The best of the best care homes in and around Surrey

Searching for a care home for your loved ones is not easy

The minute we become parents, the great research race begins. What magic must we use to get our child into the most popular school? And yet, when it comes to those in the evening of life – our elderly parents in need of a care home – information is somewhat scarce.

Aside from the differences between nursing, residential, and dementia care, care homes come in all shapes and sizes. Some specialise in physical disability, end-of-life care, or luxury living. There are big ones, small ones, ones with fabulous gardens, and others with action-packed activity calendars. 

Whether it's a retirement home or a specialist care facility, several considerations must be considered. You'll want the staff to be kind and compassionate, your loved ones to be within easy reach and get the special care they deserve, and you might need to do it all on a budget.

Here at essentialsurrey.co.uk, we always put together guides that show our local readers in Surrey and SW London the best of the best in their area, and we hope that our search for the best care homes has helped yours.

So here, to point you in the right direction, are a few local homes rated outstanding by the CQC and some of our favourites...

The best of the best:

1. Smallbrook Care Home

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.4 Star Google Rated

Sponsored | Suffolk Close, Horley RH6 7DU| Telephone (ext 1) | Email | Website

• Beds: 41
• Cost: from £1,030.00 per week
• Type: Residential and respite
• Best for: Patient-focused care

Smallbrook Care Home is a delightful frail, elderly, and dementia-specialist care home based in Horley, Surrey. 

Take a 3D tour: https://kuula.co/share/7TtQH/collection/7Pq56

Nestled down a quiet residential cul-de-sac and standing in over an acre of landscaped grounds, they have a passionate staff team. They have created a warm and friendly environment where residents and their loved ones feel welcome and at ease.

"We believe in considerate and compassionate care​ with plenty of hugs, humour, and attention!"

Check their Facebook page for all the great work they do.

Smallbrook at a glance:

• Permanent residency is available, and respite stays welcome – rest, relax, and recover.
• Forty-one spacious single en-suite bedrooms stylishly decorated, all with flatscreens TVs, telephone points, 24-hour call bell, and full laundry service.
• Generous communal lounges, dining and bistro areas, library, computer facilities, sensory room, hairdressing salon, and visiting chiropodist.
• Beautifully landscaped gardens and spacious outdoor terraces.
• Nutritious and delicious home-cooked meals.
• Person-centred/Individual care planning.
• Daily activities and outings programmes.

2. Sherwood House

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.7 Star Google Rated

Sponsored | Severn Dr, Walton-on-Thames KT12 3BH | Telephone (ext 1) | Email | Website

• Beds: 31
• Cost: from £600 pwk
• Type: Residential care and specialising in Dementia
• Best for: Tech and gadgets (plus 24-hour call bell)

The Care Home prides itself on creating a kind and compassionate environment for its residents with trained staff delivering the best person-centred care. Sherwood House has undergone a complete renovation and extension, welcoming residents to enjoy its brand-new facilities.

Take a walk through the care home remotely here.

Sherwood at a glance:

• Permanent residency is available, and respite stays are welcome.
• Thirty-four spacious single en-suite bedrooms are stylishly decorated, all with flatscreens TVs, telephone points, 24-hour call bell, and full laundry service.
• The extension of new wings will provide 31 additional bedrooms, commencing Summer 2023.
• Large and bright communal areas, comfortable dining, library, computer facilities, and visiting hairdresser and chiropodist.
• Stunningly landscaped gardens and spacious outdoor terraces (and use of the allotment garden).
• Nutritious and delicious home-cooked meals daily.
• Supportive diversional therapy team on site.
• Person-centred/individual care planning.
• Daily activities and outings programme.

3. Tilford Care Home

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.7 Star Google Rated

Sponsored | Grange Rd, Rushmoor, Farnham GU10 2DG | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 50
• Cost: from £1,020.75
• Type: Residential, nursing, respite, palliative and dementia care
• Best for: The grounds

Tilford Care Home near Farnham in Surrey is a real home for life. Situated in an area of outstanding woodland beauty, tranquil Tilford provides quality, affordable residential nursing with specialist services like respite, palliative and dementia care.

