Dorking Area Guide

Check out our comprehensive video tour here

Dorking lies surrounded by the beautiful Surrey Hills (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the North Downs, with wide open spaces and spectacular views, woodlands, heathlands and waterways. It is ideal for walking, riding and cycling, and in fact it was part of the 2012 Olympic Cycling Race.

Places to eat include the Michelin Starred Sorrel restaurant in the heart of Dorking, a plethora of nearby gastro pubs and a fabulous choice of local cafes and tearooms. Denbies wine Estate not only offers you tours of their extensive vineyards but a restaurant too. Close by is Box Hill known for the far reaching views from the top, however you get there, Beaverbrook Luxury Country House Hotel and Spa, Polesden Lacey and RHS Wisley Gardens.

Some of Surrey’s top villages, as chosen by Surrey Life, are just outside of Dorking, chocolate box villages, steeped in history, with gastro pubs and local shops, perfectly placed for walking and commuting. These include; Mickleham, Brockham, Abinger Hammer and Betchworth to name a few.

There are plenty of schools to choose from in and around Dorking, from independent schools including Belmont School, Box Hill School and Hurtwood House which specializes in drama, film media, dance and music to state secondary schools such as The Ashcombe School and The Priory CofE School, plus a large number of local primary schools.

We think that with all this on your doorstep, a large selection of styles of properties to live in, 3 train stations and a short drive to the M25 Dorking is an idyllic place to live.

Highlights and attractions

Visit Denbies Wine Estate

At Denbies Wine Estate you can relax in the restaurant with beautiful views over the vineyards, book a wine tasting, host a wedding, stay in the hotel or take a walk through the vineyards.

Eat at the Michelin Star Sorrel Restaurant by Steve Drake

Steve Drake has worked in some of Europe’s best kitchens: Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane; the Oak Room with Marco Pierre White; Pied a Terre; Aubergine, as well as short stints at L’Arpège in Paris and L’Auberge de l’Eridan, Annecy.

He first rose to prominence when he won the Roux Scholarship – widely considered the most prestigious, and technically challenging, competition in the UK – and continues to be closely involved with the Roux family and his fellow scholars to promote their aim of inspiring and enabling a new generation of British chefs.

Following his win in 2001, Steve went on to gain his first Michelin star at Drake’s on the Pond in Abinger Hammer. He then opened Drake’s in Ripley where he held a star for a further 14 years.

Sorrel represents Steve’s 25 years of insight and experience from working alongside some of the most acclaimed chefs, and running his own kitchens.

The Grumpy Mole in Brockham

One of our favourite gastro pubs, perfectly placed om the village green in Brockham and with lovely food..

Visit Box Hill

National Trust Box Hill has so many beautiful walks and views over Dorking for miles.

Shop in Dorking

Dorking High Street has a wonderful combination of local and high street shop and lovely delicious restaurants, pubs and coffee shops

Mayflower Spa

Mayflower Spa is housed in William Mullins’ house, a Pilgrim Father who sailed on the Mayflower to America in 1620 and not only is it steeped in history but they offer a wonderful selection of sumptuous treatments.

Schools

Hurtwood House

Described as combining the best elements of the traditional boarding school system with the best elements of the modern sixth form college to create a wholly unique and individual establishment.

While breaking new ground educationally, it has retained traditional values and has created an inspirational but safe stepping-stone between school and university.

Hurtwood House specializes in drama, film media, dance and music.

Box Hill School

Box Hill School was founded in 1959 by Roy McComish, and is a founder member of Round Square, a world-wide association of schools which believe in preparing young people for life by facing it directly within a supportive but challenging school environment.

Box Hill School seek to give our students a holistic education. Holistic education is a philosophy of education based on the premise that each person finds identity, meaning, and purpose in life through connections to the community, to the natural world, and to humanitarian values such as compassion and peace. In turn, this is brought about through a wide experience of sport, creative arts, challenge, service, outward bound pursuits, and democratic participation as well as academic learning.

Belmont School

At Belmont School we believe that the happiness and well-being of every pupil is of paramount importance and lies at the heart of a successful education. We invest in these qualities in a school where kindness, respect and first-class pastoral care underpin all that we do. We have inspirational teachers whose dynamism and energy enrich the pupils' educational experiences using their impressive skills, creativity and enthusiasm. We believe in achievement for every boy and girl, and the pupils at Belmont exude a palpable energy that speaks for itself.

The Ashcombe School

Head Teacher Chris Panting says "I have a personal commitment to the quality of education received by every student in the school. Our very strong, well-qualified and committed team of staff deliver quality lessons, provide care and support and offer a remarkable range of extracurricular opportunities, which form a distinctive feature of the school. These include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and our annual dramatic musical production, which both attract high levels of student participation. We offer many additional opportunities, including international visits and exchanges, as well as outstanding computing resources. Our excellent facilities include a Sports Hall and an Arts Centre for Music, Drama and Art."

The Priory School

The Priory School in Dorking is a voluntary-aided Church of England school. We are led by our ethos; that each and every student should feel valued, be recognised for their contributions and achievements in our community, and be supported toward fulfilling their absolute potential. Our teachers are committed to helping students progress and thrive, and our whole-school team educates for life in all its fullness.

This approach gives us a strong identity with values and ethics that we are proud of. Our status as a Church of England Voluntary Aided school both informs and aligns with our beliefs, and we are committed to bringing our ethos to all that we do. We keep our core values in the heart of everything we do, these include wisdom, hope, dignity and community. These pillars form the foundations we live by, and have helped our school grow into the high performing and nurturing environment it is today.