Found in the countryside of East Surrey and just a swift train ride from London, Oxted is one of those English towns that repays the curious visitor with more than just gorgeous scenery. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, this thriving market town grew in earnest with the arrival of the railway in the late 19th century, transforming from a modest rural settlement into a vibrant place with a strong sense of community and a rich slate of attractions.
Suitable for a day trip, a weekend escape from London or for those simply curious about the delights tucked away in Surrey’s countryside, Oxted remains a reference for bucolic charm and architectural splendour. Our guide profiles five of the best things to see and do in and around Oxted.
Titsey Place and Gardens
As one of the largest surviving estates in the area, Titsey Place and Gardens perfectly encapsulate the history and natural beauty that define Oxted. Perched on the edge of the North Downs, the Tudor manor house and its extensive gardens have shaped the local landscape since the 16th century. Formerly home to successive generations of the Gresham and Leveson-Gower families, Titsey is now preserved for the nation and opens seasonally to the public, with guided tours offering insight into the house’s long and layered history.
Inside, a collection of family portraits, fine furniture and notable works by Canaletto provides a glimpse into centuries of English country life. After exploring, the tea room offers a welcome pause for a pot of tea and cake, which is a civilised conclusion to an afternoon spent immersed in one of Surrey’s oldest estates.
Titsey’s appeal extends well beyond the house itself. Visitors can explore the beautifully maintained gardens, including the walled kitchen garden, landscaped lakes and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Rose Garden, before wandering through parkland bordered by broadleaf woodland and grazed by the renowned ‘Titsey Herd’ of pedigree Sussex cattle. Woodland walks through the Titsey Plantation and up to High Chart also reward walkers with expansive views across the Downs.
Limpsfield Common
Limpsfield Common has a layered history that stretches back centuries, long before it became one of Oxted’s most cherished green spaces. Stone was quarried here as early as the 11th century and the shallow pits left behind can still be spotted today by those who know where to look. In the medieval period, the common was used by local people for grazing livestock and gathering stone and firewood. Evidence of Limpsfield’s pottery-making past also survives nearby, where Limpsfield Ware was produced at medieval kilns around Scearn Bank.
Yet it is Limpsfield Common’s Second World War history that leaves the most vivid imprint. During the Battle of Britain in 1940, fierce aerial combat played out overhead as German bombers passed across east Surrey en route to London, sometimes jettisoning their payloads over the common as they retreated under pursuit from RAF fighters. With air raids a constant threat, six concrete trench-style air raid shelters were constructed at the start of the war to protect pupils from Limpsfield School.
By 1972, responsibility for Limpsfield Common passed to the National Trust, marked by a ceremonial transfer rooted in medieval tradition. Today, its history sits alongside its natural beauty: ancient beech trees, spring bluebells, open heathland and woodland threaded with footpaths and bridleways.
Barn Theatre
Oxted’s cultural life may be modest in scale, but it punches well above its weight thanks to the Barn Theatre. Purpose-built as a community theatre, it opened in 1924 and was largely constructed using timbers salvaged from a local 13th-century sawmill. From the outset, its role was to link the town of Oxted with the neighbouring village of Limpsfield, providing a shared space for performances and social gatherings, a purpose it continues to serve today.
Seating just 244, the Barn has a distinctly personal atmosphere, yet its size has never limited its ambition. Over the decades, an impressive roster of performers has ‘trodden the boards’, including Dame Flora Robson, Dame Eileen Joyce, Randolph Churchill, Christopher Fry and composer Michael Tippett in its earlier years, followed more recently by names such as Roy Castle, Ronnie Corbett, Richard Stilgoe and Jimmy Tarbuck.
Today, the Barn hosts a varied and lively programme throughout the year. Plays, pantomimes, musical evenings, comedy nights, tribute acts and family-friendly shows sit alongside community fixtures such as the popular Sunday Club gatherings, which keep the theatre as much a social hub as a performance space. Run and maintained entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers, the theatre has benefitted from steady technical and aesthetic improvements over the years, ensuring it remains fit for modern audiences while retaining its character.
Godstone Farm
Located just six miles from Oxted, Godstone Farm offers a refreshingly old-fashioned day out, the sort that leaves children muddy, tired and happily occupied. Set within the Surrey Hills and run as a family farm, it offers hands-on animal encounters with generous indoor and outdoor play, making it a reliable choice whatever the weather.
Home to more than 500 animals, Godstone Farm is designed around interaction rather than observation. Children can feed goats, meet pigs, sheep and small animals and learn about farm life. Undercover animal barns ensure the experience doesn’t grind to a halt when rain arrives, while acres of outdoor space keep energy levels well spent on brighter days.
One of the farm’s best features is Surrey’s largest soft play centre, housed within the Play Barn and included in the price of entry. Beyond this, the site is dotted with play areas, climbing structures and themed trails that encourage exploration at a child-friendly pace.
Quince House Cookery School
Tucked away and deliberately small in scale, Quince House Cookery School feels more like being invited into a knowledgeable cook’s kitchen than attending a formal class. Founded in 2008 by Katharine Eldridge, the school reflects decades of professional experience distilled into calm and structured teaching.
Katharine trained at the renowned Tante Marie School of Cookery, graduating with distinction before being invited to join the faculty. From 1992 to 2002, she taught and demonstrated there, alongside running her own catering company. Quince House was established once family life allowed her to return fully to teaching.
Classes are intentionally limited in size. Group demonstrations are capped at ten participants, while hands-on sessions are restricted to just six. For those seeking something more tailored, one-to-one tuition is also available upon prior arrangement.
The programme spans a range of cuisines, from hands-on Thai cookery to an Italian kitchen session focused on fresh pasta, ravioli, focaccia and tiramisu. Demonstration classes, including Healthy Treating, take a wider view and offer practical ideas for modern eating, with tastings and a shared lunch included.
Close to London yet firmly rooted in its surroundings, Oxted continues to reward those willing to look beyond the obvious, offering depth, character and a varied range of things to do within easy reach of the capital.
