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Surrey

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Surrey is a ceremonial county located in South East England.

Surrey UK locator map 2010
Surrey UK locator map 2010

It is positioned near several other important regions. To the northeast, it borders Greater London. To the east lies Kent. The southern border is shared with East and West Sussex. To the west, it meets Hampshire and Berkshire.

Surrey - British Isles
Surrey - British Isles

This location makes it one of the home counties of England.

The geography of Surrey is defined by its varied landscape. A major feature is the North Downs, a chalk escarpment. This ridge runs from the southwest to the northeast. It serves to divide the county into two distinct zones. The north is a densely populated lowland part of the Thames basin. The south is more rural and consists of different geological formations.

Boxhill surrey viewfromtop
Boxhill surrey viewfromtop

The North Downs are pierced by the River Wey and the River Mole. Both of these are tributaries of the River Thames.

Geological deposits change as you move through the county. In the north, the land is mostly flat. The eastern part of this lowland is dominated by London Clay. The western part contains Bagshot Sands. Along the rivers, you will find alluvial deposits.

Leith hill tower
Leith hill tower

To the south of the Downs, the landscape shifts again. The western part contains the sandstone Surrey Hills. Further east lies the plain of the Low Weald. This area rises toward the High Weald in the southeast. These patterns of clay, sand, and chalk extend into Kent and Sussex.

Surrey is notable for its significant amount of greenery. It is the most wooded county in England. The woodland cover is 22.4 per cent. This is much higher than the national average of 11.8 per cent.

Surrey shield
Surrey shield

Because of this, local authorities do not recommend planting new woodlands. One specific area, the Surrey Heath district, has even more tree cover. In 2020, it had a tree cover proportion of 41 per cent. The county also contains the principal concentration of lowland heath in England. This heath sits on sandy soils in the west.

The human landscape of Surrey is divided by its geography. The north is part of the Greater London conurbation. This means it is part of a continuous urban area. Towns like Staines-upon-Thames and Epsom are located here. In the west, a second conurbation includes Camberley and Farnham.

Woking town centre from the west
Woking town centre from the west

Woking is the largest settlement with 105,367 people. Guildford is in the centre-west and is often seen as the historic county town. The south remains rural. Its main settlements are Horley and Godalming. The total population of the county is approximately 1.1 million people.

Surrey has a long and complex history. Before the Romans, the Atrebates tribe likely occupied the area. They were involved in wars with the Catuvellauni tribe. During the Roman era, the area was traversed by roads like Stane Street.

Stane Street
Stane Street

Small towns like Dorking and Kingston upon Thames existed then. After the Romans, the Saxons settled the region. The name Surrey may come from a word meaning "southern region." The county was a frontier area for many years. It was disputed by kingdoms like Kent, Essex, and Mercia. Finally, it was absorbed by Wessex in 825.

Cantium southsexia surria meddlesexia Atlas
Cantium southsexia surria meddlesexia Atlas

Even during Viking attacks, Surrey's inland position provided some protection.

Today, Surrey is a popular place for outdoor leisure. There is an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways. One famous route is the North Downs Way. The county supports a large horse population due to these paths. Many people visit notable beauty spots. These include Box Hill, Leith Hill, and Frensham Ponds.

Guildford - Great Tower - geograph.org.uk - 3912930
Guildford - Great Tower - geograph.org.uk - 3912930

Leith Hill is the highest point in the county. It is also the second highest point in southeastern England. The climate is maritime, with warm summers and cool winters. The Wisley weather station has recorded temperatures as high as 35.2 degrees Celsius.

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🖼️ Images & Media (27)
File:Surrey UK locator map 2010.svg
Surrey UK locator map 2010.svg
File:Surrey - British Isles.svg
Surrey - British Isles.svg
File:Surrey councils.svg
Surrey councils.svg
File:Boxhill surrey viewfromtop.jpg
Boxhill surrey viewfromtop.jpg
File:Leith hill tower.JPG
Leith hill tower.JPG
File:Woking town centre from the west.jpg
Woking town centre from the west.jpg
File:Stane Street.JPG
Stane Street.JPG
File:Surrey hundreds.svg
Surrey hundreds.svg
File:RunnymedeMagnacartaisle.jpg
RunnymedeMagnacartaisle.jpg
File:Guildford - Great Tower - geograph.org.uk - 3912930.jpg
Guildford - Great Tower - geograph.org.uk...
File:Waverleyabbeydormitory.jpg
Waverleyabbeydormitory.jpg
File:Nonsuch Palace watercolour detail.jpg
Nonsuch Palace watercolour detail.jpg

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