Guildford's bid for UK Town of Culture 2028
What is UK Town of Culture 2028?
UK Town of Culture 2028 is a new national competition launched by the Government to celebrate the unique culture, creativity and identity of towns across the UK. Building on the success of the UK City of Culture programme, it gives towns the opportunity to showcase what makes them special through ambitious cultural activities, community participation and creative projects.
The winning town will receive funding and national recognition to deliver a major cultural programme in 2028, helping to boost pride in place, attract visitors and create lasting benefits for local communities. Guildford is one of the towns bidding to become the UK's first Town of Culture
About Guildford's bid
Guildford's bid to become the UK's first Town of Culture 2028 celebrates the town's unique mix of heritage, creativity and innovation.
Guildford's cultural journey begins with its historic foundations. The remains of one of the oldest synagogues in Western Europe, a Norman castle and the bustling Wey waterway that powered the European wool trade all reveal a town that has been a centre of craft, commerce and community for centuries.
A thousand years later, Guildford remains a fulcrum of heritage, education, art, technology, music, performance and games. Its uniquely modern cultural identity continues to influence national and global culture. The town has made a remarkable contribution to world literature: Lewis Carroll wrote Alice Through the Looking Glass while living here, and Guildford resident Kazuo Ishiguro is a Nobel Laureate in Literature.
Guildford has also been home to pioneers of science and technology. Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing lived and worked in the town, and their legacy of innovation continues today. Guildford is recognised for the strength of its university, cutting‑edge technology and research organisations, and—uniquely—as one of the world's most significant video game development hubs.
Our Town of Culture bid is built around a single mission: to connect this extraordinary cultural wealth to all our communities by becoming the UK's first town of playful culture. Linking young and old, the town centre and rural villages, and Guildford with the wider UK and the world, we aim to share our culture widely and create a legacy that lasts.
Becoming the UK Town of Culture will invite everyone to step with us "through the looking glass" into a year of exceptional cultural activity with a long‑term impact built around three pillars:
Playful discovery of culture, including The Guildford Quest, a town‑wide interactive exploration developed with Guildford's world‑leading games studios.
Playful participation in culture, including a new, inclusive Puzzle and Play Discovery Centre celebrating Guildford's heritage of invention and problem‑solving.
Pathways for the next generation, including Guildford Dragons, a cultural enrichment programme for 14-16‑year‑olds.
Plans include interactive experiences, community events and new cultural attractions, with shortlisting expected before summer 2026. Read more about our bid.
Find Guildford's postcard on the UK Town of Culture Interactive Map
Sign Guildford's postcard!
We are taking our postcard around Guildford, come and sign it!
Join us at the next Farmers' Market, on the High Street, Tuesday 7 July 2026 from 10am until 3pm.
Our partners
Key partners to date:
- Experience Guildford Business Improvement District (BID)
- University of Surrey
- G Live
- Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
- Guildford Festival of the Arts
- Liquid Crimson Ltd.
Published 1 July 2026