It’s officially the last proper weekend before Christmas, which tends to mean two things: councils publish “please don’t miss this” service updates, and the diary fills up fast with light trails, skating sessions and Santa logistics.
In this edition we’ve pulled together the latest on Guildford’s town centre plans (and flood-scheme engagement), plus the practical bits that affect the next fortnight.
In Today’s Edition
SWR festive timetable and how they’ll affect trips in and out of town
Guildford festive bin changes and a short garden-waste pause
Guildford regeneration schemes in one place, plus January flood-scheme drop-ins
Surrey festive opening hours and small grants for community projects
Warm Welcome venues, Guildford food support and key helplines
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
News
SWR confirms festive timetable and engineering works
For Waterloo–Guildford/Woking routes, South Western Railway is running a special festive timetable on the over Christmas and New Year, with some days seeing fewer trains and earlier last services.
Where: Waterloo–Guildford/Woking lines (including via Surbiton/Clapham Junction)
When: Wed 24 December–Fri 2 January (dates vary by route – check before travel)
Click here: To check festive train times and any engineering changes
Wisley interchange works continue at M25 J10
The long-running junction upgrade at M25 J10/A3 Wisley continues, with overnight closures. Expect occasional full closures of slip roads and stretches of the M25/A3, especially overnight.
Where: M25 J10 / A3 Wisley interchange (between Cobham & Byfleet/Ripley)
When: Ongoing through 2025–26 (check weekly updates)
Click here: To see the latest official updates on the M25 J10 and A3 Wisley works
Guildford sets out town centre regeneration pipeline as flood-defence engagement returns in January
Guildford Borough Council has published an overview of the main town centre regeneration schemes (North Street, the bus station, riverside sites and the station area) and has also flagged the proposed flood-defence scheme.
Here’s what the plan focuses on:
North Street plans include around 477 new homes, a revamped bus station and new public spaces, with completion targeted around 2030.
Station-area regeneration and the completed Guildford Plaza scheme are also covered.
Flood-scheme engagement drop-ins are scheduled for Sat 17, Tue 20 and Thu 22 January 2026.
Guildford Borough confirms Christmas bin changes and garden-waste pause
Guildford Borough Council has published revised bin-collection days over Christmas and New Year, plus a temporary pause to garden-waste collections. If you rely on habit and muscle memory, this is the week to double-check.
Here is what you should know:
Collection days will shift for most households over Christmas and New Year 2025/26.
The council is asking residents to use the postcode tool to confirm their adjusted day.
No garden-waste collections will run between 29 December and 9 January.
Normal patterns resume after the published timetable.
Weather & Alerts
hoto: Prince Khurram
No Pre-Christmas severe weather warnings for Surrey this weekend
At the time of writing, the Met Office has no severe weather warnings in force for Surrey/the South East for the coming week, including the pre-Christmas weekend. The pattern looks more cold-and-frosty than wet-and-windy, but it’s worth a quick re-check before you travel.
The UK warnings page shows no active yellow/amber/red alerts for Surrey right now.
Expect overnight frosts, fog, and icy pavements and roads in mornings and evenings.
If you’re heading to outdoor events, plan for chilly queues rather than rain cover.
This Week’s Homes
Home A: Under £350k
Price: £230,000
Address: Ferndown Court / Guildford / GU1
Details: Ground-floor flat / approx. 474 sq ft / 1 bed / 1 bath
Tenure: Leasehold
Parking Type: Allocated parking
Click here: To view the full listing and plan your viewing
Home B: £350k - £650K
Price: £425,000 (Guide)
Address: Oakfields / Guildford / GU3
Details: Mid-terrace house / 3 beds / 1 bath
Tenure: Freehold
Parking Type: Off-street parking plus garage in a block
Click here: To view the full listing and plan your viewing
Home B: Over £650K
Price: £1,100,000 (Guide)
Address: Duchess of Kent Close / Guildford / GU2
Details: Detached house / c. 2,700+ sq ft / 5 beds / 3 baths
Tenure: Freehold
Parking Type: Driveway plus double garage
Click here: To view the full listing and plan your viewing
County Updates
Photo: Matt Grant
Surrey publishes festive service hours and contact routes
Surrey County Council has published a single page with festive opening hours and key contact routes, useful if you need the right number for adult social care, children’s services or other essential support between Christmas and New Year.
The page summarises how to contact the council over Christmas and New Year 2026.
It signposts out-of-hours and emergency routes for adult care and children’s services.
Other services (including highways and libraries) have adjusted opening hours and response patterns.
Surrey County Council opens Small grants under “Your Fund Surrey”
Your Fund Surrey – Small Community Projects scheme is open for resident-led ideas needing capital funding. It’s aimed at practical, community-facing projects rather than general running costs.
Capital grants typically range from £1,000 to £50,000.
Projects must be community-led and benefit people within Surrey.
Open until around 20 March 2026, subject to available funding (always check the page for changes).
Community Digest
Photo: Prince Khurram
Surrey’s Warm Welcome scheme returns for winter
Surrey’s Warm Welcome scheme is running for winter 2025/26, with free or low-cost warm spaces open across the county from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026. Venues include libraries, community centres, churches and other local hubs offering somewhere warm to sit (often with a hot drink).
