The borough of Epsom and Ewell sits in the north of Surrey, a short commuter hop from central London. It feels compact and suburban, with a mix of high streets, Victorian terraces and pockets of semi-rural green belt accessed from rail stations at Epsom, Ewell West and Ewell East.
It is best known for the mineral springs that gave their name to Epsom salts and for the chalk uplands of Epsom Downs, home to the famous Epsom Downs Racecourse and the annual Derby meeting. The district also contains Nonsuch Park, the former site of Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace, and a scattering of Georgian and Victorian buildings that reflect its long suburban growth.
Locally the economy leans on retail, professional services and the hospitality trade at race times, with a strong commuter population and a reputation for good schools and green open space such as Epsom Common. Civic life is notable for an independent local political tradition, and in recent years the area has seen sensitive redevelopment of brownfield sites including parts of Horton Hospital to meet housing and community needs.