Mickleham: History, Architecture and Landscape

When planning a trip to Mickleham, there are two thematic approaches: architectural and local history, and landscape and routes. In the village, St. Michael and All Angels Church, The Old House and Stane Street, the Roman road that runs through Mickleham, are specific historical points of reference. At Mickleham Downs and on the paths near Box Hill, the focus is on landscape and route. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Mickleham, you can start planning around these interests.

Paths and routes near Box Hill

For the North Downs Way and the Thames Down Link, one-mile (1.6 km) sections near Box Hill are described for each route. The North Downs Way section runs between the famous stepping stones across the River Mole and the village of Box Hill. On the Thames Down Link, an equally long stretch crosses Mickleham Downs. The shared distance makes the two sections comparable, but their geographical points of reference differ. The Thames Down Link also connects the Thames Path at Kingston with the North Downs Way at Box Hill & Westhumble station. This makes it possible to consider the section across Mickleham Downs alongside the connection between the two long-distance trails. Conditions on both routes may vary.

Another cycling connection is National Cycle Network Route 22 (NCN22). It runs 1.6 miles (2.5 km) from the summit of Box Hill and connects South London with Portsmouth. The distance refers to the summit; the route itself runs between the places mentioned. As route conditions may change, check them before planning a ride.

Architectural and local history

St. Michael and All Angels Church in Mickleham is a Grade II*-listed Norman building. The Old House in Mickleham has a U-shaped front and an E-shaped rear section. The windows are sash windows, except for the attic window in the north gable, which is a casement window with small square leaded-glass panes. The U and E shapes refer to different parts of the building, while a specific exception is noted among the windows. Together, the church and The Old House illustrate different aspects of Mickleham's architectural history.

Stane Street brings a different scale to the local history. The Roman road ran from Chichester to London and passed through Mickleham. Its endpoints represent a connection beyond the local area, while its route through the village provides a direct link to Mickleham.

Landscape and historical connections

The large park at Norbury Park was laid out by William Lock in the late 18th century. The Gallops on Mickleham Downs offers a landscape of grassland and woodland on a chalk and flint base. Landscape and local history come together here: during the Second World War, Winston Churchill landed his plane at The Gallops to visit Lord Beaverbrook. The perspectives differ: Norbury Park represents a historic landscaped park, while the description of The Gallops covers both its landscape and a specific wartime episode.

With this priority in mind, you can include Mickleham as a destination in your search; when choosing, the specific details of each hotel will then matter.

Discover more destinations: Chertsey, Godalming, Bletchingley, Pirbright, Cranleigh, Bramley, Egham, Weybridge.

For the overall travel overview: Surrey.