Surrey celebs share their favourite restaurants, shops, views, and places to visit in Surrey

Over the years, some of Surrey's best known personalities have revealed what they most love about our county to Surrey Life. Here, we compile their favourite restaurants, shops, views, places to visit and relax, and ask what makes you proud of living in Surrey?

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My Favourite Surrey...

Chesney Hawkes

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2012

Restaurant: The Inn at Maybury on Maybury Hill, Woking. The food is incredible, the decor is amazing, it’s comfortable and very toasty in the winter when they light crackling log fires.
It’s a five-star restaurant, but very reasonably priced.

Shop: Full of Surprises on Guildford Street in Chertsey, which sells party goods and novelties. It’s such a fun place and my kids love it. They sell the weirdest collection of stuff from little toys to novelty pens.

View: The view from the Surrey Hills looking down on the olde worlde village of Shere. You can drink in the whole of this picturesque village and it makes you realise that we still live in a green and pleasant land.

Place to chill: My studio at home. It’s my little man cave, full of recording equipment, gold discs and memorabilia from my career.

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace, which has everything for a fun day out. The history of the place is awe-inspiring, our kids love the maze and we’ve visited the skating rink a lot this winter.

 

June Whitfield

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine March 2012

Restaurant: Any comfortable place that doesn’t serve sushi!

Shop: All the wonderful gift shops in Wimbledon Village.

Place to visit: Wimbledon Common, although the whole of Surrey is lovely!

View: Some of the beautiful views from the Surrey Downs.

Pub: Any nice, warm country pub.

 

Damon Hill

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine February 2012

Pubs: I have to admit, and hopefully readers can correct me, I think there’s a dearth of good pubs round here. The Three Horseshoes in Thursley is nice actually, but you do kind of walk through the door and bang into the bar!

Restaurants: I like Cambio at the Castle in Guildford. I’m a vegetarian and there really could be more in Surrey; it’s quite hard to find good places to get a pot of lentils round here. I’ve been veggie for a few years now because I started to come round to the thought that if I can’t kill something, which I couldn’t, then I shouldn’t really get anyone else to do it.

View: I used to mountain bike a lot around Blackdown and it’s absolutely the best way to see Surrey. A brilliant way to keep fit and discover new places. I didn’t really do the whole charging round the hills thing; it was more leisurely.

Place to visit: I’ve been to Brooklands Museum in Weybridge a few times, which is absolutely amazing. The aviation and motorsport industries were so closely linked and Brooklands is the perfect place to see that.

 

Amanda Lamb

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine January 2012

Restaurant: The Victoria in West Temple, East Sheen, near Richmond Park. It’s run by my friend, the TV chef Paul Merrett. You get the best Sunday roasts in the world! 

Shop: Robson’s Butcher’s in Hampton Hill for great cuts of meat and cheese and ham.

View: From the top of Richmond Hill – it’s perfect.

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace because the gardens are so lovely to explore.

Pub: The White Cross in Richmond, which is on the river, and The Bell Inn at Hampton. 

 

Bonnie Langford

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine December 2011

Restaurant: A lovely Italian, That’s Amore, which is in Old Woking Road, West Byfleet.

Shop: Coco’s Chocolaterie in Station Approach, West Byfleet.

View: The Mount at Guildford, looking towards the Downs. 

Place to visit: It would have to be RHS Garden Wisley, near Woking. 

Pub: The Anchor at Pyrford Lock where we always have a really fabulous pub lunch.

 

Gary Lineker

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine December 2011

Pub/Restaurant: There’s always a good Sunday lunch at the Prince of Wales in Esher. We tend to go there most Sundays. There are a whole host of great eateries on the High Street – a couple of which do really great breakfasts, too.

Place to visit: Even though it may technically be Berkshire (although I think it’s right on the border), Sunningdale Golf Course. It’s a place of many, many happy memories for me. It’s where I broke 70 for the first time under the watchful eye of Ernie Els. A great day, so I love heading back there – it brings it all back.

View: View from the 18th hole at Sunningdale – pretty majestic.

Shop: Oh God, that’ll be Danielle’s department. She can talk to you about that one!

Place to relax: It’s definitely home for me.

 

Lucy Worsley

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine November 2011

Restaurant: Dinner at home is more of a treat for me than dinner out, so my favourite restaurant would be Chez Moi minus the cooking, or a bloody steak bought from PJ Dale in East Molesey.