Tilford Care Home has 50 spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms or washbasins. Their comfortable lounges and dining room also mean plenty of space for group activities - but they also include quieter areas where residents can settle.

Tilford has a beautiful leafy garden where residents can join in outdoor activities or just be outside. The lovely courtyard is an especially popular place to sit and chat. Their grounds even include a beautiful aviary with hand-reared birds (cockatiels and budgies), which the residents love to spend time with.

Residents' dignity, space, and right to make personal choices in care are respected. And as each resident is different, the home goes out of its way to offer a range of activities and delicious menu options so every person feels happy, valued and cared for.

"When someone arrives at Tilford, they immediately become part of the Agincare family. We care for them and maintain that living with dementia is precisely that: living. We strive to help our residents have the best quality of life possible. Tilford is their home, and we support their changing physical and emotional needs so they can stay here as long as they want to."

4. Speirs House

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Star Google Rated

Sponsored | 1 The Chesters, Traps Lane, New Malden KT3 4SF | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 36
• Cost: from £2,103 per week for private residents
• Type: Nursing, residential and dementia care
• Best for: Supported independent living

Named one of the Top 20 homes in the London area by the independent reviews platform carehome.co.uk, Speirs House in New Malden provides award-winning nursing, residential and dementia care in a homely environment.

The home is in a tranquil and leafy area off Coombe Hill and close to Malden Golf Club. Set in a purpose-built property with lots of character, Speirs has 36 attractive en-suite bedrooms with views of the mature courtyard gardens. 

The home’s philosophy of care is rooted in award-winning approaches focused on supporting independence. Meals cooked daily on site, a cinema room, entertainment lounges, and an extensive programme of activities keep residents happy, stimulated and engaged. Part of not-for-profit provider Greensleeves Care, fees at Speirs go only towards delivering great care. The home offers a ‘Home for Life’ financial assurance whereby no resident will be asked to leave if they run out of funds during their stay.

“Speirs House is remarkable in its warmth, natural beauty and humane approach to its residents as people with individual needs. I feel so lucky to have found the best place for my mum to enjoy.” Daughter of resident 

5. The Meadowcroft

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Star Google Rated

Sponsored | 28 Springfield Dr, London SW17 0SD | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 64
• Cost: from £1,860.70
• Type: Residential, dementia, nursing
• Best for: Healthcare facilities

The Meadowcroft is a not-for-profit new care home in South London delivering award-winning nursing, dementia and residential care in the heart of a vibrant new neighbourhood. The home opened in early 2023, next to the historic Springfield University Hospital in Tooting. It is a purpose-built space among healthcare facilities, new homes, cafés and a 32-acre public park. 

The Meadowcroft features 64 spacious and light-flooded bedrooms, all equipped with en suite wetrooms. It has bright dining areas, comfortable TV and reading lounges, wide and airy corridors, and landscaped gardens. It also features a stunning, art-deco-inspired cinema room and an on-site hair salon.

The home is set up to fully cater to a resident’s care journey – from low-level residential needs and dementia care to more complex nursing requirements. Care at The Meadowcroft follows award-winning approaches specifically designed to encourage independence.

As part of the not-for-profit Greensleeves Care family of homes, residents at The Meadowcroft enjoy financial peace of mind with the ‘Home for Life Commitment,’ which means no resident is asked to leave the home if they run out of funds while in their care.

6. Jubilee House

Pound Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1BX | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 48
• Cost: £1,289 per week for residential and respite, £1,354 for dementia, £1,509 for nursing
• Type: Residential, dementia, nursing, end-of-life care and respite.
• Best for: Overall outstanding care

Recognised by the COC as 'outstanding' in many areas, Jubilee House boasts highly skilled nurses and carers who also benefit from ongoing specialist training from the company's trainers, especially around dementia care.

The home's circular layout is designed for freedom of movement and stress-free independence. Both floors have easy access to outdoor spaces and several quiet lounges.

7. Home of Compassion

58 High Street, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0TT | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 58
• Cost: £1,990 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, nursing, end-of-life care and respite.
• Best for: Historic grandeur

This Grade II mansion is set on the banks of the Thames, with lawns and flowerbeds extending to the riverside. Inside, much of the architectural grandness of the building has been preserved, with marble columns and plush armchairs by the fireplace.

