The borough of Epsom & Ewell is conveniently situated for all modes of transport.

The international airports of Heathrow and Gatwick are virtually equidistant, and junction 9 of the M25 is only a few miles by car. This makes Epsom an ideal location for leisure, as well as for head office development. The borough supports no fewer than four railway stations. Epsom Station, placed opportunely in the town centre, provides a regular service to London. The journey takes between 20 and 30 minutes and trains run every half hour (more frequently in the rush hour). Ewell East, Ewell West and Stoneleigh stations are located conveniently throughout the borough. There are also several bus  routes that service the area. The main service provider, Epsom Buses, has been established in the borough since 1920. Buses from Kingston and Sutton link the surrounding villages with the bustling town centres.

Enjoyed all year round by many who ride, ramble, picnic or simply walk the dog, the Common is the largest designated Local Nature Reserve in Surrey. It occupies an area of over 400 acres and includes such diverse habitats as oak woods, hawthorn scrub and acid grassland. The Common is also home to the  evocatively named ‘stew ponds’, whose name derives from the French word ‘estui’, meaning sty or enclosure. The ponds were therefore originally fish enclosures, owned by the Abbot of Chertsey, and would probably have been stocked with carp. Now they are home to a variety of wild birds, including herons. Other wild residents of the Common include deer, foxes and other smaller mammals. Access to the Common by car is from the Stew Ponds car park off Christchurch Road. There are pedestrian access points all along the Common’s perimeter.

Epsom Downs, famous for its racecourse, is an area of 600 acres of unspoilt downland. From here, on a clear day, the view takes in the whole of London as well as panoramas of rural Surrey. Horton Country Park includes open space rich in wildlife; a farm where children can see many types of farm animal, including rare breeds; and a large adventure playground (01372 743984). There is also an equestrian centre (01372 743084); and a golf and country club  (020 8393 8400).

The Rangers organise family activity days and guided walks in the park and can be contacted on 01372 741191. There is a sophisticated cycle path system and cycle maps and guides are now  available from the borough’s five local cycle shops or the Town Hall. Horton Park Golf and Country Club boasts a newly designed, 18-hole, par 70 Millennium course, with an island green and tree-lined fairways. There is also a par 3-4 Academy Course, as well as a 26- ay covered floodlit driving range. PGA professionals are on hand in the golf shop, and there is a bar, restaurant and air-conditioned function suite. Although the Borough has been blessed by nature with wide expanses of rolling green hills, generations of residents of all ages have also enjoyed its many beautiful parks. The leafy parks are attended all year round by the skill and devotion of the Borough Council’s Parks department that organises literally thousands of plants to grace each season with drifts of flowers. In addition, there are many flowerbeds bursting with plant life that border the busiest parts of town and overflowing tubs and baskets fill the streets with splashes of colour.

Nonsuch Park boasts nearly 700 acres of beautiful parkland, including formal gardens and an aviary. Although Henry VIII’s fabled palace has long since gone, the attractive Mansion House offers social and catering facilities for visitors. Recreation grounds in the borough have amenities for most sports including bowls, tennis, putting, cricket and football and many have children’s play areas. These are listed in Community Information and shown on the borough map.

The Playhouse always has a wide and varied programme of events, featuring both professional and amateur productions. The main auditorium seats 400 and plays host to theatre companies and major classical concerts as well as the best local musical and theatrical talents. The Playhouse also stages many West End productions and holds a regular film season. The Studio Theatre, within the Playhouse, is used regularly for jazz, comedy and children’s events. There are bars and a bistro that are open to theatregoers or casual visitors alike. Epsom Playhouse, an attractive modern building, is fronted by a statue of the internationally renowned English ballet dancer John Gilpin (1930 - 1983), founder member of the Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet). He is portrayed as ‘Le Spectre de la Rose’, a ballet first performed in 1911 by the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky.
 For more details, telephone 01372 742555.

Odeon Cinema in Upper High Street, Epsom was opened in December 1999 and has eight screens with car parking and restaurant facilities nearby.

Bourne Hall, notable for its 1960s architecture is well worth a visit in its own right, as well as for the many social and entetianment functions that it hosts. Surrounded by gardens and a lake with the adjoining horse pond where carters used to size their wheels and water their animals. A pleasant walk leads from the pond, along the Hogsmill River, to the Upper and Lower Mills.

Within Bourne Hall itself, there is always an art exhibition to enjoy as well as the local library and a restaurant.

Bourne Hall Museum
Bourne Hall Museum has a display of over 5,000 local artefacts, including a hansom cab and one of the first fire engines. The museum was created to promote an understanding of the rich history of the borough and has many interesting and varied exhibits. It is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, all year round, and entrance is free.

Epsom is making ample provision for a healthy lifestyle with the opening of a growing number of leisure and fitness centres, including the new Ebbisham ‘lifestyle’ Centre in the heart of the town. The keynote of the building is modernity and its clean-cut outline oversees two public areas: the Oaks and Derby Squares. The crowning glories of both are two long external walls of mosaic and ceramic art. Developed by two well-known artists, Emma Biggs and Kim Lodge, the artwork provides a lasting memorial to all those who have been associated with the ‘hospital cluster’ - the name given to the area housing Epsom’s five Victorian hospitals, most of which have now closed. Each artist worked in collaboration with community groups in the borough, as well as the staff and residents of Pine Lodge, Manor Park and the service users at the Gallwey Unit, St Ebba’s. The unique and beautiful mosaic work, created by Emma Biggs especially for the Ebbisham Centre, reflects the spirit of the Borough of Epsom & Ewell. It includes images of the famous wide green slopes of the Downs, as well as springs and horses, and is likely to catch the imagination of all who see it. The theme of horses occurs repeatedly; as the artwork shows, they seem to rise out of the Downs in earthy, mossy colours and leap across the springs, to dash into the future! Ceramic tiles are the materials used in the second artwork by Kim Lodge, which denotes two key areas of the Ebbisham Centre: the cafes and restaurants and the library. The former is depicted in tiles of clear, bright colours, reflecting the warmth and hospitality of the surrounding eating establishments. The latter is portrayed in cooler, more subtle shades which focus on a ‘posting’ box for the return of library books.  The Ebbisham Centre includes Surrey’s newest library which frequently holds exciting workshops and discussion groups, often led by well-known authors and broadcasters. Colourful displays of artwork are often mounted within the centre which incorporates a library; an IT learning centre; conference rooms and special meeting places for the young and elderly; a health club; and an underground car park for centre users.

The traditional market culture promotes trade and adds to the atmosphere of an historic town. Epsom’s famous clock tower overlooks the bustling square, where regular markets are held on Thursdays and Saturdays, and a Farmers’ Market on the first Sunday of every month. Sunday shopping opportunities abound, too, with Continental and craft markets. These have proved to be extremely popular, particularly when organised to coincide  with special local and national events.

On a more modern note, the Ashley Centre and Spread Eagle Walk are both within a stone’s throw of the market area. They also provide a focus for shopping, with a large range of stores including department and speciality shops. The High Street and Upper High Street offer a varied range of shops and eating places, with convenient parking nearby. Stoneleigh and Ewell Villages offer additional attractive locations to browse, shop and enjoy a pleasant afternoon, with some excellent pubs and restaurants.