Where is Onslow Village?
The map below shows the traditional boundaries of Onslow Village (as built and managed by Onslow Village Ltd), although OVRA is open to everyone living in the area.
A brief introduction to Onslow Village for anyone new to the area or thinking of moving here
Onslow Village is a fantastic place to live, offering both the amenities and opportunities of a thriving university town, and yet the peace and community of a village. It is a residential area located on the western outskirts of Guildford, tucked between the A3 and the A31 and from most parts of the village an easy walk to the mainline station with regular trains to London, Portsmouth, and Reading. It is often known by the rest of Guildford for its preponderance of beech hedges and its somewhat erratic street naming!
The village was created in 1920 on farmland from the Onslow Estate in response to the lack of housing for the returning heroes of WW1. Its philanthropic founders wanted to create quality housing for the working classes based on the principles of the new garden cities, with lots of green spaces for relaxation and cultivation. Its history is fascinating and you can read more about it in the ‘History’ section.
The village is adjacent to the beautiful Surrey Hills and just a short climb up the Mount rewards you with stunning views in every direction. To the south there is farmland, hills and woodland for as far as the eye can see.
To the north the view is equally impressive reaching all the way to London with well known features such as the Shard and the Gherkin and even the Wembley Arches visible on a clear day. The whole area is easily accessed by foot, with the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims Way right on the doorstep taking you to fascinating local landmarks such as Watts Gallery and Loseley Park.
Within the village itself is a huge recreation ground, well used by locals for sport and dog walking. At one end of this is a newly refurbished children’s play area and next to the rec is the popular tennis club with 4 excellent all-weather courts.
Tucked behind the rec is a beautiful arboretum, with lots of unusual trees, and a stunning wildflower meadow which comes in to its own from late spring to the end of summer.
The village is a thriving community. It has 2 preschools, an infant school and a junior school, with the local secondary school just a short walk down the Farnham Road. All the schools have excellent reputations.
All Saints Church is a lively CofE church in the village with a friendly and welcoming congregation and a good cross-section of ages.
In ‘The Square’ there is a small parade of shops including a well-established hairdresser, a family run electricals store and Georgie’s Kitchen selling delicious homemade food and providing a great meeting point for locals. There are 2 small supermarkets within easy walking distance of the village and a large supermarket within a five minute drive. Whilst the village doesn’t have its own surgery it’s medical needs are met by a Group Practice that has several nearby surgeries and the Royal Surrey County Hospital is very close. When the land for the village was provided by Lord Onslow he specified that there should be no intoxicating liquids sold on any premises, but rest assured, The Astolat pub, famed for its curries, is as close as it could be to the Onslow Village boundary!
The village also has a sizeable village hall which is constantly in use by all manner of different groups. Add to this the church hall, both school halls and the Scout hut, and there is always plenty going on in the village! Details of all these different groups and their activities can be found elsewhere on this website.
It is rare that you can find somewhere that has the community feel of a village and yet has all the advantages of a bustling, historic, university town. That is a 35-minute train ride to the Capital, but a 15-minute walk to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Where you can live very easily without a car, but with a car you can be on the M25 within 15 minutes. And, most importantly, where the people are friendly and welcoming, and genuinely care for one another. Onslow Village really is a very special place to live.