There’s a good community feel – the hub of the home is the restaurant where residents, family and friends gather for chats, drinks and snacks. Residents are supported in defined units, each with specially tailored activities. One team is dedicated to helping those with advanced dementia.

8. Birtley House Nursing Home

Birtley House, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey GU5 OLB | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 47
• Costs: from £1,865 a week
• Type: Residential, nursing, respite, luxury
• Best for: Country house living

This family-run home offers residential accommodation as well as independent living flats. But it's the extensive grounds that add the real wow factor: they include a bluebell wood, wildflower meadow, lake and pond, plus a secret garden, rose garden and kitchen garden. A haven for staff and residents alike, the grounds host local events that provide great opportunities for the residents to mingle with the community. No wonder the home won a national Caring UK award for Best Outdoor Environment this year.

9. St George’s Care Home

5 Byfleet Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1DS | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 58
• Costs: From £1,445 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, nursing.
• Best for: Dementia care

The specialist care team includes trained dementia carers, two nurses and two activity coordinators, available seven days a week. Residents are integrated across four units, overseen by a regular team, so everyone gets to know each other well. The purpose-built, one-level home affords easy access, with communal rooms – including a cinema – located in the centre. A secure garden runs around.

10. Arbrook House Care Home

36 Copsem Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9HE | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 43
• Cost: From £1,850
• Type: Residential, palliative nursing, respite
• Best for: End-of-life care

Rated ‘Outstanding’ for its personalised care in all areas, this home is exceptionally well regarded for its end-of-life care. Although not a dementia specialist home, it has many residents with the condition well integrated into the communal life. Mobile residents will want a ground floor room in the vast, glorious garden to grow veg, birdwatches or fish. Two flats on an upper floor are reserved for independent living.

11. Silvermere Care Home

Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1EF | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 72
• Cost: From £1,400 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Lakeside setting

With extensive gardens overlooking Silvermere Lake, residents love strolling out to watch the wildlife. There is a potting shed for gardeners and secluded spaces for sitting outdoors. The layout is conducive to socialising, with open-plan cafes and TV lounges on each floor and a central lounge and library on the ground floor.

12. Moore Place

Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 9LH | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 60
• Cost: From £1,550 per week
• Type: Residential dementia
• Best for: Fabulous views

Every bedroom in this new purpose-built home has a balcony that overlooks the golf course and uplifting views of the Surrey green belt. The garden is designed for easy access and is well-used in the summer for BBQ parties. Inside, open-plan communal spaces, café areas and comfy armchairs dotted about – along with the modern furnishings – create a solid feelgood factor.

13. Beauchamp Court

18 Beauchamp Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0PA | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 19
• Cost: From £1,111 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Small and intimate

A friendly home based in a converted house close to Hampton Court Palace. A relaxed atmosphere – courtesy of the highly experienced staff – enables residents to walk out to the shops and nearby places of interest. In addition to the activity coordinator, an art therapist comes in once a week.

14. Signature at Esher

42 Copsem Lane, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9HJ | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 83 apartments
• Cost: From £1,176, dementia from £1,547
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite, luxury
• Best for: Social interaction

You sense the lively buzz as soon as you enter this luxury care home. The large lobby boasts a cafe where residents can sit, read, play games, or watch the world go by. As at most Signature homes, there are various apartment options, each with an ensuite and kitchenette. Meals are served in the restaurant or cafe, while residents may also hire a private dining room – supported by the restaurant service – for special get-togethers. Six organisers plan an extensive daily programme of activities chosen by a resident committee.

15. Signature at Weybridge

Ellesmere Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0HY | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 113 apartments
• Cost: From £1,190, dementia care from £1,512
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Active days

A low staff turnover creates a happy, settled feel at this relatively large home. There are various accommodation options: a south-facing garden, a restaurant for dining, a café and a private dining room for special occasions. A busy programme of activities runs seven days a week.

