Guildford bids for UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028
Proposed ideas include "The Guildford Quest," an interactive town-wide experience designed with Guildford's renowned games industry.
Guildford is hoping to become the UK's first-ever Town of Culture in 2028, with plans to transform the town into a vibrant celebration of playful culture, creativity, and discovery throughout the year.
Led by Guildford Borough Council, the bid has been crafted in collaboration with cultural organisations across the town, aiming to showcase Guildford's blend of ancient heritage and world-leading creativity on the national stage.
Central to the bid is establishing Guildford as the UK's first "town of playful culture," focusing on connecting communities through creativity, participation, and discovery.
Proposed ideas include "The Guildford Quest," an interactive town-wide experience designed with Guildford's renowned games industry.
The bid also features cultural pop-ups in parks, libraries, and heritage spaces, a large-scale community play involving residents, and the introduction of a Puzzle and Play Discovery Centre celebrating Guildford's history of invention and problem-solving.
Shortlisting for the next phase of the competition is anticipated to be announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport before summer 2026.
Councillor Vanessa King, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Economy and Place at Guildford Borough Council, reflected on the cultural opportunities, saying, "Guildford has a powerful cultural story that brings past and future together with a playful, creative energy."
She highlighted the bid as a means to connect communities and showcase local talent, remarking, "Bidding to become the UK’s first Town of Culture gives us the opportunity to open up those stories, connect communities and celebrate our people, local talent and creative minds that make our town so special today."
King acknowledged the importance of support from local partners and expressed optimism about community involvement if Guildford is shortlisted, aspiring to create a lasting cultural legacy beyond 2028.