible, wheelchairs are available on request, there are accessible toilets across the site and Blue Badge spaces in the car park.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Guildford

Brooklands Museum, Weybridge

Photo: Mike Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Weybridge

Brooklands Museum

Brooklands Museum at Weybridge stands on the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, with historic racing cars, a stretch of the banked track and aircraft built at Brooklands, including Concorde. There is a café in the old Clubhouse.

Three wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed, accessible parking is by the main entrance, the Clubhouse has level access with accessible toilets, and there is seating throughout.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Weybridge

Guildford Cathedral, Guildford

Photo: Purple at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Guildford

Guildford Cathedral

Guildford Cathedral is a 20th-century brick cathedral on Stag Hill with a bright, spacious interior and views across the town. Seasons Café and Restaurant is on site, and there is two-hour on-site parking for cathedral visitors.

Parking is right beside the cathedral and the café is on site, so a carer can plan a short visit without a long walk.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Guildford

Box Hill, Dorking

Photo: George Lambert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Dorking

Box Hill

Box Hill above Dorking is a National Trust beauty spot on the North Downs with one of the best-known views in the South East, looking over the Mole valley. At the top there is a café, a food kiosk and a picnic area beside the viewpoint.

Blue Badge bays are near the café, the café is step-free, and adapted toilets are between the café and kiosk, so the famous view can be enjoyed with very little walking.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Dorking

Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming

Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Godalming

Winkworth Arboretum

Winkworth Arboretum near Godalming is a National Trust tree collection on a hillside running down to a lake, with a boathouse, a picnic area and a tea room. It is at its most colourful in spring and autumn.

There are Blue Badge bays and an adapted toilet next to the visitor kiosk, but the paths are sloping and uneven with no mobility equipment to borrow, so a short visit to the tea room and nearby areas is best.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Godalming

Priory Park, Reigate, Reigate

Photo: Rjwilmsi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Reigate

Priory Park, Reigate

Priory Park is a large park on the edge of Reigate town centre with a lake, a sunken garden, woodland and open parkland in front of the historic Reigate Priory. The Pavilion houses a café, toilets and the park office.

The café and toilets are together in the Pavilion and the town centre is close by, so a carer can plan a gentle walk to the lake and back with a sit-down.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Reigate

Regular groups and events in Surrey

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Surrey.

  • Cooking & Baking · GuildfordGuildford Farmers' Market for ingredientsHeld 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.Details
  • Music · DorkingLeith Hill Musical Festival, the county's choral springtimeFounded 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.Details
  • DancingAge UK Surrey tea and dance afternoonsAge 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.Details
  • PaintingSurrey Artists Open Studios in JuneEvery 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.Details
  • Reading · GuildfordGuildford Book Festival each OctoberEstablished 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.Details
  • ReadingBooks brought to the door by Surrey LibrariesSurrey 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.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Surrey

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
RHS Garden WisleyWokinga full dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Polesden LaceyGreat Brookhamhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Claremont Landscape GardenEsheran hour or twoPaid entryPartlyYesYes
PainshillCobhamhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Watts Gallery Artists' VillageGuildfordhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Brooklands MuseumWeybridgehalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Guildford CathedralGuildfordan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Box HillDorkingan hour or twoFreePartlyYesYes
Winkworth ArboretumGodalmingan hour or twoPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Priory Park, ReigateReigatean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Surrey

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

BeltchingleyFarnhamStaines upon ThamesGomshallMalden RushettHaslemereCamberleyWokingGodalming12345678910
  1. 1RHS Garden Wisley, Woking
  2. 2Polesden Lacey, Great Brookham
  3. 3Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher
  4. 4Painshill, Cobham
  5. 5Watts Gallery Artists' Village, Guildford
  6. 6Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
  7. 7Guildford Cathedral, Guildford
  8. 8Box Hill, Dorking
  9. 9Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming
  10. 10Priory Park, Reigate, Reigate

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Surrey

Carers in Surrey charge £19 to £22 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Surrey has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Surrey

RHS Garden Wisley in Woking, Polesden Lacey in Great Brookham, Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher, Painshill in Cobham, Watts Gallery Artists' Village in Guildford, Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Guildford Cathedral in Guildford, Box Hill in Dorking, Winkworth Arboretum in Godalming and Priory Park, Reigate in Reigate. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

RHS Garden Wisley, Polesden Lacey, Claremont Landscape Garden, Painshill, Watts Gallery Artists' Village, Brooklands Museum, Box Hill and Winkworth Arboretum have an accessible toilet. RHS Garden Wisley, Polesden Lacey, Claremont Landscape Garden, Watts Gallery Artists' Village and Brooklands Museum lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Guildford Cathedral, Box Hill and Priory Park, Reigate. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 43 of the carers with a rate near Surrey drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Surrey shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Surrey

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Surrey

Days out in the areas around Surrey

Companionship care by town in Surrey

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Surrey

See carers near Surrey who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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