16. Knowle Park Nursing Home

Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 81L | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 41
• Costs: from £1,890 depending on care needs and room
• Type: Residential, nursing and respite
• Best for: Park walks

Great care was taken during restoration to preserve Knowle Park's period features - and indeed, it retains the ambience of a traditional country house while boasting all the amenities of a modern home. However, the nine acres of stunning parkland opening out into the Surrey countryside sets this place apart. Residents are encouraged to take daily walks around the garden to soak up the extensive mews.

17. Pinehurst Rest Home

Zig-Zag Road, Mickleham, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6BY | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 18
• Costs: from £1,200 a week
• Type: Residential and dementia
• Best for: Small and intimate

This grand house has terraced gardens overlooking the spectacular environs of Dorking. It's rub by a mother and daughter, who maintain a friendly air of informality within the home. Residents move freely around the house and garden, while regular activities include drives out to cute pubs, cafes and local places in the town and Box Hill.

18. Claremont Court Care Home

Harts Gardens, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9QA | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 57
• Costs: From £1,650 a week
• Type: Residential with dementia, nursing with dementia and end-of-life dementia
• Best for: Living with dementia

This specialist dementia care home run by CareBase is designed to make life easier for those with more advanced symptoms: rooms are colour-coded, and there are objects of interest displayed around the home. 

A knowledgeable and experienced team offers gentle, highly personalised care so that carers understand their residents and manage symptoms they may show at any given moment. Engaging weekly activities include bowling club visits and lunches out.

19. Broadwater Lodge

Summers Road, Farncombe, Godalming Surrey, GU7 3BF | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 67
• Costs: From £1,469 per week for residential, £1,534 for residential dementia care
• Type: Residential, dementia and respite
• Best for: Animal lovers

As the latest CQC report points out, this outstanding care home has a friendly, quirky vibe. The team of carers has found unique ways of enabling residents - most of whom have dementia - to be themselves and live their lives in a fun and vibrant way. There's an on-site farm - home to pigs, goats, sheep and chickens - where residents can help out. 

20. The Old Rectory

The Street, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 7PX | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 36
• Costs from: £1,869 per week, respite £2016 per week
• Type: Nursing and respite
• Best for: Respite stay

The fee to stay at this gorgeous nursing home includes some luxuries, normally charged as extras, such as twice monthly hairdressing and manicures, chiropody, newspapers and toiletries. The Old Rector also provides its in-house physiotherapists. Many residents come through on a respite week or post-hospital visit.

21. Surrey Heights

Brook Road, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey QUO JUA | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 27
• Costs: From £1,200 per week
• Type: Residential, specialist dementia, respite
• Best for: Dementia care

A very experienced team is on hand to support residents with various types and stages of dementia. The carers can manage challenging behaviours and create a calm environment for everyone. An extension is planned for this year, which means that the garden will be out of use for the summer, but residents still have the conservatory for relaxation.

22. Woking Homes

Oriental Road, Woking, Surrey GUZZ 7BE | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 51
• Costs: From £780 for ex-railway workers and from £1,126 for non-railway workers
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Ex-railway workers

A charity-run care home that prioritises older people with a rail industry connection. Non-railway workers are also welcomed.

23. Bramley House Residential Home

Westcott Street, Westcott, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3NX | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 16
• Costs: From £1,000 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite and daycare
• Best for: More mobile

A big country house in the beautiful village of Westcott has been converted into a small, caring, family-run home with a fabulous and secure wraparound garden. Bramley House accents those who are mostly able, which allows for greater independence: residents are encouraged to live actively, take walks and join in day trips out.

24. Cecil Court

4 Priory Road, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3DG | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 45
• Cost: £1,500 per week
• Type: Residential, specialist dementia, respite care
• Best for: Dementia care

This splendid Victorian building has been converted into a practical modern care home. The front garden is often used as an outdoor lounge, while the courtyard garden at the back provides a secure space for those who like to grow plants and vegetables. The home is managed as four separate units, each with a lounge, dining room and kitchen.

Fiona Saadat, who has extensive experience in research into living with dementia, oversees the care for those for whom the condition is more severe. Close to Kew Green, the Thames Path and Kew Gardens (wheelchair users and carers go free), Cecil Court offers plenty of beautiful walks nearby. If necessary, staff will accompany residents.

Call 020 8940 5242.

