Travelling to the University
Whether you are arriving on a flight to Heathrow or Gatwick airport, or by ferry or the Eurostar train, there are various modes of transport you can use for your onward travel to the University.
Address: University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
Getting to the University
The quickest and most cost effective way to travel to Guildford from:
- Heathrow Airport is by RailAir coach
- Gatwick Airport is by train.
Please note, there may be fewer services on weekends and public holidays.
From Heathrow
Direct coach
Between 4:45am – 10:10pm, you can get a railair coach directly to Guildford railway station.
- Cost: approximately £9
- Journey time: approximately one hour
From Guildford railway station, taxis to campus cost about £8 and leave from the main station entrance. There is also a bus every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening, to Stag Hill campus.
Coach and train (via Woking)
Between 5:10am – 11:27pm, you can get the coach service (via Woking) to Guildford railway station. This involves catching a coach to Woking railway station and then getting a train from Woking to Guilford.
- Cost: approximately £13
- Journey time: approximately one hour
From Guildford railway station, taxis to campus cost about £8 and leave from the main station entrance. There is also a bus every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening, to Stag Hill campus.
From Gatwick
Between 5:45am – 9:45pm, you can get a National Express coach from both the south and north terminals to Guildford via London Victoria Coach Station.
- Cost: approximately £13.50
- Journey time: approximately three hours 15 minutes
The coach will drop you off on Egerton Road, adjacent to Tesco supermarket. From the drop-off point, you can get a bus every 30 minutes to Stag Hill campus.
From Heathrow
There is no direct train to Guildford from Heathrow Airport.
After 10:15pm, you will need to take the London Underground to London Waterloo Station. From here you will then need to catch a train to Guildford. There is a train approximately every 30 minutes during the day, with the last train leaving around midnight.
- Cost: approximately £25
- Journey time: approximately one hour 30 minutes.
From Guildford railway station, taxis to campus cost about £8 and leave from the main station entrance. There is also a bus every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening, to Stag Hill campus.
From Gatwick
Between 5:10am – 11:18pm, there is a direct train from the airport to Guildford.
- Cost: approximately £12
- Journey time: approximately 45 minutes.
From Guildford railway station, taxis to campus cost about £8 and leave from the main station entrance. There is also a bus every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening, to Stag Hill campus.
You may decide to pay a little more and take a taxi to the University. We strongly advise you to book a taxi before you arrive, as this is cheaper than taking a public taxi from the taxi rank.
- Cost: approximately £60 (a car for one, two or three students plus luggage) to £100 (a minibus for up to eight students plus luggage).
- Journey time: approximately one hour.
Pre-booking ensures that someone will meet you in the arrivals hall. Show the driver your University accommodation allocation letter and ask to be taken to you halls of residence reception, where you will pick up your key.
It is best to book a taxi between three and 10 days before you fly. Make sure you give the company all the details of your arrival:
- The name of the airport are flying in to
- The terminal you are arriving at
- Your flight number
- The date and time of your arrival
- Your full name
- Your mobile phone number.
Do not forget to notify the company of any changes to your travel arrangements.
International early arrivals
As an International/Exchange student you may need to arrive early to join your orientation programmes.
If you are arriving on any of the following dates you must book a place on the International Early Arrivals service so that you can access your accommodation on these days:
- Tuesday 12 September
- Wednesday 13 September
- Saturday 16 September.
You will be responsible for travelling to the University independently by using various transport links that are available. We encourage you to plan ahead by carefully reading the guidance below so you can plan your travel and create contingency plans for any disruptions to service (for example train strikes).
It is important to note that you will be responsible for your own luggage. We recommend that you ensure you can carry your luggage, as your accommodation may be a short walk across campus or up a flight of stairs when you arrive.
Book your International Early Arrival
The deadline for booking this service is 11:59pm UK time on Thursday 31 August 2023, so please book as soon as possible.
If you have any questions regarding International Early Arrivals please contact both Britt (b.button@surrey.ac.uk) and Najaah (n.oozeer@surrey.ac.uk).
University of Surrey ambassadors will be present to meet you at the following locations to guide you to public transport to our campuses:
- Terminal 3 of Heathrow Airport
- North and South Terminals of Gatwick Airport
- Guildford Rail Station.
Once you arrive at the University, please make your way to one of the following receptions:
- For students residing in Stag Hill or Hazel Farm accommodation, please make your way to the Stag Hill Reception at Senate House on the Stag Hill campus where a member of staff will hand you the keys to your room.
If you are staying in Hazel Farm, a minibus will take you to your accommodation.
Find the Stag Hill reception on Google Maps / download our campus map
- For students residing in Manor Park accommodation, you can either make your way directly to Manor Park Student Village Reception on the Manor Park Campus, or go to Stag Hill Reception as above where a minibus will take you to Manor Park Reception to collect your keys.
Find the Manor Park Reception on Google Maps / download our campus map
A minibus shuttle and an ambassador will then accompany you to your accommodation, or you can use Google Maps to find your accommodation/ download our campus map.
If you are unsure of which campus you will be staying, please make your way to Senate House Reception on the Stag Hill campus.
Ambassadors will not be stationed at the airports, Guildford Rail Station or on campus to assist you. You will need to visit one of our receptions and use the intercom to call Campus Safety, who will issue your keys. You may have to wait for our Campus Safety team to return from patrol so please be patient.
Stag Hill and Hazel Farm Reception and accommodation
Manor Park Reception and accommodation
Contact our International Support team
If you have any other questions about applying for a visa, international travel or what to expect upon arrival in the UK then please contact us via internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk.