Woking Ranked Surrey’s Worst Town: A Local Verdict
Woking Tops the List, and Locals Have Thoughts
As someone who walks Woking’s High Street most weeks, I recognise some of the criticism in travel YouTuber Matt Huge’s latest ranking, though I think it misses a lot. Matt, who runs the channel The Absolute Ranker, placed Woking at the top of his list of Surrey’s five worst towns in a video uploaded in September. His main complaint was the High Street, which he described as a desolate stretch of shuttered takeaways, grime and graffiti. Anyone who has seen empty units along parts of the town centre will understand the point, and it is a visible problem for traders and shoppers alike. Still, Matt was quick to praise what the town offers beyond its shopfronts. Fast trains into London, countryside that feels a world away from the traffic, and a history that stretches well beyond the commuter boom all earned his approval. Those strengths matter to residents, because they are the reasons many of us chose to live here in the first place. The video has already passed 100,000 views, which means plenty of people outside Surrey are now forming opinions about Woking based on a single walk down one street. For those of us who live here, that is the real story: how a town’s reputation travels faster than its regeneration plans.
Camberley, Redhill and the Towns Caught in the Crossfire
Matt’s list did not stop at Woking. He placed Camberley at number one overall, calling it the most soulless and generic town in Surrey, though he conceded its centre is not unpleasant, just lacking character. What stood out to me was his reflection on the Old Dean estate, an area he said once carried a bad reputation. After visiting, he concluded it ‘wasn’t that bad’, a small but telling moment that many Camberley residents will appreciate. Redhill came in with a mix of praise and criticism. Matt pointed to its recently regenerated town centre areas while noting that the older shopping centre is showing its age. Horley was described as a town people mostly pass through, though its rail links and proximity to Gatwick were acknowledged as real assets. Staines drew a laugh for its name, which Matt said made the river sound like it was carrying radioactive sewage. For local businesses, rankings like these can sting, but they also prompt conversations about what needs attention. Independent cafés, shop owners and property managers across these towns are often the ones who notice first when footfall dips. Older high street buildings also tend to need upgrading, and trades such as bathroom fitters and kitchen renovation specialists regularly find steady work when landlords and homeowners decide to refresh tired spaces.
What Surrey Residents Can Do Next
So what should readers take from all this? First, a YouTube ranking is one person’s opinion, shaped by a limited number of visits. It is worth watching the video yourself and deciding whether Matt’s assessment matches your own experience of the town. Second, if you want to improve how your high street looks and feels, the most practical steps are often local. Supporting independent shops, reporting persistent graffiti or litter to your council, and attending consultations on town centre plans all make a difference. Property owners considering improvements can also look at practical upgrades. A well-planned bathroom refurbishment or kitchen renovation can raise the appeal of a rental or family home, and it is sensible to get several quotes from reputable, insured tradespeople before committing. Third, keep an eye on what comes next. Watch for updates on Woking town centre regeneration, planning applications for vacant units, and any local responses to the ranking from councillors and business groups. Matt has said he invites viewers to share their thoughts, so residents who want their voice heard can add a considered comment under the video. Surrey’s towns will keep being judged by outsiders, but the people best placed to shape their future are the ones who live there.
Source: The five ‘worst’ towns in Surrey according to popular travel YouTuber