Events This Week
Family & Kids
Santa’s On His Sleigh | Selected dates in December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: G Live, Guildford
Description: A short, family-friendly Santa show aimed at younger children. Check the live listing for exact show times, prices and remaining seat availability before you set off.
Father Christmas at Limnerslease | Selected dates in December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Limnerslease (Watts Gallery), Guildford area
Description: Timed Father Christmas visits in an Arts & Crafts setting, usually with a short experience and photo opportunity. Many sessions sell out, so it’s worth checking for last-minute availability.
Santa Express | Selected dates in November–December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking
Description: Mini train ride through the vines with a meet-Santa moment and a small gift. Expect it to be busy; wrap up warm and check departure times and availability.
Outdoors
Guildford Castle Winter Light Trail | November–December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Castle, Guildford
Description: Timed-entry light trail around the castle grounds with illuminated features and on-site food/drink. Dress for cold underfoot and check entry times and any on-the-day guidance.
Sports & Fitness
Snow Globe Skate | Selected dates in December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Spectrum, Guildford
Description: Themed public skating sessions with music and lighting. Session times and prices vary, and some slots can sell out, so it’s worth picking a time in advance.
Markets
Guildford Craft & Gift Market | Sat 20 & Sun 21 December 2025
Location: The Guildhall, Guildford
Description: Two-day indoor craft and gift market (typically 10:00–16:00), with local makers, seasonal gifts, art and jewellery. Good for last-minute present browsing — less so if you’re avoiding town-centre crowds.
Click here: To confirm times and see the market details
Christmas at Watts Gallery | November–December 2025
Location: Watts Gallery, Guildford area
Description: A seasonal programme combining festive shopping, decorated spaces and a run of craft workshops. Dates and workshop times vary, so it’s worth checking what’s still running (and what still has space).
Click here: To check dates and see what’s on
Eat & Drink
Restaurant of the Week | Theion (modern Greek)
Location: Chapel Street, Guildford
Independent modern Greek in a converted chapel just off the High Street, leaning towards grills and sharing plates with a bit of polish. It’s more “make a booking and take your time” than a quick pre-show dash, and it can feel like an occasion spot — which also means you’ll want to keep an eye on timing if you’re pairing it with an event.
Click here: To see the menu and book a table
Quick hits
The Boathouse Cafe
Location: Riverside, Guildford
A straightforward daytime option for coffee, brunch or a light lunch by the water — handy if you’re combining town with a walk, and best enjoyed when the weather behaves.
Click here: To check opening times and browse menus
Positano
Location: Guildford town centre
Long-running Italian with familiar classics and a lively feel, especially at weekends. If you’re aiming for peak dinner time, booking is the sensible move.
The March Hare
Location: Near Guildford Castle, Guildford
Smart pub-and-dining option that works well before or after the light trail. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s a reliable “feed the group” choice when family are in town.
Click here: To view menus and reserve a table
Local Jobs
Community Safety Partnership Support Officer – Guildford Borough Council
Location: Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Full-time role (37 hours) supporting the Community Safety Partnership, helping coordinate projects and information flows. Salary is listed at £29,762 – £32,792 (Grade 3), with a closing date currently shown as 4 January 2026.
Customer Relationship Associate – Surrey Pension Customer Relationship team
Location: Hybrid (1–2 days per week in office after initial training period)
Customer-facing role supporting employer and member relationships and helping people understand pension benefits. Starting salary is shown as around £30,647 for a 36-hour week, with a hybrid pattern after early training.
Click here: To view the role details and apply online
Service Advisor – automotive sector
Location: Guildford and surrounds
Front-of-house roles dealing with customers, bookings and workshop liaison. Current examples are advertising around £32,500 basic with OTE in the low £40k range, typically daytime hours (details vary by employer and site).
Directory
J Lewis Plumbing & Heating Ltd
Location: Covers Guildford and nearby villages
Plumbing and heating support for servicing, breakdowns and general heating work — useful for both routine annual checks and the “no hot water and guests arriving” moments.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Spot On Electrics
Location: Guildford area
Domestic and commercial electrical work, from smaller fixes to larger rewires and fault-finding. A practical option when you want a straightforward route to a quote or booking.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Guildford Couriers Ltd
Location: Based in Guildford (local and wider deliveries)
Same-day and overnight courier services, with options for local and national deliveries. Handy for last-minute parcels or documents when you’d rather not do the driving yourself.
Click here: To get a quote or make a booking
Surrey Gas
Location: Guildford and surrounding villages
Boiler servicing, fault-finding and repairs — particularly useful in winter when small issues have a habit of becoming urgent at the worst possible time.
Click here: To see services offered and request a call-out
And Finally,
If your weekend plan currently involves present-wrapping, decoding a revised bin schedule and locating the one pair of scissors that actually cuts, you’re in good company. Wrap up warm for anything outdoors, and if you’re travelling, it’s still worth a quick weather check before you set off.
— Prince Khurram