Location: Dorking
Top Things to do in Dorking
Top 8 Budget-friendly Things to do in Dorking, England
Dorking /ˈdɔːr.kɪŋ/ is a market town in Surrey, England between Ranmore Common in the North Downs range of hills and Leith Hill in the Greensand Ridge, centred 21 miles (34 km) from London.
Restaurants in Dorking
1. The Gin Kitchen
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
The Gin Kitchen is a distillery in the Surrey Hills crafting fabulous spirits with love, laughter, passion & skill. We make just 30 bottles at a time in our beautiful copper pot stills, so each bottle receives our special care & attention. We offer tours, tasting experiences and distilling experiences as well as a shop and cocktail bar.
Reviewed By Pocu1000
The location is stunning, you could go for a lovely long walk and come back to a fab beautifully laid out and covid safe bar to relax in for a few hours (in our case all day). Gins are lovely, cocktails divine and love the food vans on certain days. Really lovely outside and inside spaces, and you can buy a bottle to take home and continue drinking - bonus Love the Ginger cat gin myself and the lavender liqueur. Highly recommend visiting. Designate a driver for your first visit, although easy to grab taxi from Dorking.
2. Leith Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 447 reviews
Reviewed By JanineW264 - Addlestone, United Kingdom
We parked in the Windy Car Park, which I believe is the closest car park, but not necessarily the easiest way to Leith Hill Tower. It was approximately 1/4 of a mile up very steep (and slippery steps, because of the inclement weather), and I would add, that if you have a lung condition, you would need to stop every few seconds to regain your breath - however, it took me about 20 minutes and I was very glad I did as the views are spectacular - 360 degrees from the top of the tower, which is free to National Trust Members. There are areas to stop off on the way up and there are picnic areas at the summit, as well as hot and cold drinks etc. There are easy to follow signposts to get one up and down the hill. I chatted with a very nice lady serving the drinks who recommended the Starveall car park as being the gentler, albeit slightly longer climb. One can also access Leith Hill from Ranmore Common and there were plenty of youth (probably doing their DofE) stopping to rest, have a drink and take in the views! My husband climbed the tower, which I attempted, but it really was a very tight, circular, and at times unlit stair case, so I came back down, but he said that at the top of the tower there is a table of what you are looking at view-wise. I would really welcome the National Trust placing such tables outside the tower for those who are unable/don't choose to climb the tower. It's truly a beautiful part of the North Downs and I would highly recommend it, despite the rainfall we endured!
3. Box Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 710 reviews
Reviewed By pastordavid2018 - Dorking, United Kingdom
Well worth the drive up, the viewing platform gives a unique vistas, and the NT Cafe have good refreshments
4. Dorking Museum and Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
We are a small volunteer run Museum in the centre of Dorking. We tell the story of Dorking from the time that dinosaurs roamed around the A24 bypass (the bypass wasn't there then) We tell the story of Pilgrim Father, William Mullins, who travelled to Cape Cod only to die three months later... (luckily we also sent Priscilla Mullins who did much better) We have local celebrities including writers George Meredith (who lived on Box Hill) and E. M. Forster (from Abinger), suffragette Emmeline Pethick Lawrence and of course Ralph Vaughan Williams (composer of the greatest hit "Lark Ascending"). Come and see us... write a nice review... so that other people will come and see us.
Reviewed By marchsl
Found about this on a google search of things to do quite by chance. So glad we signed up! Peter Sturge and his wife Jen (as well as some other museum staff) we so accommodating and kind. They communicated several times prior to our visit. Although the area has more hills than this Florida girl is used to the staff took the time to let me catch up or walk at a more comfortable pace for me. They were so knowledgeable and committed to making it an enjoyable experience for all ages represented. We enjoyed a wonderful chat afterwards and would visit again if the opportunity arises. We did not get a chance to visit the museum as it was Sunday and closed but we strolled around the town and found it charming and absolutely interesting too. Thanks for such a welcoming visit!
5. The Deepdene Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By AlisonoBrighton - Brighton, United Kingdom
We had a free guided tour as part of the Heritage Open Weekend. Once our tour guide introduced himself to us after we had wandered around one of the many golf club car parks looking lost he took us along some beautiful tree lined paths with fabulous views of the surrounding countryside. Our guide was very friendly, full of relevant facts and made the tour very interesting indeed. Getting to see inside the mausoleum was an added bonus, albeit in a small mask wearing group due to the current covid 19 restrictions. An unusual and very pleasant way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon.
6. The Holly & Laurel Emporium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By W4231LNemilyg
Great place to find hidden treasures, lots of variety and very friendly, knowledgeable staff! Also has a lovely cafe to unwind in...with amazing slabs of cake!
7. Dorking Halls
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 97 reviews
The best place in Surrey for stand-up comedy, live music, children's shows, all the latest films, live event screenings and much more.
Reviewed By sceblk - Falkirk, United Kingdom
Visited Dorking Halls in December 19 to see Aladdin panto. The cast were enthusiastic and obviously had great rapport with each other. We all laughed so much. Just the tonic we needed! The venue was easy to get to. Reasonably priced parking nearby, which was free after 6pm and on Sundays. 10 minute walk from train station. We liked the set up of the venue too. Great sight lines for viewing stage. All the venue staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. All in all a great night out in a fab venue.
8. Leith Hill Place
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By suethack123 - London, United Kingdom
Leith Hill Place sits high on Leith Hill surrounded by the most stunning Surrey scenery and vast expanses of rolling countryside. I take my family and grandchildren here regularly and they always love to come - in fact my grandchildren ask to come to "Vaughan Williams House" more than anywhere else! There is plenty of room for children to play and for families to just take in the country air outside the house or you can sit in the cafe garden with a freshly home-made cake or scone and tea or coffee. The car park (which has picnic benches) and the walk through the Rhododendron Wood to the house are a treat. The big old house is lovely to explore. You can go into the spacious different rooms and see the wonderful views through picturesque windows, play a piano or read the excellent display about Ralph Vaughan Williams life. The humble piano that RVW used for many compositions is there to admire too. I recommend the "Soundscape" a beautifully crafted audio biography of the Composer in the upstairs rooms. You can find out some history of the Wedgwood family and Charles Darwin who also lived in the house at various times. National Trust often have seasonal activities for children. We visited recently and there was a Halloween theme with an activity which my 9 year old grandson enjoyed and the fireplaces were dressed accordingly - it looked so beautiful. It is a very reasonable price to get into the house - £6 for adults and less for children. The volunteers are all very welcoming and helpful. It is open from March until the end of October. There is an air of magic here which always draws us back. I love the peaceful feeling and being able to de-stress in this beautiful place. We've been many times and can't wait for March 2020!
