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==National and local government==
The town is in the parliamentary constituency of [[Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)|Guildford]]. As of 2024, it is represented [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|at Westminster]] by [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Zöe Franklin]].
The town is in the parliamentary constituency of [[Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)|Guildford]]. As of 2022, it is represented [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|at Westminster]] by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Angela Richardson]], who was first elected in December 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3505/overview |title= Guildford |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= UK Parliament |access-date= 2 July 2022 |archive-date= 9 February 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220209013141/https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3505/overview |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Strudwick |first= Matt |date= 13 December 2019 |title= Who are Surrey's new Tory MPs Angela Richardson, Claire Coutinho, and Ben Spencer? |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-tory-mps-general-election-17415100 |work= Surrey Live |access-date= 12 July 2022 |archive-date= 28 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210828184908/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-tory-mps-general-election-17415100 |url-status= live }}</ref> The constituency was previously represented by [[Anne Milton]], first elected in 2005, who [[2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs|had the Conservative whip removed]] in September 2019 and sat for the final two months of the parliament as an [[independent politician]].<ref>{{cite news |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 5 September 2019 |title= Brexit showdown: Who were Tory rebels who defied Boris Johnson? |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49563357 |access-date= 12 July 2022 |archive-date= 3 September 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190903235045/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49563357 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://members.parliament.uk/member/1523/career |title= Anne Milton |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= UK Parliament |access-date= 2 July 2022 |archive-date= 8 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211208023050/https://members.parliament.uk/member/1523/career |url-status= live }}</ref>
Councillors are elected to [[Surrey County Council]] every four years. The town is covered by five divisions, each of which elects one councillor. The five divisions are: "Guildford East", "Guildford North", "Guildford South-East", "Guildford South-West" and "Guildford West".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=TABLE&PIC=1 |title= Your Councillors by Division |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 1 August 2021 |publisher= Surrey County Council |access-date= 1 August 2021 |archive-date= 1 June 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210601211730/https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?VW=TABLE&PIC=1&FN=WARD |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name= OS_Elections>{{cite web |url= https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |title= Election Maps |author= <!--Not stated--> |year= 2015 |publisher= Ordnance Survey |access-date= 3 September 2021 |archive-date= 20 February 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160220103943/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Although Guildford has historically been regarded as the county town of Surrey,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guildford.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=918&p=0 |publisher=Guildford Borough Council |title=Medieval Guildford—"Henry III confirmed Guildford's status as the county town of Surrey in 1257" |access-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101054620/http://www.guildford.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=918&p=0 |archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref> the council itself has its administrative headquarters in [[Reigate]].<ref name="Dragon">{{cite news |date=24 December 2020 |title=After 127 Years, County Council Finally Moves Back into Surrey |work=Guildford Dragon |url=https://www.guildford-dragon.com/2020/12/24/after-127-years-county-council-finally-moves-back-into-surrey/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514180822/https://www.guildford-dragon.com/2020/12/24/after-127-years-county-council-finally-moves-back-into-surrey/ |archive-date=14 May 2021}}</ref>
==Business==
[[File:Guildford Business Park.jpg|thumb|Guildford Business Park by the A25]]
The 2011 ''[[Financial Times]]'' annual list of Top 500 Global Companies listed five major businesses with a significant presence in the town; [[Philips]], [[Ericsson]], [[Colgate-Palmolive]], [[Allianz]] and [[Sanofi]].<ref name=ft500>{{cite web| url=http://www.ft.com/reports/ft-500-2011| title=Financial Times top 500 Global Companies| year=2011| access-date=24 December 2011| quote=List includes [[Philips Electronics]], [[Ericsson]], [[Colgate-Palmolive]], [[Allianz]] and [[Sanofi]]| archive-date=28 December 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228174605/http://www.ft.com/reports/ft-500-2011|website=[[Financial url-status=liveTimes]]}}</ref> – the list includes [[Philips Electronics]], [[Ericsson]], [[Colgate-Palmolive]], [[Allianz]] and [[Sanofi]].
