Woking
I lived in Woking from Fall 1999 to January 2002. It is a small town located about 10 miles from Guildford and about 20 miles out of London on a major rail link connecting the cities.
Woking is a working town, serving largely as a bedroom town for London commuters. It is relatively quiet though a large market is held in the centre of the town every Saturday from about 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Woking is located on the Basingstoke Canal though this, in combination with the railway, is really the only major routes in and out of the town. There are no major roads linking Woking with the rest of the country so you must drive at least 5 miles before reaching a major highway (the closest being the M25 and A3).
The canal is located directly across a small road from the main town centre (on the opposite side of the Peacocks Shopping Centre) and is reached by crossing the road and then a small footbridge leading from the town.
There are many areas of parkland around the town and closeby is the large Horsell Common featured as the landing spot in HG Well's War of the Worlds.
Woking Park just to the south east of the town centre is also the center for many of the towns activities including bonfire night as well as the ongoing attraction of it's liesure centre.
The Woking Football Club is not exactly Premiership football but they do provide good fun for the locals (and not-so locals). Seating at their home in Kingfield Stadium (just south of Woking Park) is for the most part unreserved with tickets available at the door (turnstile) for about 9 pounds.
Eating Out
Woking is not well known for eating establishments, having all major fast-food outlets and more than it's share of Tandoori shops.
For futher information, please see:
- The Ambassadors - Local cinema/theatre in Woking
- GotBetter.com - Guide to Living in Woking
- Tracing the War of the Worlds - The path of the Martians through England