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Good Morning Surrey!
March has that familiar habit of arriving with a little optimism and quite a lot of admin. One minute it feels as though the county is edging towards spring, the next you are checking roadworks, scanning bills, wondering whether a Saturday outing needs booking, and trying to remember which group chat mentioned parking.
If your weekend usually begins with the A3 and M25 calculation, this is the week to check before you set off, not halfway through a queue near Ockham. The junction 10 works are still the sort that can turn a simple journey home into a scenic review of Surrey’s less celebrated roads. If you have found a diversion that actually works, tell us.
March in Surrey is rarely dull, it is just organised oddly.
Now in today’s edition,
Friday-night M25 closures, and a drop in April energy cap
Three Guildford homes, from a flat under £350k to a guide-price semi at £750k
Parking discounts in Camberley, Guildford’s improvement update, and practical community signposts
Weekend picks from theatre and live music to Wisley, Denbies and Watts Gallery
Saturday markets, wine and cheese plans, four local jobs, and three trusted local services
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
P.S. Our Monday Update leans more towards news, the Wednesday Midweek Brief balances news and events, and the Friday Weekender is lighter on news and fuller on events and Eat & Drink. We would really welcome your thoughts on this format and how we can improve The Surrey Digest for you.
News
M25 junction 10 closures continue through Friday night
Source: nationalhighways.co.uk
National Highways still has overnight closures and lane restrictions in place between junctions 10 and 11, with Ockham Park roundabout fully closed overnight on Friday 6 March. That matters for late trips home from London, Heathrow, or anywhere else that normally uses the straightforward route back.
Outside lanes on both the eastbound and westbound M25 are affected between Cobham and junction 11.
Ockham Park roundabout is fully closed overnight, with signed diversion routes in place.
Earlier closure nights run from 10pm to 5.30am.
Friday’s closure window runs from 11pm to 6am, so early Saturday journeys are caught by the night before.
National headlines for Surrey
Energy price cap drops from April
From 1 April, Ofgem’s cap falls by £117, or 7%, for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household, taking the annualised figure to £1,641. It will not transform anybody’s outgoings, but it is one household number moving in a better direction.
Click here: To see the new cap and how it is worked out
TfL fares changed from 1 March
Tube, DLR and rail pay as you go fares have risen, while bus and tram fares are frozen until 5 July 2026 and caps and Travelcards stay frozen until 2027. For Surrey commuters, it is worth checking the cost of the journey in before Monday arrives.
Click here: To see the updated fares and caps
County News
Camberley town-centre parking discounts are in place
Source:BBC
Surrey Heath’s parking package is still running, which makes this one of the more practical council updates to keep in mind if you work in town, head in for dinner, or just want a slightly less irritating parking bill.
Main Square and Knoll Road now have a £2.50 evening tariff after 6.30pm.
A 50% staff discount applies at Knoll Road.
Thursday morning half-price trial parking runs from early Feb to the end of March.
Wider parking fees are frozen until April 2027.
Guildford reports 18 months of improvement
Guildford has published its latest improvement update after taking the report to Full Council in late February. It is not the sort of story that dominates the school gate, but it does matter if you prefer your council to be moving away from intervention rather than towards it.
The council says the risk of non-compliance with Best Value standards is lower.
The update was published on 19 Feb and taken to Full Council on 24 Feb.
The report marks 18 months of what council calls solid, sustained improvement.
The next formal update is due in Autumn 2026.
Community Digest
Club4 Easter programme bookings are open
Easter Club4 bookings are now open for eligible children from Reception to Year 11, with provision running across more than 150 Surrey locations.
Here’s how it works:
The programme is aimed at eligible pupils during the Easter holidays.
Surrey Education Services says bookings opened in its 26 February bulletin.
Activities run across 150 plus locations around the county.
Families can check eligibility and booking guidance before choosing a venue.
Click here: To read full guidance and find locations
Great British Spring Clean volunteering in Farnham
Farnham Town Council is inviting residents to register interest for self-scheduled litter picking between 13 and 29 March. Equipment can be reserved, which is useful if your civic spirit does not extend to owning a grabber.
New Haw Litter Pickers
If you are near Runnymede and want something local and straightforward, New Haw Litter Pickers meet roughly every six weeks and equipment is provided. This is community life rather than grand strategy, which is part of the appeal.
Bookable blood tests, including Woking Community Hospital
Ashford and St Peter’s says blood tests at Woking Community Hospital are appointment-only and booked through Swiftqueue. Worth checking before you set off, because few pieces of local admin are quite as flat as arriving somewhere useful without the one thing they now require.
Click here: To find the right clinic and booking route
🗓️ Events – Easter & Early March
Family trails and egg hunts
Pattledom | Sat 7 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Watts Gallery, Compton
Description: This promenade performance runs in bookable slots from 11am to 5pm, which makes it handy for families who need a little flexibility. There is also a separate Q&A listing if you want more than a quick visit.
Lindt GOLD BUNNY Hunt | 21 March – 12 April 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hampton Court Palace
Description: A family-friendly hunt around the palace grounds as part of the Easter programme.
Knowle Park Easter Egg Hunt | Sat 4 April 2026, 15:00–16:30 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Knowle Park, Cranleigh
Description: A short, bookable Easter egg hunt session (afternoon slot).
Easter Egg Hunt | Fri 3 & Sun 5 April 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Gatton Park
Description: Easter egg hunt dates across the early April weekend.
