Young people are the future! As the GTA achieves and deepens warm and friendly relations with the people of Freiburg, we want to ensure that these endure.
So we are keen to involve young people in our activities. We run several events a year especially for schools and we help school exchanges.
See for example our Schools film competitions and our pages tailored to Guildford schools seeking to visit Freiburg.
We now offer free membership to people aged 16-23, which we hope will encourage them to join us and bring fresh ideas.
Conversation Partners & penfriends wanted!
Would you like to talk over the internet to someone in Freiburg? You could improve your German, or they could improve their English, or both. You could get to know a bit about each other and maybe make a friend.
Or you could be penfriends, by email or letter.
Or you could talk sometimes and write other times.
How does it work?
Download the Conversation Partner / Penfriend request form, fill it in and return it (as directed on the form), and we'll try to match you with a partner in Freiburg.
When we find one, we give both of you each other's email addresses - then together you can decide how you want to communicate (using Skype / WhatsApp / Facetime / email, etc.), and how often - it's up to you both.
For example, we were able to fulfill this request from Freiburg:
- Niklas, aged 21 and a singer and pianist, had studied English and wanted to improve it. He asked us for a Conversation Partner for regular practice - we found him one and both partners improved their language skills while just chatting.
Data protection
The information you provide about yourself is to help us match you with an appropriate person. Apart from giving your email address to a potential partner, we will not share your information with anyone and will delete it when we no longer need it for matching purposes. For more detail, see our privacy policy .
All enquiries to:
What's special about Guildford? Guildford is a beautiful and historic town in the heart of Surrey, on the banks of the River Wey, and about 27 miles (43 km) from central London. The population of the Borough of Guildford is around 144,000, approximately half of whom live in the town.
The town has a picturesque High Street at its centre, with historic setts (or cobbles) and beautiful architecture from many different periods. The Borough of Guildford includes some of the loveliest countryside in England.
Wine and history: the geology of the area has enabled Guildford vineyards to produce some award-winning wines, while its history has provided many fascinating buildings which one can visit, from Guildford Castle to aristocratic "stately homes" to churches to mediaeval homes.
What else? For more about Guildford see:
- its history
- the story of its twinning
- some of its artists
- its town Guides
- its vineyards
Anglo-Saxon beginnings
Guildford first appeared in recorded history in 885 AD when it was mentioned in the will of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. Settled in the late 5th or early 6th century, Guildford rapidly became an important settlement thanks to the combination of its status as a royal manor, its strategic position and the commercial opportunities – and has continued to flourish for over 1,000 years as the county town of Surrey.
Located at the point where the River Wey breaks through the North Downs and the ancient East-West London Way crosses the river, Gyldeforda, the “golden ford”, became a focus for traffic and trade between London and the south coast and the West Country and the source of the town’s name.
Saxon Guildford was fortified against Viking raiding parties travelling upstream. A royal possession and the site of a mint, the original settlement around St Mary’s Church was enlarged and surrounded by a boundary ditch well before the end of the first millennium.
Norman Conquest – royal castle
Guildford Castle was built in the years following the Norman Conquest of 1066, to control the Saxon population. The Castle dominates the town and was a fortification, prison and, by the reign of Henry III, one of the most luxurious royal palaces in England which accommodated the King and his court when they visited Guildford.
See a 2-minute video of the Castle, including a digital recreation.
The castle fell out of royal favour and into disrepair. At the end of the 19th Century, it was bought by the Town and restored as impressive and picturesque public gardens for the benefit of all.
See a 2-minute video showing the gardens as they are today.
Middle Ages – town planning and wool
With the main street (now the High Street) running up hill from the river, the land on either side was divided into strips. Houses were built facing the street with gardens or yards to the rear. This early example of town planning defined the footprint of the town centre and the resulting “gates” (mediaeval usage meaning “passageways”) and alleys which run north and south from the High Street contribute to the interesting townscape which endures to this day.
See a digital recreation of A day in 14th century Guildford.
The wool trade and the production of cloth, notably Guildford blue which was sold across mainland Europe, brought prosperity to Guildford in the Middle Ages. The arms of the borough reflect this, featuring a royal castle above the river and two woolpacks.
Seventeenth century – canals and gunpowder
The Wey Navigation, making the river accessible to barges from London to Guildford, opened up wider markets for Guildford after the English Civil War. Grain, timber and gunpowder were sent downstream, and barges returned with a variety of goods and coal.
Fine buildings and coaching inns
Guildford’s life as a prosperous, peaceful provincial town is reflected in many fine and some outstanding buildings. George Abbot became Archbishop of Canterbury but remained attached to the town of his birth. In 1619 he funded the Hospital of the Blessed Holy Trinity which stands at the top of the High Street and continues to fulfil its charitable goals today. Other notable buildings include The Guildhall, whose iconic clock was allegedly given to the town to enable John Aylward to open a business here in 1683. The Angel Hotel is the last survivor of the six coaching inns which stood on the High Street. In the 18th and 19th century heyday of coaching, Guildford was on twenty-eight different routes including fashionable Brighton and Bath. Jane Austen visited on her way to London for “a long and comfortable breakfast” and shopping.
Railways and expansion
The arrival of the railways in the 1840s, making the town accessible for those who worked in London but enjoyed living in the country – the “Daily Breaders” (nowadays called commuters) bought a rapid increase in population and size.
Famous people
Famous people, especially artists, connected with Guildford over the years include Alice in Wonderland author, Lewis Carroll, who came frequently to visit his six sisters and finally died and was buried in the town in 1898. Symbolist painter GF Watts also lived and died in the borough, as did poet and gay activist Edward Carpenter. Writer P G Wodehouse was born there in 1881. In the 20th century, mathematician and code-breaker Alan Turing lived for a time in the town.
20th and 21st centuries
Guildford has continued to embrace and create opportunities for growth in business, technology, education, and the arts. It remains one of the most popular places to live in South-East England.