25. Dalemead Care Home

10-12 Riverdale Gardens, East Twickenham, Middlesex | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 49
• Cost: £1,040 per week
• Type: Specialist dementia and mentally frail
• Best for: End-of-life life care

This conversion of two adjoining Victorian homes is organised as four ‘family’ units, each with a sitting room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms. A dedicated team of carers is allocated to each unit, providing consistency and familiarity for the residents and their families while making it easier for new residents to fit in. End-of-life care training is another strong point. Activities include ballroom dancing, art and musicals, and trips to nearby parks. A great plus is that many local lanes are wheelchair accessible.

Call 020 8892 2161.

26. Deer Lodge

22 Sandy Lane, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0DR | Telephone | Email

• Beds: 14
• Cost: £1,300 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Small and intimate

This traditional double-fronted Victorian house is a place where everyone joins the day’s activities as one big group. Families love the sense of calm – a credit to the staff, many of whom have worked here for decades (there are no agency staff whatsoever). Another huge plus is the location overlooking Bushy Park. Many residents are mobile and walk over to watch the deer, and a large garden at the back also entices green-fingered residents to potter about.

27. Lynde House

Meadowbank, 28 Cambridge Park, Twickenham TW1 2JB | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 79
• Cost: £1,900 per week
• Type: Residential, nursing, moderate dementia and respite, luxury
• Best for: location

Lynde House has fantastic views, with some rooms overlooking the Thames and others with patio doors leading out into the big garden. This is one of a growing number of luxury care aiming to provide the whole package of comforts, freedom and respect. Chef offers a daily choice of main course, complete with wine. Waiter service operates in both dining rooms, one of which is allocated to residents who need food assistance. Also, a private party can be booked for family meals.

28. Greville House

Greville Road, Richmond, TW10 6HR | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 59
• Cost: £1,769 per week
• Type: Residential, nursing, specialist dementia, long- and short-term respite
• Best for: Outdoor lovers

This purpose-built home is only a stone’s throw from Richmond Park, with carers organising regular walks to the park and town centre. Many of the staff are longstanding trained nurses or dementia specialists. Two activity organisers arrange the daily programme of events for residents.

29. Lyle House Care Home

207 Arabella Drive, Roehampton, London SW15 5LH | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 70
• Cost: From £1,400 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, respite
• Best for: Modern comforts

Recently renovated, the home has a dining room and lounges on each of its four floors, along with a café, pub and cinema. A serviced private dining room is available to book if you want to have family or friends over for dinner. Care coordinators also escort residents to nearby Barnes Common, Richmond Park, and Mary's Sheen.

30. St Mary’s House

71 Ormond Avenue, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2RT | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 23
• Cost: From £990 per week
• Type: Residential, dementia, physical disability
• Best for: Physical disability

St Mary’s House is a privately run care home, owned and managed for 40 years by Mrs Warren, who is very hands-on with the daily routine. The detached property has been extended to provide a medley of rooms, a small garden and a homely environment. Many staff members have worked here for years, learning to manage the mixed-field residents. St Mary’s also spends considerable time producing autobiographical films and residents’ stories.

31. Coombe Hill Manor

190-196 Coombe Lane West, Coombe, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7EQ | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 94 apartments
• Cost: Average fees £2,120
• Type: Residential, dementia, nursing, respite
• Best for: Luxury living

This modern care home is designed with comfort and luxury: the lobby, restaurant, cafe, lounge, activities room, cinema and library are stylish and welcoming spaces. As at most Signature homes, there are various apartment options, each with an ensuite and kitchenette – an excellent idea for those who want more independence. A fabulous art studio provides the space to create art and display the work of local artists, and there are regular theatrical performances by residents and outside participants. Five organisers plan activities, tournaments and trips seven days a week.

32. Devonshire Dementia Care Home

213 Malden Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 6AG | Telephone | Website

• Beds: 34
• Cost: From £1,500 per week
• Type: Residential with dementia, respite minimum of three weeks.
• Best for: Living with dementia

This specialist home supports people with all levels of dementia, thanks to its highly trained staff. Unlike at many care homes, dementia patients are unrestricted regarding their movements around the house and garden. In addition, there is a dementia daycare centre on site.