How it rates Dorking was a Roman staging post on the ancient Stane Street, and later a prosperous market town famed for poultry sales (the Dorking Cockerel remains the town symbol). Ralph Vaughan Williams, a long-time resident, was inspired to write The Lark Ascending on country walks taken from here.
Architectural gems
Much of the town is a conservation area, and West Street dates from medieval times. Browse its antique shops then sup in the 16th century King’s Arms. St Martin’s Church has a 210ft spire.
Quality of life
Box Hill is a National Trust gem where Jane Austen set a picnic in Emma. Today, it looms over England’s largest vineyard, Denbies. Leith Hill also has great views, while the picture-perfect villages of Coldharbour and Holmbury St Mary are a few minutes’ drive away.
What’s new
Pippbrook Mews (pippbrookmews. co.uk) has nine neo-Georgian style houses, with two-bedroom flats for £335,000 and three-bedrooms from £375,000. Betchworth Place features 11 four-bedroom houses (betchworthplace. co.uk) from £530,000. Marley Mead (lindenhomes. co.uk) offers 38 three, four and five-bedroom homes (£385,000-£895,000).
Travel
A trio of stations — Dorking, Deepdene and Dorking West — provide links to London Victoria and Waterloo (50 minutes by fast train). Gatwick is 20 minutes by train. The town is within striking distance of the M25.
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Smartest streets
£1 million-plus is the norm on Park Copse in Deepdene. Victorian three-bedroom homes, including Sir Laurence Olivier’s birthplace at 26 Wathen Road, cluster just off the High Street, from £400,000.
Eating out
Two to Four offers fine dining in a medieval building on West Street, while Little Dudley House is a local favourite on South Street. The Gallery Restaurant at Denbies has great views over the vines.
Entertainment
Dorking Halls presents theatre, music, dance and film. Ralph Vaughan Williams started the Leith Hill Musical Festival (April), while Arts Alive enlivens October.
Education
Ashcombe is a top-rated state secondary, complemented by two church primaries, St Paul’s and St Martin’s. Nearby private options include Cranmore and Reigate Grammar.
Upside
Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within an hour of Central London, excellent transport links, fabulous antique shops.
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Downside
Traffic jams on West Street. The giant cockerel sculpture on the Deepdene Roundabout inspires mixed opinions.