Shop: The Walton Road charity shops in West Molesey, where I often hunt for bargains. There are a whole cluster of them near Tesco and I rarely leave empty-handed. One of my favourite purchases was a set of 12 pretty flowery teacups and saucers, which we used at the office. Sadly, only four survive – the care that curators take in handling historic items doesn’t extend to our own crockery!

View: The sight that greets you from the leaded roof of Hampton Court’s east range, which looks down between the barley-sugar chimney stacks at the Thames and the Mole, and the gardens and the parks of Hampton Court and Bushy. It makes you realise what a peaceful oasis of trees, gardens and water we have here.

Place to relax: Claremont Gardens near Esher. At the moment I’m obsessed with Princess Charlotte, the daughter of George IV, who died in 1817, along with her child, at Claremont House after a 48-hour labour. She was only 21. I did some filming about her there recently.

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace, of course!

 

Erin Boag

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine October 2011

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace. Autumn is best when all the leaves begin to turn.

View: From my balcony over the River Thames.

Restaurant: Browns in Jerome Place, Kingston. It’s classy, it serves great food and they have a pianist some evenings, which I just love.

Shop: Pie, and Pie 2 next door, at the Bentall Centre. I can pick up a cocktail dress, casual jeans or a pretty designer top. There is never too much of each item on the rack so it’s a bit exclusive. And if you go there and mention me you might get a discount!  

Place to shop for food: The market in the town square. I like to support local producers and think we should all try to shop locally. I love fresh leafy salads and fresh vegetables from the market.

 

Newton Faulkner

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine September 2011

Restaurant: I’m not sure it’s my favourite but the Thai Terrace in Guildford is amazing. It’s on the top of a car park, which I still find really surprising – you don’t really expect it. It’s very cool.

View: I’ve always enjoyed the view from the Hog’s Back and it’s a brilliant name to be able to drop into random conversation.

Shop: I attach so much nostalgia to the Blockbuster in Reigate. I’ve had so many good times because of it and I was a master of the ‘mega fine’. I had a film that had been taken off the list and brought it back two years later – the fine would have been about £5,000. I still don’t think I ever watched it. It was AI.

Place to visit: Fanny’s Farm Shop – we could get a charity gig going in the tree house. Well, me in the tree house with a speaker and everyone below. It could happen.

Place to relax: Definitely home for me.

 

Kenney Jones

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine August 2011

Pub: It would have been the Seven Stars in Leigh, but now I don’t touch the drink.

Restaurant: I’m still very sentimental about The Good Earth in Esher. It’s where all the crew used to go and I’ve always enjoyed it. Still do.

View: If you head up onto the hills around Hurtwood, it’s an amazing view and we are
the greenest place in a very green patchwork.

Place to Visit: The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford was fun. Kids need to find themselves before they become a musician, but these places can’t hurt. I was self-taught and enjoy that, but at some point you have to learn the technicalities.

Place to Chill: Here, with a good polo match and a great band playing in the evening. Quite timely that.

 

Katherine Higgins

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine July 2011

Restaurant: The little cafe at Frensham Garden Centre, near Frensham Ponds, which serves the best quiche I’ve ever tasted. I will travel a long way for quiche. The runner-up would be the Watts Gallery tea rooms in Compton. The cake is divine.

Shop: Heal’s in Guildford. It still stands for fantastic design.

View: From the top of Guildford Castle. I can see my old house and all the lovely Baillie Scott Arts and Crafts houses I want to buy. I adore the period quality of Guildford High Street.

Place to visit: It would have to be RHS Wisley. My husband’s godfather, Christopher Brickell, was the director general of the RHS. The children love it – they can run and run and run. And I love looking at the design elements of plants.

Place to relax: Pewley Down, near Guildford, where my parents have an allotment.
You can hear the birds without the traffic and there are also fantastic views.

 

Jo Wood

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine June 2011

Shop: “This one! Budda ‘n’ Spice in Church Street, Cobham.”

Restaurant: “I always love The Chequers in Walton on the Hill. It’s about 15 or 20 minutes drive away, but it’s fantastic for Sunday lunches. I go there quite a bit. And Petersham Nurseries in Richmond is my favourite place to go and eat. I love the garden centre there too.”

