June 11, 2015

The countdown continues to the free national celebration in Guildford on Saturday 27 June. To prepare for the big day, please make sure you plan your journey in advance . With 60,000 people expected to visit the town, public transport is the best way to travel.

Lead Councillor for Armed Forces Day, Cllr Matt Furniss, says: “We are very excited as the big event draws closer and we want everyone to enjoy themselves and to arrive and leave Guildford as smoothly as possible. Arriving by bus, train or on foot is definitely the best way to get here, particularly as there will be road closures in the town during the day. We appreciate not everyone can leave their car at home so we have provided additional out of town park and ride sites, free of charge to use, to avoid delay and reduce congestion. We advise anyone driving to please use these temporary car parks.

“With support from Surrey County Council, Surrey Police and partner agencies, we are working to help people plan and make their journeys in the best way possible.”

Guildford and Stoke Park are well served by public transport, with two railway stations within walking distance of the town centre parade route and the Stoke Park show. There is also an extensive bus network with stops across the town.

London Road station is the closest to Stoke Park and has train services from London via Epsom and Cobham. Guildford Station has train services from London, Portsmouth, Reading, Ascot, Gatwick and Aldershot. You can also get to London Road station by train from Guildford’s main station.

There is no parking at or near Stoke Park, so we have set-up free park and ride sites specifically for Armed Forces Day at Aldershot, Merrist Wood College and Wisley Airfield. Access to the sites will be clearly signposted from main roads. The Wisley park and ride site is only accessible from the southbound A3, via Elm Lane direct to the disused airfield. The turning is approximately half a mile from the M25 junction. For more information on these sites visit www.guildfordarmedforcesday.co.uk or call 0330 123 0088.

All Armed Forces Day park and ride sites are free to use and the bus service will open at 9am and close at 9.30pm, with buses running every 15 minutes. Buses will drop-off and pick-up next to Stoke Park on Parkway. The last buses back to the car parks will leave Stoke Park at 9pm.

Guildford’s existing park and ride network will operate as usual and will charge as normal except for the Guildford Spectrum park and ride which will be closed on Saturday 27 June. Buses from existing park and ride sites will not drop off at Stoke Park. The existing park and ride car parks will fill up very quickly and some town centre car parks will be closed.

For more information on travel, road closures and restrictions please visit www.guildfordarmedforcesday.co.uk or call us on 0330 123 0088.