Explore Dorking

Discover the charm of Dorking, where history, culture and independent spirit come together. Explore unique boutiques, art galleries and antique shops, enjoy locally sourced food and drink, and experience a thriving arts and events scene. Surrounded by breathtaking countryside, Dorking offers a perfect mix of heritage, hospitality and adventure. However you like to explore, you’ll find something to love here.

Easter in Dorking 2025

Explore our businesses

With over 340 businesses in the town centre alone you will find all you need in Dorking. Say Hello to Dorking’s shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, leisure, heritage and culture today!

Say Hello to Dorking with tailored itineraries

Whether you are planning your first visit to the town or you were born and bred here there is plenty to discover in Dorking! We have put together a number of itineraries based around different interests. So if you have a day or longer you’ll find plenty to do in Dorking, the heart of Surrey.

  • Dorking Town Centre Walking Trail – Inspired by Ralph Vaughan Williams

    9th September 2025

    As part of Dorking’s Walking Festival, Hello Dorking and Dorking Museum and Heritage Centre are delighted to share a fascinating town centre walk inspired by the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams Although born in Gloucestershire, Vaughan Williams had strong Surrey connections [...]

  • 19th July 2025

    Dorking is beautiful to explore in any type of weather, but when it is pouring with rain you may prefer to discover some of the inside delights of our lovely town. Here's our top things to do in Dorking on [...]

  • How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Dorking

    6th May 2025

    This article was updated May 2025 If you’re the kind of traveller who revels in the thrill of an unexpected find, welcome. If you’ve already uncovered Dorking’s charms, congratulations. You’re in on the secret. But if you haven’t? Well, let’s [...]

  • 25th April 2025

    An area of Dorking has just become very stylish! Aya Boutique have re-opened on the corner of West Street, transforming the old HSBC bank building into a shopping haven for stylish women. The owner Deborah Koffi has curated a beautiful [...]

  • Say Hello to Dorking in 2025

    14th January 2025

    There are so many great reasons to visit Dorking this year that you won't be able to stay away! Here are five of our favourite reasons to say Hello to Dorking in 2025. Expert knowledge We are so blessed in [...]

  • Where to Eat and Drink in Dorking for a Perfect Foodie Day

    13th January 2025

    Some towns lure you in with a single dish, a must-try meal that demands a detour. Dorking is not that kind of town. Here, food is an entire experience, a thread woven through every street, every shop window, every conversation. [...]

  • 6th January 2025

    Discover the heart of Surrey with a day filled with charm, culture, and plenty of surprises. Morning on the High Street Start your day where Dorking comes to life – the High Street. Grab a steaming cup of artisan coffee [...]

  • Enjoy a family day out in Dorking

    16th December 2024

    For Families with Young Explorers Start the day at Dorking Museum, where history is measured not in dates but in dinosaur bones and dusty relics with stories to tell. The little ones will revel in the dressing-up box and interactive [...]

Explore our events

Hello Dorking run a variety of events throughout the year including school holiday workshops, Christmas Festivals and shopping events, live music and shop local initiatives. Most of our events are free giving you the opportunity to shop local while you are in town.

Dorking – Where Heritage Meets Heart

Dorking’s allure is as old as the very ground it stands on, a history shaped by a breath taking landscape. Born from a Roman road the town’s destiny was sealed  when it was recorded as a valuable holding in the Domesday Book centuries later. For years, Dorking was famed for its five-toed cockerel, which is still a quirky symbol of its earthy, agricultural charm today.

With the arrival of rail connection Dorking was unlocked to the world. The town, once a simple market stop, began to beckon London’s elite, luring them with the irresistible promise of fresh air and beautiful scenery. They built beautiful homes and grand estates, turning the stunning landscape into a place of rest and relaxation.

This rich legacy is woven into the very fabric of Dorking today. The spirit of its ancient marketplace lives on in a thriving community of independent shops and vibrant local businesses, while the elegant charm of its estate era endures in its stunning architecture. In Dorking every independent storefront tells a story, it’s a destination where heritage meets heart, offering an authentic, welcoming experience that you simply cannot find anywhere else.

Adventure awaits. Escape to Dorking and experience it all for yourself.