View: “I love walking round the lake near where I live on the Wintershall Estate, near Bramley. It’s just a beautiful place. On the lake, there’s an old derelict boathouse. We always go walking round there.”

Place to Visit: “My house! I love being in it. It’s got huge high ceilings and great big fireplaces. Every day, I get in my car and drive to town, so any chance I can I love staying at home!”

Place to chill: “My bedroom. I just love relaxing there…”

 

Kelvin MacKenzie

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine May 2011

Restaurant: “It would be The Plough at Effingham. The food’s always good. And La Casa in Weybridge. We don’t really have an upscale restaurant round here…”

Shop: “Dandini in Weybridge. I buy my wife flowers there every year.” 

Place to go: “I like that horticultural place, Wisley.”

Place to chill: “I enjoy walking the dog on the fields round the back of our house.”

View: “Box Hill. We haven’t been there much, but it would be right up there.”

 

Carl Davis

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2011

Restaurant: Fanny’s Farm Shop at Markedge Lane in Merstham. It has a tea room, tea garden and even resident chickens, pigs and sheep. It’s a bizarre jumble of a place, but it’s so weird I love it.

Place to shop: Knights of Reigate in Bell Street. It’s one of those old-fashioned department stores which sell everything from slippers to vast three-piece suites. It also has a wonderfully eclectic fabric area, where I’ve bought wildly extravagant material for my tail coats. 

View: Outside my window.

Place to chill: Home again.

Place to visit: The Leatherhead Theatre. It’s terrific. It’s very architecturally exciting and puts on great shows.

 

Michael Underwood and Angellica Bell

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine March 2011

Restaurant: Layla in Esher High Street. It’s Lebanese, with a great vibe. The food is always amazing and it has a really nice ambience.

Pub: The Canbury Arms in Kingston upon Thames. It serves great gastro pub food and the wines are fantastic. We know all the guys behind the bar and take all our friends there.

Shop: Bentalls department store in Kingston. You can get everything you want and they’ve got a new beauty section where we’ve had some facials and eyebrow shaping.

View: The highest point of Richmond Park, where you can see right across to Canary Wharf. It’s beautiful, especially at night.

Place to chill: Our new home. The plans for our new extension have just come through and we’re enjoying the house before all the turbulence starts again. We need to find good builders and source a good Surrey kitchen supplier, so send us your recommendations!

 

Alec Stewart

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine February 2011

Restaurant: The Grumpy Mole at Tadworth and The Dining Room in Reigate. The food and atmosphere are excellent at both.

Place to shop: The shopping centres in Kingston and Guildford are both great and cover all needs.

View: From the top of Box Hill – the rather steep climb is all worth it when you take in the breathtaking views across the Surrey countryside! You can see for miles. 

Activity: Walking at Headley with my dog.

Place to visit: My mum and dad’s house in Cobham!

 

Gemma Bissix

Published in Surrey Life magazine December 2010

Restaurant: Well, you’d expect me to say Red in Weybridge, wouldn’t you? I also like the Gaucho Grill in Richmond, where I went for my little brother’s birthday. They serve amazing steaks. Can I also mention my other brother’s fish and chip shop in Richmond? It’s called The Fishery Club.

Places to shop: River Island in Kingston. I also like Pie 5 at the Bentall Centre in Kingston. They sell lovely designer stuff, including £200 jeans. I have three pairs, which still look new even though they’re three years old.

View: The top of Box Hill. I used to go up there when I owned a motorbike. I’ve loved it ever since I first visited on a school trip.

Places to chill: Richmond Park or Bushy Park in the summer, with my own barbecue and a rug.

Place to visit: Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher, which borders my former school, Claremont Fan Court School. It’s owned by the National Trust and there’s a lot to see, including a lake, island, pavilion and grotto.

 

Pippa Funnell

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine November 2010

Restaurant: Bryce’s restaurant in Ockley. They serve wonderful fresh fish and seafood.

Places to shop: Hazelbank Country Stores in Ewhurst, near Cranleigh. It’s our village shop and very convenient because it opens late and sells all the essentials. I also like Notcutts Garden Centre in Cranleigh, where I buy plants and bird food.

View: The top of Holmbury Hill, which offers fine views over the south of Surrey and Sussex. It’s the middle peak in a range of three hills affectionately known as Surrey’s Little Switzerland.

