A Guide to Woking Town Centre: Shopping, Theatre and Eating Out
From the Peacocks Centre and Victoria Place to the New Victoria Theatre, here is what the heart of Woking has to offer.
Woking town centre has been transformed over the past few decades into one of the most modern town centres in Surrey, built around a fast rail link to London and a cluster of covered shopping centres.
Shopping
The main retail heart is formed by two linked covered centres — the Peacocks Centre and Wolsey Place — running off the pedestrianised Commercial Way, Wolsey Walk, and Mercia Walk. The newer Victoria Place development beside the railway station added further shops, restaurants, and a Hilton hotel, along with public squares.
Between them these centres bring together the familiar high-street names with independent cafés and services. Commercial Way itself is the town's main pedestrian spine and hosts regular market and events days.
Theatre and culture
The New Victoria Theatre, built into the Peacocks Centre, seats around 1,300 people and is one of the largest receiving theatres outside London. It hosts touring West End musicals, dance, comedy, and live shows throughout the year. A short walk away, beside the Basingstoke Canal, The Lightbox is Woking's art gallery and local history museum, opened in 2007.
Eating and drinking
Commercial Way and the surrounding streets offer a wide spread of places to eat, from Lebanese and Indian kitchens to casual dining. Chertsey Road, which runs down towards the station, is home to several of the town's pubs and bars.
Getting there
Woking railway station is on the edge of the centre, with frequent direct trains to London Waterloo, Guildford, and Portsmouth. The town is close to junction 11 of the M25 via the A320.
Sources
- Woking Borough Council and local shopping information (woking-shopping.co.uk)
- Surrey County Council "Hidden Surrey — Woking" feature
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