Guildford High Street, Then and Now – Nothing Can Stop Evolution

Published on: 2 May, 2025
Updated on: 3 May, 2025

Guildford High Street

How is our High Street changing? Sometimes it feels as though it is out of recognition. Shops we thought would always be there have disappeared. How many have fond memories of Messinger’s, the tool shop, Jeffery’s sport shop and Importers coffee shop? Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in some types of business not dreamed of just a few decades ago.

In this article, Stella Kuchanny looks at the changes based on a comparison between a survey conducted in 2011 and one she carried out recently.

Back in 2011, a light-hearted survey of Guildford High Street painted a vivid picture of a shopping landscape heavily dominated by women’s fashion, banks, jewellers and, already by then, mobile phone shops.

The article at the time noted that over 30 of the High Street’s 89 shops specialised in women’s clothing, while banks, coffee stops, and phone outlets rounded out the core high street experience. Groceries, hardware, and essentials, once staples of town centre life, had all but disappeared.

Fast forward to 2025, and the latest snapshot of Guildford High Street shows both evolution and some striking consistencies. Despite economic turbulence, the huge and ongoing influence of online retail and changes in consumer habits, the High Street remains, in relatively affluent Guildford, anchored by lifestyle and luxury retail.

Anthropologie – one of the upmarket stores on Guildford’s High Street. Google Street View

What Has Stayed the Same?

Although the number of shops supplying women’s clothes has significantly decreased, high-end women’s fashion remains strong, with stores like Mint Velvet, Anthropologie, Hobbs, Ba&sh, and Free People dotting the High Street. Perhaps shoppers in that sector still want to see before they buy and enjoy the personal touch.

There are still numerous jewellery shops, including Harrington Brookshaw, Whibleys, Prestons, Mappin & Webb, and TAG Heuer, reflecting continued demand for luxury goods.

Despite many reported closures in smaller towns nationwide, banks also remain present, with branches of NatWest, Lloyds, Santander, Nationwide and Halifax still serving the town centre.

Coffee and casual dining also hold their ground, now joined by modern eateries like Megan’s by the Castle, Joe & The Juice, and Ole & Steen. The idea of Guildford as a destination for a shopping day out with lunch and a coffee still rings true.

The demolition of the former Debenham’s building is now well under way.

What Has Changed?

Perhaps the major change is the demise of Guildford’s two department stores, House of Fraser and Debenhams. Many seem to miss them and refer to their loss as a measure of Guildford’s declining retail health, even though similar stores have been closing in many other towns.

Guildford High Street in 2025 features a stronger focus on health, beauty, and experience. Wellness and grooming are now well represented with businesses like Space NK, The Body Shop, Laser Clinics, Neom Organics, and Epic Barbers. Fitness apparel brands like Lululemon also add to the lifestyle mix.

Overall in Guildford the number of barbers and nail bars (who had even heard of these a few decades ago?) has definitely grown.

The High Street itself has also diversified in other ways. There are more home and kitchenware stores such as Neptune, Le Creuset, and ProCook (as with ladies’ fashion at the upper end of the market), while travel agents like Trailfinders and Kuoni still have a physical presence—a reminder that some services continue to resist the online tide.

The number of mobile phone stores has slightly decreased, but key players like EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three still hold strong. Meanwhile, spaces once used by opticians or department stores have been taken over by trendy brands or reimagined into mixed-use sites.

The House of Fraser store in Guildford High Street closed in 2023.

The Story Behind the Storefronts

Have you ever wondered why landlords leave shops empty rather than lower rents to attract new occupants. Surely it is better to get a reduced rent than no rent and be liable for expensive business rates?

But the large portfolio holders such as owner of the former House of Fraser premises, Canada Life, which manages assets of £36 billion, seem to prefer to bear the loss rather than devalue asset values. Some ask, could swingeing penalty taxes deter landlords leaving premises empty?

The 2011 article asked whether the High Street should be left to the mercy of market forces or shaped through intervention. In 2025 the landscape suggests that both have played a role. While rising rents and changing footfall have pressured some independents, Guildford has remained a premium destination for retail chains and boutique brands.

Some vacancies remain and “To come…” signs indicate turnover is still a reality. Guildford High Street continues to evolve, balancing its heritage with new trends. What remains clear is that the High Street is no longer simply about shopping; it’s about experience, lifestyle, and leisure.

As the town moves forward, the question raised in 2011 is still relevant: should Guildford’s retail core be curated more deliberately to serve a broader range of community needs? Or is the current blend of luxury, fashion, wellness, and coffee precisely what keeps the High Street alive?

Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below…

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