Place to chill: At home in my garden. I love flowers, particularly roses. I also have hanging baskets and pots in the stable yard.

Place to visit: The Parrot Inn, which overlooks the village green in Forest Green. It’s the hub of village life and we’ve made many friends there. It’s a traditional pub with low-beamed ceilings and they specialise in delicious locally-produced food in their bar and restaurant.

 

Keeley Hawes

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine October 2010

Restaurant: A Cena, a fantastic Italian in Richmond. Their fabulous deli, A Cena on the Hill, also sells mouth-watering pasta, olives, cheese and artisan breads baked on the premises.

Places to shop: Matches in Richmond. I’m a big fan. Too big a fan! Their buyers bring everything together in one shop that you’d normally spend the whole day scouring the West End for. And they’ve got a fabulous coffee machine, too!

View: The view from the top of Richmond Hill. You can see right over London.

Places to chill: The spa at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, which was recently voted England’s leading spa resort. It’s ideal when you want to de-stress.

Place to visit: Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher. This beautiful 18th century garden, now managed by the National Trust, surrounds a small lake and features an unusual grass amphitheatre. It’s a great place to take the family and there’s a lovely tea room.

 

Celia Imrie

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine September 2010

Restaurant: When I was growing up, I loved the Corona café on Guildford High Street. My mother used to herd us in there when she didn’t know what else to do with us, and I remember businessmen sipping tea behind their newspapers. We had a family saying: “Oh, we’re going to be very Corona”, which meant we were going to have something to eat while reading our comics.

Places to shop: I hate shopping and famously wear the same things for 15 years. But John Lewis in Kingston is rather wonderful and I like Debenhams in Guildford.

View: St Martha’s Hill between Guildford and Chilworth. My father used to take us there for the Boxing Day meet, which I think is a rather ghastly thing now, but didn’t then. It’s a beautiful spot and so steep that we used to slide down the hill on trays when it snowed.

Places to chill: When I was a student, we used to sit along the River Wey in Berryfield. The Jolly Farmer Inn in Bramley, near Guildford, is also a favourite.

Place to visit: Loseley House, near Guildford, has very fond memories for me because I performed in two open-air productions there – A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night – before becoming a professional actress.

 

Russ Abbot

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine August 2010

Restaurant: The Dining Room in The Club House at Wentworth Golf Club.

Shop: The shops just over the border at Windsor are nice. I love the town of Windsor; it’s a lovely place to visit.  

View: Virginia Water at Windsor Great Park. Lovely for a relaxed stroll in the afternoon. 

Place to chill: In my garden, watering my pots at the end of the day with a glass of wine ready for when I have finished deadheading all the flowers.

Place to visit: Wentworth Golf Course for a round and lunch in The Grill afterwards.

 

Shane Filan

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine July 2010

Restaurant: I like the Good Earth in Esher and Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant in Kingston. We also like Wagamama, the Japanese and sushi restaurant, in Kingston.

Shop: The Bentall Centre in Kingston is amazing and we go there for most of our shopping.

View: The river in Kingston is lovely and my daughter loves watching the boats.

Place to chill: I like to relax at my home gym. It really helps let off steam after a hard day’s work.

Place to visit: Bocketts Farm near Leatherhead. Our children love the farm animals and the indoor play area. We visit every two to three weeks.

 

Camilla Dallerup

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine June 2010

Restaurant: My favourite Chinese is The Orient in Esher. I’ll drive all the way to Esher just to get my Chinese takeaway and then bring it home again! I love it.

Shop: I use The Heart in Walton a lot. One of my favourite stores at the minute is River Island and you’ve got Next there, too. And I love Kingston.

Place to visit: My favourite thing in summer is to go to Richmond Park and have a hot dog. It reminds me of home – back in Denmark they’re such a big thing. Then we just walk for a long time. My dog Sven loves it. He learned to swim there. One year, he wouldn’t get in, the next year he just jumped in the water. We were standing watching him like proud parents!

Place to chill: I really like the Weybridge Health Club. When I’m exhausted, there’s nothing better than a sauna and steam. It’s lovely there across the fields – you feel like you’re leaving the world behind.

 

Francis Rossi

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine May 2010

Restaurants: It would have to be Akash and Mehfil in Wallington. I always have a king prawn biryani. I also like Osushi and Bagatti’s in South End, Croydon.

