Bits & Pieces of the English countryside

The Holiday is one of my favorite romantic-comedies, yet what impresses me the most is the cottage house owned by Kate Winslet where Cameron Diaz was staying. I was dreaming of visiting this village. So I just googled where the movie was filmed, to find a city called Godalming, searched a bit further to find out that it’s in Surrey. Agreed with a friend to meet me at Liverpool Station where we booked wrong tickets, before moving to Paddington Station, after receiving the right info we booked tickets to Godalming. Stopping at Guilford, we found out at the tourist office that “Shere” is where the movie was filmed, a 20 min ride by bus. We hopped on the bus, riding on extremely narrow streets to witness one of the prettiest villages in the English countryside.

The William Bray British Bar & Restaurant -as per the website- is named after the C18th. Lord of the Manor of Shere, offering classic British cooking in a modern setting with a traditional bar, attractive garden and terrace overlooking the village.

Shere, Guilford, Surrey in England (where "the Holiday" was filmed) - Caption taken by me — The William Bray British Bar & Restaurant – Caption taken by me

It was my first time in the English countryside, couldn’t get any better. The village is so beautiful, very small, warm and cozy, River Tillingbourne flowing with few benches facing it, having only four restaurants, one candy and ice cream shop, few shops, a museum and a school. It’s out of this world, everyone is so relaxed, happy, smiling at strangers and greeting them. Streets filled with bikers or old coupé cars, where you’d hardly find tourists.

Cemetery at Shere - Caption taken by me — Cemetery at Shere – Caption taken by me

The cemetery from inside - Caption taken by me — The cemetery from inside – Caption taken by me

Though it stands in a cemetery, what it says is very cheerful 🙂

“Richard John Simmonds 1911-1993 with Thanks for 82 Happy Years in Shere”

Though it stands in a cemetery, but what it says is very cheerful - Caption taken by me — How cheerful – Caption taken by me

This is one of the places where people hang out, this one in specific is where Jude Law & Cameron Diaz had their dinner, named “The White Horse”. According to this website it was a 15th century farmhouse called: ‘The Cripps,’ and it became an inn sometime in the 17th century. It is also rumoured to be a former smugglers’ pub after a secret cellar was discovered during extensive renovations. Authentic timbers taken from Nelson’s ship, ‘Victory,’ are thought to be part of the pub, and there are also some traditional village stocks on the premises too.