Woking - Town & Horsell Common

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Spy Mission around Woking town centre and Horsell Common, with Agents racing to crack a top-secret four-digit code before Martian invaders land and start sampling Earth snacks.

The mission covers approximately 4.3 miles and should take around 3 hours to complete. You’ll investigate from Woking Railway Station, along Maybury Road, beside the canal, through the Muslim Burial Ground and Peace Garden, across Horsell Common, around the Sandpit, then back into town via Wells Plaza, Jubilee Square and the famous tripod.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route covers a lot of ground, with town pavements, canal paths, woodland, heathland, sandy sections, busy roads, underpasses, steps and paths that may get muddy after wet weather. Boots are recommended after significant rain and during the winter months.

You’ll need to cross some very busy roads during the mission, so keep Mini Agents and canine recruits close, and use extra caution at every crossing.

Getting There

Time to assemble your Agents and begin the battle against extra-terrestrial bother:

By car - Park your spy-mobile at Heathside car park (GU22 7AG).

Your mission begins outside the main entrance to Woking Railway Station on High Street (GU21 6BG), so make your way there before beginning the hunt for the cosmic code.

By public transport - Make your way to Woking Railway Station, then begin the mission outside the main entrance on High Street. The route returns to the station area at the end, making it a handy launch and extraction point.

Need the Loo?

Even elite Agents need a tactical comfort break before tackling Martians, mud and mysterious glowing cylinders. Toilets can be found at the station, past Clue 18, and in the malls, so plan your pit stops before heading deep into alien territory.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Agents can join the outdoor operation 🐾

This route includes town pavements, canal paths, woodland, heathland, sandy ground, road crossings, underpasses and busy roads. Keep canine recruits close throughout, especially near traffic, the canal, the golf course edge and the busier town-centre stretches. Dogs should be on leads around the busiest road sections.

Food & Drink Stops

Saving humanity can cause serious snack-related turbulence.

Stock up before setting off, or take a picnic with you for the longer Horsell Common section. Once the mission is complete, Woking town centre has plenty of places for a proper debrief meal, including Marciano Lounge on Commercial Way for Agents who enjoy a suspiciously Martian-sounding refuel.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Horsell Common and the Sandpit

Horsell Common is the big extra here, especially for sci-fi fans. The Sandpit, locally known as The Beach, was used by H G Wells as the landing site for the Martian cylinder in The War of the Worlds. Ideal for a post-mission wander, weather and footwear permitting.

Wells Plaza and H G Wells Sculpture

Wells Plaza brings the mission back into full Woking sci-fi mode. Look out for the sculpture celebrating H G Wells and his time in the town, then linger around the plaza if your squad wants a calmer moment before facing the tripod.

The Woking Tripod

The tripod is the standout finale for any War of the Worlds mission. It recalls the Martian fighting machines from Wells’ story, complete with the sort of looming presence that makes Agents walk past pretending they are definitely not nervous.

Woking Town Centre

Once the code is cracked, Woking town centre is the easiest place to extend your visit. With malls, food stops, Jubilee Square and plenty of places to recover from imaginary heat-rays, it’s a handy post-operation base before heading home.