Place to shop: House of Fraser in Croydon, where I buy a new frying pan once a year.

View: Any window from my house.

Place to chill: Under a tree in my garden, doing the crossword.

Place to visit: I just love where I am. If I loved somewhere that much, I’d go and live there.

 

Lawrence Dallaglio

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2010

Restaurant: The Good Earth, on the top of Richmond Hill, is simply one of the best Chinese takeaways around; it’s sensational!

Shop: Eden Park is a great brand; I got involved in the business side of things for a while with a franchise in Richmond.
 
View: Well, the view from here at The Petersham across the Thames towards Twickenham would certainly be a hard one to beat.

Place to visit: Twickenham Stadium, of course, holds a very special place in my heart. It’s the envy of much of the sporting world.

Place to chill: Cycling is a form of relaxation, I guess… I’ve also got a lovely family, with my wife and kids, so I just enjoy being at home really, going for walks in Richmond Park.

 

Robson Green

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine March 2010

Restaurant: I really like The Anchor in Ripley. They have a great Thai restaurant. I’m always there having lunch! I also love The Talbot Inn in Ripley.

Shop: I’m always in the local garden centre, too, at Clandon Park, so that would definitely be up there among my favourites!

View: I love going walking at Newlands Corner, in the Surrey Hills, so it would have to be the spectacular view across the countryside from there.

Place to chill: I enjoy fishing on the lakes at Clandon, and that’s definitely very relaxing. Certainly compared with my Extreme Fishing series, anyway!

Place to visit: I really enjoy going to Clandon Park, a stunning Palladian mansion open to the public and run by the National Trust, and I also love cycling the North Downs route down to Brighton.

 

Bernie Nolan

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine February 2010

Restaurant: Oh, there are so many! We like Carluccio’s over in Walton, by the Heart, as well as the one in Kingston. And we went to the Italian, La Casa, on Monument Hill in Weybridge the other day, and had a really lovely meal there. If we’re in Kingston, we’ll pop into Patisserie Valerie – they do such gorgeous cakes.

Shop: Well, if I’m in Kingston, I’ve got to go to Karen Millen. All those gorgeous dresses! I love it. And we are so lucky to have the department stores on our doorstep. You can just get anything you need there. And in Weybridge, we also have a great kitchen shop, tucked down an alley by Waitrose.

View: As a family, we love walking by the river, just watching the world go by. I do like people watching, although it can get a bit crowded sometimes. But if there’s a glass of wine involved...

Place to visit: We go to Hampton Court Palace most Sundays and walk along by the palace.

Place to chill: Mmm, I do like a swim and then a relaxing steam at the Weybridge Health Club on Walton Lane. That’s real me time. It’s a beautiful club, with a lovely pool. It’s quiet, very peaceful and the staff are always very nice to me.

 

Tim Vine

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine January 2010

Restaurant: I love to eat out at POST in Banstead. I probably go there a couple of times a week. No matter what I eat, I always order broccoli as a side order – it’s become a standing joke. If I ordered something and didn’t order broccoli, they’d think there was something wrong with me. The staff are really friendly, and I do like a restaurant with a mirror-ball. During the day, it casts little circles of light on the walls, which I find endlessly fascinating.

Shop: It would have to be a charity shop. For me, they could be called prop shops because they are the best places to buy props for my act. I don’t like Oxfam because it’s no longer full of junk – it’s all wooden recorders and cups that have been specially made. My favourite is St Raphael’s Hospice charity shop in Cheam village. It’s an Aladdin’s Cave of bric-a-brac. I recently bought an entire sheet of old stamps – penny reds – for only a pound.

View: I’m a big fan of the view from Nork Park. On New Year’s Eve, I stood there, on my own in the dark, at the moment that all the fireworks went off.

Place to chill: I have a very good friend called Roger and we sometimes have lunch at a restaurant called The American Way in Cheam.They’ve even named a burger after me. It’s called The You Must Be Joking Burger (as recommended by Tim Vine), so in my world that’s very exciting.

Place to visit: I like to visit my mum and dad in Sutton for Sunday lunch. We eat a great meal and then the three of us fall asleep ten minutes into an episode of Columbo. My mum and dad have a nice small house, with a small garden, but a heck of a lot of food.

