Why visit Esher
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 46 parks and trails, 71 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Esher Theatre, Everyman, Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare and Hampton Wick War Memorial.
Weather in Esher
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Esher
Esher is a town in the borough of Elmbridge in north Surrey, England, to the east of the River Mole.
From the Wikipedia article Esher (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Esher
Things to do14
Everyman
Cinema and theater
20-22 High Street, Esher
Mo-Su 10:00+ "half an hour before the first film of the day, if earlier"
Chessington World of Adventures
Zoo and aquarium · 2.6 mi
Amusement park
Clattern Bridge
Bridge · 3.7 mi
Grade I listed bridge in Kingston upon Thames, London, England
Hampton Court Bridge
Bridge · 2.6 mi
Bridge in London and Surrey, England
Hampton Court Palace
Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi
Historic royal palace in Richmond, Greater London
Kingston Bridge
Bridge · 3.8 mi
Road bridge at Kingston upon Thames in south west London, England, UK
Old Walton Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
First Walton Bridge built across the River Thames (1750-1783)
Rose Theatre, Kingston
Cinema and theater · 3.7 mi
Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames, London, England
The Karsino
Cinema and theater · 2.8 mi
Hotel and entertainment centre on Tagg's Island, Richmond, London
Walton Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
This bridge in England, across the Thames, is in its sixth incarnation, built in 2013, one which is single-span and tied-arch above in design.
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks25
Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare
Monument and historic site · 3.0 mi
Folly in Hampton, London
Hampton Wick War Memorial
Monument and historic site · 3.7 mi
War memorial in London
The Homewood
Museum · 1.7 mi
UK modernist house in Esher, Surrey, England designed by Patrick Gwynne
York Column
Monument and historic site · 3.8 mi
Building in Elmbridge, Surrey, England, UK
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds46
Castle Hill, Chessington
Park · 3.4 mi
Local Nature Reserve in London
Carlisle Park
Park · 3.6 mi
Park in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, United Kingdom
Cigarette Island Park
Park · 2.5 mi
Park in Surrey opposite Hampton Court
Horton Country Park
Park · 3.5 mi
Nature reserve in Epsom and Ewell, Surrey, England
34 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes71
Don Luis
Restaurant · Spanish, Tapas
10 High Street, Esher
Mo-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
The Prince of Wales
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
48 West End Lane, Esher
Mo-Th 10:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:30; Su 10:00-22:00
Giggling Squid
Restaurant · Thai
57-59 High Street, Esher
Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-10:30; Su 12:00-21:00
59 more on the map.
History
Esher lay within the Saxon feudal division of Elmbridge hundred.
Esher appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aissela and Aissele, where it is held partly by the Abbey of the Cross in Normandy; partly by William de Waterville; partly by Reginald; partly by Hugh do Port; and partly by Odard Balistarius (probably a crossbowman). Its domesday assets were: 14 hides, 6 ploughs and 2 acres (8,100 m2) of meadow. It rendered £6 2s 0d per year to its feudal overlords.
In the 16th century King Henry VIII annexed several of the manors to the Honour of Hampton Court, including Esher, to form a royal hunting ground. The town slowly grew as a stagecoach stop on the London–Portsmouth road that was later numbered the A3, although it was bypassed in the mid-1970s when it became the A307. Clive of India built the Claremont mansion and this later became a royal residence used by Queen Victoria. In 1841 Esher had 1261 inhabitants across 2,075 acres (840 ha). Queen Victoria lent Claremont to the exiled French King Louis-Philippe and his consort Queen Marie-Amelie after the revolution of 1848. Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg lived there until he became King of the Belgians.
Read more of the history
By 1908, Esher contained the fashionable residences of several important figures including Lady Emma Talbot; Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins, the Duchess of Albany and Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G. who was later created 1st Viscount D'Abernon.
George Harrison of The Beatles owned a house named Kinfauns in Esher, in the 1960s. The other Beatles were regular visitors to the house, and Harrison's primitive home recording studio.
Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees owned a home called The Firs in Esher, from the 1970s until 2004, which was sold after his death. The hit single "Juliet" was written and recorded by Maurice and Robin Gibb in the Studio at The Firs for Robin's solo album project in the 1980s.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle placed the murder of fictional character, Mr. Garcia, in and around Esher in his Sherlock Holmes mystery, "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge". In the mystery, Dr. Watson described his and Holmes' arrival in Esher by stating, "It was nearly six o'clock before we found ourselves in the pretty Surrey village of Esher, with Inspector Baynes as our companion."
From the History section of Esher on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Esher
Arts and culture
The Everyman (formerly Odeon) cinema is a central feature of Esher's High Street with four screens.
Esher Cricket Club was established in 1863. They play matches in the Esher Park private estate, in New Road and have a youth cricket training and playing squad. The members of the cricket club also wanted to play tennis and established the Esher Lawn Tennis Club in 1889. A second cricket club arrived in 1875 as West End (Esher) Cricket Club.
