A 40 minute train journey to London Waterloo makes Guildford an attractive option for commuters with a healthy bank balance. The typical resident earns 17 per cent more than the national average, and even comfortably more than his or her South-Eastern neighbours.
It may well be the jewel in Surrey's crown and the good news is that the area's affluence makes it a fine place to live and commute from (with Waterloo only 40 minutes away via mainline train). The bad news is that all that affluence means swanky 4x4s which means too much effluence, or rather pollution!
Ranked in the bottom 25 per cent of the UK for carbon emissions, gas guzzling Guildford is pumping out the equivalent of 3 tonnes of the dirty stuff per person.
And as environment ranks as the 2nd most important factor to you lot when you're buying a house, this is why Guildford doesn't rank even better with us!
What makes Guildford so special? Exceptional transport links, with direct trains through to Birmingham and Manchester, easy access to the south coast and proximity to London's major airports, mean that nowhere is too far from this well-served borough.
Guildford is also the buzzy focal point of the South East, and administrative centre for the entire region. But it is outside the town's borders that the borough really comes into its own. It is an area dominated by Surrey Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
One of the most varied landscapes in the country, it offers everything from the panoramas of Leith Hill, an unrivalled picnic spot where, uniquely, you can switch between views of the English Channel and London, to the tranquility of the Silent Pool near Shere, via a range of extravagantly named beauty spots like The Devil's Punch Bowl.
Elsewhere, there are outstanding man-made landscapes. The Sculpture Park near Farnham, RHS Wisley's floral displays, and the Charles Hamilton-designed Painshill Park are just a few. The area does well for eateries, too, with the Michelin-starred Drakes in Ripley to the fore. And, for the musically-inclined, the Guildford International Festival's eclectic diversity is complemented by the big names and up-and-coming bands which grace the annual Guilfest.
Guildford has consistently high-achieving schools, from primary through to A-Level. Add to that its low crime figures and a high quality of life, and its place in the top 10 is sealed. However, there's a high price to pay for such riches - an average house cost a massive £387,000 in July 2007, making it one of Britain's most expensive places to live.
There's little sign of the market slowing down either, with prices continuing to rise 13 per cent in the last year, and 12 per cent between April and July. So, if you're looking to invest in the many delights of Guildford, it really does seem to be a case of the sooner the better.
<< Go back to the index to read about more places in the top and bottom 20
Discuss Guildford and all 433 other UK boroughs with other viewers >>
Read about the 11th best place to live in 2007 >>
Local area information on Guildford from upmystreet.com >>
Guildford Borough Council >>
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