 

Jerry Hall

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine December 2009

Restaurants: I love Matsuba on Red Lion Street in Richmond, which offers a mix of Japanese and Korean cuisine, and Frere Jacques, a wonderful French brasserie on the river in Kingston where we celebrated the Rose Theatre’s first birthday. I mostly cook at home. Steak and chips and spaghetti bolognese are the kids’ favourites.

Places to shop: I like Matches, Joseph and Space NK for clothes and Dickens & Jones for make-up. I do my food shopping at M&S and Waitrose, and receive a weekly organic vegetable delivery from Riverford Organics.

View: Richmond Hill down to the river. The Prince’s Trust dug up broken paths and reseeded indigenous grasses and wild flowers, and I cut the opening ribbon with Sir David Attenborough, who lives around the corner.

Place to chill: Richmond Park again. We used to keep horses there, but mine developed arthritis so we keep him out in the country. Now, we’ve got old-fashioned Pashley bicycles with baskets instead.

Places to visit: The Rose Theatre in Kingston is always top of my list. I also love Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, which serves a delicious seasonal menu at its cafe and teahouse. Ham House and garden in Ham, with its sumptuous 17th century interiors and restored formal gardens, is also a must.

 

Sandi Toksvig

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine November 2009

Restaurant: I’m particularly fond of the Black Swan pub over in Ockham.

Shop: I’m not a big shopper, but I love the fact that in Ripley there’s a shop, Richardsons, that is both a motorcycle shop and florist. I think it’s a combination that never occurred to me. Apparently, it’s a husband and wife who run it. They didn’t want to put a wall in between the two shops.

View: From St Martha-on-the-Hill, just outside Guildford. It’s quite a puff to get up the hill, but it’s my favourite place to stretch my legs. That’s my favourite view. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

Place to chill: At home. If I’m not sitting around shooting the breeze with my kids, then I’ve got a large room where I devote my time to my loom and my weaving. I’m making quite a lot of rag rugs currently. It’s an old Scandinavian thing.

Place to visit: My favourite thing to do is go to Ripley farmers’ market, which is once a month on a Saturday. You can get fabulous fresh food and meat. I always make the time to stop and have a coffee and a chat with the stallholders.

 

Toni Mascolo

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine October 2009

Restaurant: Chinese and Thai are one of my favourite cuisines, and Pauline and I often eat at Rumwong and the Thai Terrace in Guildford.

Shop: Vernon Antiques, because my wife and I absolutely love antiques.

View: The view from Ranmore Common is breathtaking; it's one of the reasons that I love living in Surrey.

Place to chill: Loseley Park in Guildford is the perfect place to relax and gather my thoughts.

Place to visit: With my busy schedule, I don't often get a chance to appreciate the lovely places there are to visit in England, but when I do, Polesden Lacey and Hampton Court Palace are two of my favourites.

 

Shilpa Shetty

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine September 2009

Restaurants: The Good Earth on the High Street in Esher serves great Chinese food and Il Ponte in Hanger Hill, Weybridge, is a really nice, quaint Italian joint.

Place to shop: The Bentall Centre in Kingston upon Thames. There's so much to choose from and the precinct makes shopping safe and fun.

View: The views of the park and countryside at Box Hill are breathtaking - perfect for walking, cycling or picnics.

Place to chill: My garden in St George's Hill, Weybridge. It's planted with lovely mature trees and shrubs and it's so peaceful. I really enjoy gardening... just don't ask me to name any plants!

Places to visit: Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking and Garsons Pick-Your-Own Farm in Esher, which is great for fresh fruit and vegetables. Last but not least, Chessington World of Adventures... I love fast rides!

 

Andrea McLean

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine August 2009

Restaurant: Either Loch Fyne in Cobham when we fancy seafood or the George in Esher. They're both very friendly and the food is great.

Shop: I love all my local shops in Ashtead. For flowers, I pop into Ward & Cross after taking Fin to school; for cards and presents, I go to Bumbles on the High Street as I can always find something; for things for the house, I love J Decor Interiors in Epsom as they are always friendly, helpful and brutally honest about whether I'm buying the right thing or not, which is great!

View: Epsom Downs on a sunny day. Whether it's cold and snowy or bathed in sunshine, the view near the racecourse always lifts my spirits and makes me happy that I don't live in a city any more. I can't wait to get a dog, so I'll have an excuse to get out there every day.

