Epsom - Surrey's odds-on favourite town...
Above: Epsom Clock Tower is one of the town's best known landmarks
No other UK town featured more in the national news over the first weekend in June this year than Epsom. One of the world’s most charismatic sportsmen, Frankie Dettori, had won the world’s greatest horse race, the Epsom Derby, for the first time in 15 attempts.
Yet talk to the residents of this pleasant town, set against the magnificent, rolling Surrey Hills, and you will find they take its sporting fame rather for granted. It is, of course, good for the town’s prestige, not to mention its business profile. But for them, Epsom’s racing heritage is simply one entry in a long list of attractions that includes a pleasant living environment, good shopping, low crime levels and excellent transport links. In fact, the list is so long that the borough of Epsom and Ewell was voted the No.1 place to live in the UK in a 2005 poll by the popular TV show, Location, Location, Location.
This mix of qualities has long attracted families to Epsom, who view it as a safe place to live, with plenty to do and easy access to the rest of Surrey and London. Barbara Bradbury, a management consultant with two young boys, chose the town especially for its semi-rural environment, amenities and prime location.
“It’s very quick for us to get out into the countryside and to the coast but we’re also close enough to walk to the railway, shops, restaurants, theatre, leisure centre and cinema,” she says. “I won’t have to become a taxi service for my children and it’s a good community to live in to allow them to develop their independence safely, through activities like swimming, tennis and cricket clubs.”
Great location...Reverend Simon Talbot, the vicar of St Martin of Tours – Epsom’s magnificent, part 15th-century Anglican parish church – agrees that the town offers many advantages in its location and community.
“Epsom is home to a diverse Christian element that is committed to working together to discuss and agree joint areas of action to benefit the town’s population,” he says. “When my wife and I first moved here, we were also struck by its lovely ‘green’ setting, with lots of trees and close proximity to the Downs, not to mention its excellent train links to central London. We used to come down for exhibitions and other events in the capital, but this usually meant a stay with friends. Now we have ready access!”
Epsom and racing...The town’s famous horseracing season runs at Epsom Downs Racecourse from April to September, offering a mixture of day, weekend and evening meetings, along with live music events and other entertainment. Every June, more than a hundred thousand race-goers, including the Queen, descend on the Downs to ‘have a flutter’ and cheer on their favourite in the Derby, an exhilarating flat race over a mile and a half in length that attracts the cream of the crop of the racing world’s thoroughbreds.
Many historical figures have been connected to the racecourse. Housewives’ favourite Isabella Beeton spent part of her childhood living at Epsom Downs, before going on to write her seminal text, Mrs Beeton’s Guide to Household Management in 1861. Later, in 1913, suffragette Emily Davison killed herself by jumping out in front of the King’s horse on Tattenham Corner at the Derby. In 2001, a modern sculpture erected outside the Ebbisham Centre in the heart of Epsom immortalised that year’s Derby winner, Galileo, together with the first ever Derby winner, Diomed.
Epsom’s racing connections continue to attract people today. TV producer Sarah Maxwell specialises in live horseracing broadcasts and always wanted to live in Epsom because of its racing heritage and the number of racehorse trainers operating in the area. However, since moving to the town, Sarah has also been quick to discover other advantages.
“The beautiful Downs offer great walking opportunities, and in the main part of town, I enjoy shopping in The Mall Ashley and going to the cinema,” she says. “There are so many nice places to eat out too. On the Downs, there is the friendly South Hatch restaurant and lots of nice pubs, such as the Derby Arms and the Rubbing House. Another of my favourites is The Cricketers on Stamford Green, which has a beautiful pond to sit by when the weather is good.”
A mix of the traditional and modern...Epsom town centre itself is a beguiling mixture of the traditional and the modern. One resident who has enjoyed a unique taste of Epsom’s tradition is Brian Angus, who took part in many historical events during his year as the town’s mayor in 2004/05. “I remember greeting a stage coach as it arrived on the high street to mark one hundred years after its last journey,” he recalls. “The bustle and excitement of eight horses left one wondering what Epsom high street would have been like when this was a frequent occurrence. Being at the centre of that event was a rare privilege that gave me a real insight into the history of this very special town.”
Historical Epsom is still very much in evidence on the high street, with a 19th-century clock tower standing high above the bustling central marketplace. Markets are held on Thursdays and Saturdays and there are regular visits by continental stall-holders. A Farmers’ Market champions local produce on the first Sunday of every month.
Shopping in Epsom...Modern retail opportunities abound in The Mall Ashley and Spread Eagle Walk – two shopping centres within walking distance of the clock tower, each containing department stores and independent speciality shops. The High Street and Upper High Street both have numerous stores and eating places, with plenty of convenient parking nearby.
As well as the shopping itself, Epsom offers a huge variety of leisure activities, from several gyms and fitness centres to a multi-screen cinema, theatre and a wide selection of restaurants, bars and cafes. The Ebbisham Centre is a recent addition to the town and houses one of Surrey’s newest libraries, which organises regular workshops, exhibitions and classes for the whole community.
Epsom Playhouse...The popular Epsom Playhouse puts on a varied programme of amateur and professional theatre productions and concerts, film seasons, comedy nights and children’s events.
“The Playhouse offers Surrey’s theatre-goers all the excitement of live performances without having to travel all the way into London’s West End,” says Mary Zoeller, PR consultant for the Epsom Playhouse. “We put on a varied programme of lively and inspirational entertainment every year, ranging from one person shows and chamber concerts to full scale musicals and pantomimes, all right here on the doorstep.”
The town can also lay claim to two very famous names from the entertainment world – Victoria Beckham studied at Epsom’s Laine Theatre Arts school before going on to join the Spice Girls, and Norman Wisdom has lived in Epsom for many years.
Horton Country Park...Those wishing to leave the hustle and bustle of the town behind them and take time out in the countryside can do so without having to go very far at all. As well as the glorious Epsom Downs, with views stretching as far as London, there is Epsom Common – the largest designated local reserve in Surrey with over 400 acres of woodlands, scrub and grassland. Then, of course, there is Horton Country Park, which has a rich variety of wildlife, as well as a golf course, equestrian centre and a children’s farm with rare breeds and adventure playground.
Bourne Hall...Another local haven for wildlife is the lake and gardens at Bourne Hall in nearby Ewell. Several walks lead from the lake along the Hogsmill River, where Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais is thought to have painted his famous depiction of ‘Ophelia’. Bourne Hall itself houses the borough museum, which contains over 5,000 local artefacts including a hansom cab and fire engine.
Together, the borough of Epsom & Ewell boasts just about everything that its residents or visitors could need to enjoy a varied, fulfilling lifestyle. With its mix of urban entertainment and tranquil countryside, it is the perfect place to experience the very best of 21st-century living in a town steeped in fascinating history and charm.
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