film location
Virginia Water Lake, Surrey (Forbidden Forest)
The lakeside and woods of Windsor Great Park doubled for the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts grounds in Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Lightwater
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Lightwater
Lightwater works well as a base: 10 minutes from Chobham, 13km from LEGOLAND Windsor.
Lightwater is in England, United Kingdom, with about 6,800 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Chobham, about 5 km away.
Lightwater is a village in the Surrey Heath district of Surrey, England, about 27 miles (43 km) southwest of central London. Immediately surrounding towns and villages include Bagshot, Deepcut, Windlesham, Camberley, and West End, Woking. It is bounded to the north-west by the M3 motorway and to the north-east by theRead more
"Lightwater Bypass" (A322). To the south-east it is bounded by the "Red Road" (B311), while to the south-west there are vehicle-testing tracks owned by the Ministry of Defence.
The village is adjacent to junction 3 of the M3 motorway. The nearest railway station is at Bagshot, on the line between Ascot and Aldershot. Lightwater is part of the civil parish of Windlesham, which has a population of 17,000 and also includes the neighbouring village of Bagshot. The village has a population of 6,500 as of the 2021 census, down from 7,000 in 2011.
Since April of 2025, Lightwater has been home to the oldest living person, Ethel Caterham, a supercentenarian aged 117 years, 47 days old, after previous oldest living person Inah Canabarro Lucas died at the age of 116. Caterham has lived in a Lightwater care home since 2020, and in celebration for her 116th birthday was visited on 18 September 2025 by Charles III. Caterham is the last known surviving individual born in the 1900s decade.
Where to Stay in Lightwater
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Lightwater?
Within an hour or so of Lightwater: Virginia Water Lake, Surrey (Forbidden Forest) (9 km), LEGOLAND Windsor (13 km), Thorpe Park (13 km), Brooklands Museum (14 km).
Are there any good drives near Lightwater?
The nearest famous roads are Crystal Palace Circuit, Goodwood Festival of Speed and Rhinefield Ornamental Drive.
Where is Lightwater?
Lightwater is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Chobham.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 6,791
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.3485, -0.6715
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Lightwater
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
LEGOLAND Windsor
Family-friendly theme park near London with LEGO-themed rides, building workshops, and Miniland models.
13 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Thorpe Park
Thrill-focused theme park near London catering to older children and adults with intense roller coasters.
13 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Brooklands Museum
The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, featuring the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit from 1907.
14 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
Brooklands
The world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, opened 1907, where surviving sections of the towering concrete Members' Banking rear up out of the Surrey woodland. The museum holds racing cars and aircraft on the original site.
14 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Windsor Castle
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, serving as a royal residence for over 900 years.
16 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Bourne Wood, Surrey (Gladiator opening battle)
The Forestry England woodland near Farnham is where Gladiator's Germania battle was shot, and later Robin Hood, Thor and the Harry Potter finale.
19 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire (Goldfinger golf match)
The Palladian clubhouse and course hosted the celebrated golf match between Bond and Goldfinger, and reappeared in Tomorrow Never Dies.
21 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Lightwater
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 27 kmBox HillA steep chalk escarpment above the Mole valley, the Zig Zag Road on its flank made famous by the 2012 Olympic road race.
- 28 kmLeith HillThe highest point in south-east England at 294 m, its 18th-century tower taking visitors just above the 1,000-foot mark.
- 43 kmCrystal Palace CircuitA parkland racing circuit in south London that ran until 1972 and still hosts occasional sprint events. Sections of the old track survive as park roads and footpaths, complete with original kerbing among the Victorian terraces.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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