experience experience experience culture history

Woking is a vibrant and modern town in A farmers’ market visits the town every third Local places of historic interest include the heart of green and leafy . Thursday in the month, when great-tasting local , which opened in food and drink can be bought direct from the 1854 and, at 450 acres, is the largest in Britain. Woking’s development began with the arrival producers. Continental markets are also regularly Since its original use by the London parishes, of the railway from London to Southampton in held in Woking Town Centre, where you can it has become a working cemetery for 1838, and today the town is well connected by hear French and German spoken and enjoy denominations and nationalities from all road, rail, sea and air to the rest of the UK and specialist cuisine. over the world. continental Europe. Woking boasts an ever-expanding range of In , the original settlement of Woking, Woking benefits from a fast, regular train pubs and restaurants, both in the town centre the ruins of one of Henry VIII’s country retreats, service to London Waterloo in under 25 minutes, and the surrounding villages, catering for all Woking Palace, are alongside the River Wey and close proximity to Junctions 10 and 11 of purses and tastes. Why not combine a meal and can be visited on special open days. the M25. out with a night at the theatre or cinema? Nearby, parts of Grade I listed St. Peter’s Church survive from Norman times, and the building There is a direct coach service between Woking is fortunate to have one of the features the oldest door in Surrey, dated between Woking and London Heathrow twice an largest entertainment complexes in the region – 1106 and 1138. hour; Gatwick Airport is an hour away by The Ambassadors – whose train, via Guildford or Clapham Junction; and hosts some of the biggest and best shows from The Shah Jahan Mosque in Maybury was Southampton Airport is just a 40 minute London’s West End, and Rhoda McGaw Theatre the first purpose-built mosque in Britain. rail journey. offers a high quality performance space for the Completed in 1889 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm community. There are also six cinema screens Leitner, and designed by Victorian architect showing the latest film releases. W.L. Chambers, its green and white dome is one of Woking’s landmarks. Woking This guide is a publication of Woking Town experience Twinning Association, to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Its aims are to promote and foster friendship and understanding between the people of innovation Woking and District and those of Woking’s twin towns. The Association provides contacts within the twin Woking is perhaps best known as the home of towns for individuals, clubs, schools and other McLaren, the Formula One motor racing team. organisations, and is an active facilitator of The group’s HQ – including the McLaren exchange visits. Membership and participation Technology and Production Centres – is a state-of- is open to anyone living or working in and around the-art facility on the outskirts of the town. Woking, who is interested in finding out about everyday life and the special occasions in our Innovative design also features alongside the twin towns: picturesque Basingstoke Canal, where both the award-winning The Lightbox gallery and museum, Amstelveen in the Netherlands, and WWF-UK’s Living Planet Centre are located. charter 1989

In the town centre, public art includes the Le Plessis-Robinson in France, Town Gate, and the striking Martian sculpture, charter 1993 a tribute to ‘The War of the Worlds’ author, H. G. Wells, who lived in Woking in 1895/6 Rastatt in Germany, and set his novel here. charter 2001

Visitors find Woking’s modern, accessible town centre easy to get around. The majority of the For further information about Woking, please contact: shops are under cover, and the revitalised town Woking Borough Council, centre has attracted plenty of well-known stores Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, as well as more boutique outlets. Woking, Surrey GU21 6YL Phone 01483 755855 Email [email protected] www.woking.gov.uk

To find out more about town twinning, please contact the WTTA Hon. Secretary: Phone 01483 743001 Email [email protected] or write c/o the address above www.woking.gov.uk/woking/people/twinning

This leaflet has been kindly supported by Woking Borough Council experienceWoking

Sports and leisure Local villages Motorsport and aviation There are well-marked paths for cyclists Most of Woking’s villages can easily be Nearby attractions include the birthplace of and pedestrians throughout the Borough, reached on foot or by bicycle from the town UK motorsport and aviation – Brooklands such as the Basingstoke Canal towpath. centre, and many are home to fascinating Museum – and Mercedes-Benz World, There are also extensive sport, leisure buildings that are Grade I or II listed, such as both near . and golf facilities available, including St. Peter’s Church in Old Woking, St. Mary’s in Woking Football Club stadium. and St. Nicholas’ in .

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RHS Garden Wisley 7 rhs.org.uk/wisley 8 Shah Jahan Mosque Outdoor attractions Heritage Open Days wokingmosque.org.uk RHS Garden Wisley is just a few miles south Why not visit Woking during the annual 9 The Ambassadors east of Woking. On the other side of the Heritage Open Days weekend in September, atgtickets.co.uk Borough are the Bisley Ranges, home of when over a dozen properties of historic The Lightbox the National Rifle Association and its national interest open their doors for free? 10 thelightbox.org.uk and international shooting competitions. Woking Palace RHS/Carol Sheppard 11 woking-palace.org

Woking Leisure Centre 12 woking.gov.uk/leisurecentre

All information correct at time of printing (March 2013). WTTA cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by any error, omission or subsequent change to this information.