[[Media Molecule]] (acquired by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] in 2010), [[Lionhead Studios]] (acquired by [[Microsoft Game Studios]] in 2006, closure announced on 7 March 2016), [[Hello Games]], [[Criterion Games]] (acquired by [[Electronic Arts]] in 2004), [[Ghost Games|Ghost Games UK]] (founded in 2013 by Electronic Arts), and [[Bullfrog Productions]] (acquired by Electronic Arts in 1995, closed in 2001) have helped the town become a centre for video game production.<ref name="develop100">{{cite web|url=http://www.develop100.com/|title=Develop top 100 developers|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605232840/http://www.develop100.com/|archive-date=5 June 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=30 May 2007|quote=3 of the top 40 are based in Guildford. Tokyo is the only city that contains more top 40 developers in a single town \ city}}</ref> The electronic components business, [[discoverIE Group]] plc, formerly known as Acal plc, with some 4,400 employees, is based at Surrey Research Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://businessmag.co.uk/news/deals/guildford-advanced-technology-company-acal-acquires-myrra-group-and-funds-growth/|title=Guildford: Advanced technology company Acal acquires Myrra Group and funds growth|date=8 April 2013|newspaper=Business Magazine|access-date=5 August 2021|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805205122/https://businessmag.co.uk/news/deals/guildford-advanced-technology-company-acal-acquires-myrra-group-and-funds-growth/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Military vehicle builders [[Automotive Technik]] have a factory in the town. The [[Surrey Research Park]] contains a number of world leading companies<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Surrey Research Park|url=http://www.surrey-research-park.com/about/|access-date=24 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222180812/http://www.surrey-research-park.com/about/|archive-date=22 December 2011}}</ref> including satellite manufacturers [[Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd]] and [[The BOC Group(company)|BOC]], part of [[The Linde Group]] the largest provider of industrial, medical and specialist gases in the UK and Ireland.
==Public services==
===Buses===
Guildford is linked by a number of bus routes to surrounding towns and villages in west Surrey. The network is centred on the [[Guildford Busbus Stationstation|Friary Busbus Stationstation]]. Services are operated predominantly by [[Stagecoach South]], but also by Carlone Buses, Compass Bus, [[Falcon Coaches]], [[Safeguard Coaches]] and [[White Bus Services]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/bus-timetables/guildford-godalming-and-haslemere |title= Guildford, Godalming and Haslemere bus timetables|date= 30 May 2022 |publisher= Surrey County Council |access-date= 12 August 2022 |archive-date= 4 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190504161038/https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/bus-timetables/guildford-godalming-and-haslemere |url-status= live }}</ref> There are four [[park & ride]] car parks surrounding Guildford, which are served by buses to the town centre.<ref>{{cite web |title= Guildford "Glide" park and ride |url= https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/guildford-park-and-ride |publisher= Surrey County Council |date= 13 May 2022 |access-date= 12 August 2022 |archive-date= 13 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220813104713/https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/guildford-park-and-ride |url-status= live }}</ref> A [[RailAir]] coach service runs from the railway station to [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.firstbus.co.uk/uploads/node_images/RA2%20from%20January%202021_0.pdf |title= Guildford Rail Station – Woking - Heathrow Airport (Central Bus Station) |publisher= [[FirstGroup]] |date= 15 December 2020 |access-date= 30 July 2022 |archive-date= 22 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210722083450/https://www.firstbus.co.uk/uploads/node_images/RA2%20from%20January%202021_0.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> Route 030, operated by [[National Express Coaches|National Express]], links the town to [[Victoria Coach Station|London]] and [[Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite web |title= 030 London to Fareham |url= https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/030/London-Fareham/O/pdf |date= 12 August 2022 |publisher= National Express |access-date= 12 August 2022 |archive-date= 13 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220813104713/https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/030/London-Fareham/O/pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>
===Railway===
[[File:Guildford station from bridge.JPG|thumb|[[Guildford railway station, Surrey|Guildford railway station]]]]
[[Guildford railway station]] is located to the north-west of the town centre. It is managed by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]], which operates most services; their routes run to {{rws|London Waterloo}} via {{rws|Clapham Junction}}, to {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}} via {{rws|Godalming}} and {{rws|Haslemere}}, and to {{rws|Alton}} via {{rws|Farnham}}. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] operates services to {{rws|Gatwick Airport}} via {{rws|Redhill}} and to {{rws|Reading}} via {{rws|Wokingham}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/at-the-station/guildford |title= Trains to Guildford station |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= South Western Railway |access-date= 12 August 2022 |archive-date= 13 August 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220813104715/https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/at-the-station/guildford |url-status= live }}</ref>
South Western Railway runs all services from [[London Road (Guildford) railway station|London Road (Guildford) station]], which is located to the north-east of the town centre. Trains run to London Waterloo, via {{rws|Epsom}} or {{rws|Oxshott}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/at-the-station/london-road-guildford |title= Trains to London Road (Guildford) station |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= South Western Railway |access-date= 12 August 2022 }}</ref>
===River navigations===
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