Place to chill: I'm a real home bird, but I love going for family bike rides with a little picnic, either to the park or the common. It's very relaxing and fun, as long as no squabbles break out between the smaller family members.

Place to visit: Bocketts Farm near Leatherhead. My children, aged two and seven, want to do very different things and this is somewhere that we can all have fun. Amy loves feeding the sheep, while Finlay adores bouncing on the trampolines. On a nice day, we take a picnic and let the kids play while we try and enjoy the peace.

 

Annabel Croft

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine July 2009

Restaurant: The Albany just outside Thames Ditton on Queens Road. It's a riverside pub with a great atmosphere and the menu has lots of homely, comfort food.

Shop: I'm a big fan of Fratelli's delicatessen on Park Road in Kingston. We're a foodie family and I always find something new there every time I visit. The bruschetta, Parma ham and roasted peppers are delicious.

View: I often go running in Richmond Park and the viewpoint there has an amazing outlook over the lakes. On a misty day, it's magical up there.

Place to chill: On the river. It's my special place and somewhere I always feel happy.

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace has always been a real family favourite.

 

Ruth Langsford

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine June 2009

Shop: The Heart shopping centre in Walton. I'm a bit of a high street shopper really, and the Heart's got everything I need. Although I am devastated that Woolworths has gone. Jack and I used to go there on Saturday mornings and it had everything from pick and mix to DVDs and birthday presents.

Restaurant: I love Nando's in Walton - we go with Jack. And Eamonn and I love the tapas bar, El Meson de Los Hermanos, on Baker Street in Weybridge.

Place to visit: RHS Wisley. I love gardening and have presented some gardening shows, so I'm looking forward to taking my mum there.

View: Box Hill. It's so beautiful. But I bet everyone says that!

 

Virginia McKenna

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2009

Restaurant: I don't go out that often but after a concert at the Dorking Halls we went to one called The Bali and they were brilliant, courteous and helpful. That is the main thing about eating out for me - being well looked after.

Shop: Sadly, our village shop closed many years ago. If I want to buy a very special present for somebody, I will go to The Fig Tree in Dorking - they have really unusual things and they've got that personal attention to detail.

Relax: Both my favourite view and place to relax are my home. I've got lovely woods, where all the animals live.

Visit: I'm mad about gardens, so it's definitely RHS Wisley for me. I'm a member and I get their magazines so that I know when everything is happening. If I have a visitor, I will always try to take them to Wisley.

 

Richard E Grant

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine March 2009

Shop: The bookshop that's next to the fish and chip shop in Richmond (The Open Book)

Restaurant: Petersham Nurseries - have I mentioned that?

View: From the top of Richmond Hill

Place to chill: Walking along the towpath from Richmond to Kew

Place to visit: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey

 

Michael Aspel

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine January 2009

Restaurant: Casa Nova in Virginia Water, which I've only discovered in the last year or so. It's an Italian restaurant staffed entirely by Spaniards, but it's got that welcoming atmosphere and the spacing of the tables tells you that you are going to have a good evening. That's where I have been taking my family.

Shop: I've bought a lot of gear at Establishment in Weybridge

View: The view from my home is lovely. We overlook the broadwater and you look out to parakeets, swans, ducks and a heron. It's quite therapeutic. The parakeets are noisy buggers but the relations love them.

Place to visit: I went up to Walton Firs, the outdoor activity centre in Cobham, with Lady Baden Powell last year and it was great. It was so obvious that so much fun had been had there. I came away really feeling that I'd had a therapeutic experience.

Place to relax: In one of my local pubs. As long as I don't drive the the landlords away that is...

 

Sir Cliff Richard

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine December 2008

Restaurant: La Capanna in Cobham

Shop: Not Just Silver - a jewellery shop in Weybridge

View: The view of the River Thames from Shepperton

Place to chill: At home!

Place to visit: Wisley Gardens, near Woking

 

Brian Blessed 

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine December 2008

Place to visit: I love Chobham Common. I'm on it all the time. That's really my favourite spot.

Shop: I love going into Oxfam shops - they're always good fun.

Restaurant: I don't have time to go to restaurants, I'm too busy with the animals.I haven't been to a restaurant for about ten years!

Garden: RHS Wisley gardens. I've never been and I really want to go. My passion is gardening. I've got quite a large garden and it's very tropical. Wisley sounds second to none!

