Waverley is the large, largely rural borough in the west of Surrey, made up of historic market towns and villages such as Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere and Cranleigh. It balances a strong local identity with its role as part of the outer commuter belt for London, so you get quiet countryside alongside busy high streets and regular rail links into the capital.
Geographically much of the area sits inside the Surrey Hills AONB, with heathland, beech wood and chalk downland and the county’s high point at Blackdown. The River Wey cuts through parts of the borough and there are notable historic sites too, most famously Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian house in England founded in 1128, and the artist-focused Watts Gallery at Compton.
Economically the borough is a mix of local services, small manufacturing and a significant commuting population, while culturally it punches above its weight: Farnham has an active arts scene centred on the Maltings, Haslemere and Godalming have strong museum and heritage offers, and Cranleigh is often described as one of England’s largest villages. There’s a visible emphasis on conservation and community groups, reflecting a population keen to protect the area's character.
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