Easter Eggsplorers at Hobbledown | Late March into April 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hobbledown, Epsom
Description: Easter holiday activities built around an “eggsplorers” theme.
Easter Rides & Egg Hunts | Selected dates over the Easter holidays (Info/Tickets)
Location: Shetland Pony Club
Description: Pony rides with egg hunts on selected holiday dates (check the schedule).
✨Special Events
An Evening with Michael Portillo, A Life of Two Halves | Sun 8 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: G Live, Guildford
Description: Sunday’s talk runs for 110 minutes including the interval. Age guidance is 14+ and the current page shows availability rather than the old sold-out note. Price: from £37.
FutureHort Conference 2026 | Sat 7 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley
Description: Doors open at 9am, conference sessions run from 9.50am to 3pm, and you get time in the garden afterwards. Good for keen gardeners and serious plant people, who are not always the same group.
National Lottery Open Week, £1 garden entry | Sat 7 to Sat 14 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley
Description: Valid National Lottery proof gets entry at £1 per person, for up to four people, during the offer window. This is the sort of deal that tends to travel fast once families notice it.
Surrey Contemporaries | Until Sun 8 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking
Description: The exhibition runs daily from 10am to 5pm through Sunday and entry is free. An easy one to combine with lunch, coffee, or a general attempt at being cultured without overcommitting.
🎭Theatre & Performances
Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts | 10–14 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: Stage thriller bringing Inspector Morse and Lewis to life in Oxford, with a new murder mystery for fans of the TV series and novels. Evening performances with selected matinees, including accessible and captioned options in the run.
Spitfire Girls | 24–28 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: Wartime drama about the women who kept Britain’s aircraft flying, blending live music, storytelling and World War II history. A good pick for anyone who likes period pieces with a strong ensemble feel.
Demons | Thu 5 to Sat 7 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: G Live, Guildford
Description: Guildburys Theatre Company’s studio run continues through Saturday, with a Friday Q&A in the mix. Price: from £22.50.
Single White Female | Tue 3 to Sat 7 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Description: The stage thriller runs through Saturday with evening performances plus Wednesday and Saturday matinees. Age guidance is 15+, so this is one for a grown-up night rather than a family outing.
2:22 – A Ghost Story | 16–21 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Description: Modern supernatural thriller about a couple convinced their new home is haunted, with the audience invited to decide what they believe by the 2.22am climax. One-week stop on the touring production with evenings and selected matinees.
🎸 Music & Gigs
Big band night at New Victoria Theatre | Tue 10 March (Tickets)
Location: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Description: An evening of rhythm and blues at New Victoria Theatre, with Jools Holland and his orchestra bringing their touring show to Woking. The venue site has the confirmed date and ticket options; check there for the final on the night start time before you book.
The Best of Tubular Bells I, II and III | Sat 7 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: G Live, Guildford
Description: Saturday’s show is marked as selling fast on the official page. Price: from £32.
The Illegal Eagles | Sun 8 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Description: Sunday’s 7.30pm performance is the one to look at if your idea of a tidy weekend finish involves recognisable songs and very little explanation.
Pola & Bryson | Fri 6 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Thirty3Hz, Guildford
Description: Friday night runs from 10pm to 3am with last entry at 1am. It is 18+ and aimed firmly at those not planning an especially restful Saturday morning.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
🛍️ Markets
Guildford North Street Market | Sat 7 March
Location: North Street, Guildford
Description: The regular Friday and Saturday market runs from 8.30am to 5pm. Good for a quick town-centre browse if you are already in Guildford and less keen on turning it into a formal excursion.
Godalming Antiques & Vintage Market | Sat 7 March
Location: High Street, Godalming
Description: 10am to 4pm, interesting things, or items you did not know you wanted until three minutes earlier.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Byfleet Village Market | Sat 7 March
Location: Plough Green, Byfleet
Description: The first-Saturday market runs from 9am to 1pm. Shorter hours make it more of a morning job than an all-day plan, which is often exactly what you want.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
🍽️ Eat & Drink
English Wine & Cheese Tasting | Sat 7 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: As listed on Surrey Hills events page
Description: A food-first tasting session ahead of the Easter trail dates.
Terrace Bar | Sat 12pm-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm, (Info/Tickets)
Location: Silent Pool Distillery, Albury
Description: Bar snacks rather than a full meal. Good for a short stop,
Hillfield Easter Sunday Feast | Sun 5 April 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Pennyhill Park
Description: A second Easter Sunday dining option, pitched as a feast format.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
📒 Directory
Fidelis Security & Locksmiths (Details)
Location: Surrey
Description: Electrical work backed by a live Which? Trusted Traders listing and Buy With Confidence approval. A sensible one to keep bookmarked before a small job becomes a weekend conversation piece.
Spectrum Electrical Services (Details)
Location: Across Surrey
Description: Gas-safe engineers offering boiler servicing, repairs and central-heating upgrades, including annual service plans.
Brackendale Tree Care Ltd (Details)
Location: Guildford
Description: Guildford-based tree surgery and related work, with NPTC-qualified tree surgeons and trading since 1998. One for the list before hedge season becomes everybody’s shared personality.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
And Finally,
The first full March weekend in Surrey always seems to involve one person leaving home in sunglasses and another dressed for November, with both looking sensible by mid-afternoon. If you spot a useful diversion, a market worth the detour, or a local tip we should know about, reply and send it over.
Have a good weekend, Surrey.
Thank for reading. Let’s chat on Monday.