 

Bonnie Langford

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine November 2008

Restaurant: I'm not that much of a fish fan, but oddly, my two favourites are Loch Fyne in Cobham, which is a lovely place to go for Sunday lunch, and Superfish on the Old Woking Road for a really basic, old-fashioned fish and chip meal. Very different - both gorgeous.

Shop: Coco's Chocolaterie in West Byfleet. They sell gorgeous Belgian chocolate and jewellery - I mean, what a combination! I love it.

View: From Newlands Corner, near Guildford, where you can see the Downs. If you've never been there, it's really worth a visit.

Place to chill: David Lloyd in Brooklands. I go there to work out, but also to have a cappuccino. Good coffee is very important to me.

Place to visit: Painshill Park. It's such a wonderful place to spend the day. I went there a few weeks ago with my daughter and her little friend. We walked for three-and-a-half hours, which was hard work, but we took a picnic and it was absolutely delightful.

 

John Bird

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine October 2008

View: I like walking the dog down the lane just here. It's all wooded and you suddenly come out and there's a beautiful view over fields towards Leith Hill.

Place: Polesden Lacey. Again, there's this place where you walk through woods and suddenly you come on a view of Polesden Lacey from the top of a hill.

Restaurant: The Gurkha Kitchen in Reigate. It's very, very nice.

Shopping: Dorking. Although Reigate's much nicer now than when we moved there 30 years ago.

Place to chill: This is my favourite place - I just love looking out and seeing the llamas!

 

Phil Tufnell

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine August 2008

Restaurant: Me and the wife don't really have anywhere in particular. We tend to just muck about down the local pubs.

Shop: Erm, nothing really comes to mind for that one. You'd have to ask the missus.

View: I thought Cranleigh School was incredible when I played there with the Bunburys (the travelling charity cricket team) the other day.

Place to go: I really like the horses and Surrey has some great racecourses.

Place to chill: Sitting in the back garden with my feet up and a beer, usually.

 

Nicholas Owen

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine July 2008

Restaurant: There are lots of good restaurants around here but I think La Barbe in West Street, Reigate, is one of the best French restaurants anywhere.

Shop: The Cancer Research Shop here has wonderful staff, including a lady in her 90s. They're lovely with everyone. [In July 2002, Nicholas was diagnosed with kidney cancer but has since recovered. He became an honorary patron of Kidney Cancer UK in 2003.]

View: My own back garden! It's in sight of the North Downs and is a mass of colour in spring and summer.

Place to chill: My wife, Brenda, and I love to walk. Despite the fact that we're so close to the M25 and Gatwick, Reigate Heath is a lovely place any time in any weather. If I'm feeling under a little bit of pressure, it always clears my mind.

Place to visit: Brockham village, where I have my allotment, is a beautiful place - and a reminder that there are so many lovely villages away from it all in this neck of the woods.

 

Jemma Kidd

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine June 2008

Restaurant: Cambio's in Guildford. It's a great Italian. We had our office Christmas party there.

Shop: The Courtyard in Guildford. It sells gorgeous clothes.

View: Pitch Hill. I really love it up there.

Place to chill: Jodie's place near Cranleigh. I can pop in so easily now the office is close by.

 

Dame Jacqueline Wilson

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine May 2008

Restaurant: La Terrazza, near Surbiton library, for a lovely, cosy celebration with friends and Italian food.

Shop: The Lion and Unicorn bookshop in Richmond.

View: Home Park at Hampton Court - it's just magical walking along the line of trees at twilight. It has fallow deer and parakeets too.

Place to chill: In the swimming baths. I go every day to the Kingfisher in Kingston and also go to my health club in Kingston.

Place to visit: I like Loseley House near Guildford. It's a lovely house with gorgeous gardens and fabulous ice cream!

 

Eamonn Holmes

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine March 2008

Restaurant: I love that tapas bar (El Meson De Los Hermanos) on Baker Street in Weybridge. It's like being on holiday in there - and I don't get on holiday enough!

Shop: I don't mind shopping in lovely places. We picked up a few presents recently in that wee gift shop in Shere.

View: Oh, it's got to be Box Hill. It's so beautiful there.

Place to chill: Home! I'm so busy I love having the chance to relax at home in Weybridge, especially now I don't have to fly to Belfast so much as my kids come here.

Place to visit: Painshill - that's a lovely place for taking Jack at the weekends.

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