Cranleigh is a sizeable village and civil parish, believed to be the largest in England. Found nearly 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Guildford in Surrey, it lies east of the A281, which connects Guildford with Horsham, on an alternative route that is not an A-road. It is in the north-west corner of the Weald, a large remnant forest, and directly south-east of Winterfold Forest, a remaining area of forest on the Greensand Ridge. The town covers a total area of 12.66 square miles, with a permanent population of around 11241, as noted in the 2011 Census. Despite losing its rail link, Cranleigh has progressed both as a satellite of Guildford, and as a service and light engineering centre in its own right. Additionally, it is a retail centre for the surrounding smaller towns and the High Street has actually seen a remarkable rise in corporate shops recently. Cranleigh, nevertheless, continues to have a selection of small, locally owned and typically traditional businesses, such as a pastry shop, owned by the Cornwell Family, a butcher and a fishmonger. Nurseries for plants for sale and food additionally offer a considerable source of regional employment. Alongside retail possibilities, there are many options for social and cultural activities. The Cranleigh Arts Centre has actually formed a substantial programme of feature film screenings, live music, theatre productions, adult and kids's activities, exhibits and workshops. Frequent community arts projects and partner with regional schools are also carried out to reach and cultivate brand-new audiences. The Centre is a registered charity and is run predominantly by a team of volunteers. For all of your home improvements, make certain to identify reputable contractors in Cranleigh to make certain of quality.