Esher has a history with horse racing since the purpose-built Sandown Park race course opened in 1875.
In 1881 Esher Leopold football club was established which was formed out of the ashes of the dissolved Weybridge Swallows club. The club played at Sandown Park, close to the racecourse. The club's sole contribution to the national game was its one appearance in the FA Cup, a 5–0 home defeat to the holders, Old Carthusians, in 1881–82, although the club did reach the semi-finals of the Surrey Senior Cup, losing to Reigate Priory. The club continued into the 1883–84 season.
Esher Rugby Club was established in 1923 and play on the Hersham borders at the Molesey Road stadium, where they have several training grounds there.
Esher Theatre is a 300-seat performing arts venue on Esher High Street, which opened on 4 September 2021.
Education
Esher has a mix of state and private schools. There are four state primary schools across the postal district of Esher, including Esher Church School and Cranmere in Esher itself, as well as schools in Hinchley Wood and Claygate. Esher Church of England High School is the state secondary school in the town of Esher. Hinchley Wood School in the neighbouring area of Hinchley Wood has been an Academy since February 2012. Hinchley Wood is also one of the Further education establishments in the area. Esher College is in nearby Thames Ditton.
Esher is also home to the West End Playgroup & Forest School, a pre-school for 2-5 year olds.
From the Wikipedia article Esher, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Esher
Lily JamesBritish actress (born 1989)Photo: K6ka, CC BY-SA 4.0
Francis MellershRoyal Air Force air marshalsPhoto: Royal Air Force official photographer, Public domain
Berenice SydneyBritish artist (1944-1983)Photo: Romano Patti (user:Romano.patti), CC BY-SA 3.0- Lady May Abel Smithnoblewoman; British Royal Family descendant (1906–1994)
- John Cobbracing driver (1899-1952)
- Arthur CarrBritish equestrian (1910-1986)
- David Nash(1945 - ) British artist (born 1945)
- Ralph NevilleBritish politician and judge (1848–1918)
- H. H. StephensonEnglish cricketer (1833-1896)
- Bruce MackinnonBritish actor
- Timothy AdèsPoet and translator
- Alfred MartineauEnglish cricketer (1868-1940)
Born in Esher, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship27
Shopping11
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries28
Healthcare7
Map of Esher
236 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Walton-on-Thames 2 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Hook 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Chessington 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Hampton 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Sunbury-on-Thames 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Cobham 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Weybridge 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Shepperton 4 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Hampton Wick 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Kingston upon Thames 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Esher
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Esher01, Motmit, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chessington World of Adventures Hocus Pocus Hall, Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0
- Hampton Court Bridge 1, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Hampton Court Palace (3), Ricardalovesmonuments, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kingston Bridge2, Unknown author, Public domain
- Old Walton Bridge title QS:P1476,en:"Old Walton Bridge" label QS:Len,"Old Walton Bridge", Giovanni Antonio Canal, Public domain
- The Rose Theatre, Kingston, London, Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0
- The Karsino, Adam37, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Walton Bridge - Aug 2013, Adam37, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Garrick's Temple south view, Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY 2.0
- The Homewood and garden, Tjandspallan at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- York Column, Weybridge - cropped, Mertbiol, CC0
- BushyParkAutumn, Ojw at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HamptonCourtParkTrees, Ojw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kingston, All Saints church, from the churchyard, AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Mary The Virgin Chessington, steve bannister, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Nicholas' Church, Church Walk, Thames Ditton (NHLE Code 1188441) (June 2015) (6), Hassocks5489, CC0
- St Andrew's church, Surbiton, Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esher02, Motmit at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kingston St John01, Motmit, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Claremont House, Esher, Heathermitch, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bear Hotel, High Street, Esher (NHLE Code 1030193) (June 2015), User:Hassocks5489, CC0
- Christ Church, Church Street, Esher (NHLE Code 1188268) (June 2015) (7), Hassocks5489, CC0
- St Christopher's Church, Claygate Lane, Hinchley Wood (June 2015) (3), Hassocks5489, CC0
- Claremont Fan Court School mansion, Alexthegreat334, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hampton Methodist Church, Cameron Bools, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Entrance to Edith Gardens Local Nature Reserve, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bonesgate Open Space 6, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bonesgate Stream in Castle Hill, Chessington, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clattern Bridge Kingston. (39599957415), Loco Steve from Bromley , UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hersham War Memorial, Hersham Memorial Garden, Burwood Road, Hersham, Surrey - May 2026 - 04, Mertbiol, CC0
- Street-level photo, gness, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jhazan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, gness, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, RyanBush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, RyanBush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, gness, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jpennycook, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, alexanderar, CC BY-SA 4.0
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