Explore the real places in Woking that appear in The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Woking, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton Locks, Leatherhead, Wealdstone Camp and 9 more.
Surrey, southwest of London — First Martian landing site
Woking is where the first Martian cylinder crashes on Horsell Common. The narrator, a science writer, witnesses the arrival alongside crowds of curious onlookers and soldiers. The Martians emerge with their heat-rays and begin their systematic destruction of the surrounding countryside, killing the military unit sent to investigate. This moment triggers the entire apocalyptic invasion that transforms peaceful Surrey into a war zone.
Woking was a quiet market town in Victorian Surrey when Wells wrote the novel. The author chose it partly because it was near his own home and represented the comfortable, complacent English middle class. In the 1890s, it was becoming industrialized with the arrival of the railway.
Woking is now a thriving commercial town in the borough of Surrey. Horsell Common still exists as a public green space. There is a Heritage Trail that references the literary connection to Wells' novel, though there are no permanent Martian-themed installations.
Visit: Horsell Common (park)
River Thames crossing, Surrey — The narrator's desperate flight across the river
The narrator and his wife flee Woking and attempt to cross the Thames at Chertsey. As they approach the bridge, Martian heat-rays devastate the area, destroying buildings and igniting fires. The narrator witnesses the terror of other refugees and the complete breakdown of order as people panic toward the river. This scene epitomizes the collapse of English civilization under the Martian assault.
Chertsey Bridge was built in 1785 and reconstructed in the 1880s-1890s, making it a relatively modern crossing in Wells' time. It was a key route for Thames traffic and an important crossing for Surrey residents during the Victorian era.
Chertsey Bridge still stands and remains a functional road bridge crossing the Thames. The surrounding area is now suburban residential and commercial, with Chertsey serving as a market town. The bridge has been modified and widened over the decades but maintains its historic structure.
Visit: Chertsey Bridge (landmark)
River Thames, Surrey — Refugees trapped by advancing Martians
The narrator and his wife join thousands of refugees attempting to escape southward along the Thames. At Shepperton Locks, crowds of desperate people become trapped as the Martians advance from behind, their heat-rays cutting off escape routes. The scene portrays mass panic, the breakdown of social order, and the complete helplessness of humanity against the invaders' superior technology. Families are separated in the chaos.
Shepperton Locks were built in 1813 to help regulate Thames traffic and allow boats to pass through locks. The locks were an important commercial feature of the Victorian Thames, allowing barges and passenger boats to navigate upriver. By the 1890s, the area around the locks was becoming more developed with suburban growth.
Shepperton Locks remain operational as part of the River Thames navigation system. The area is now part of suburban London/Surrey with residential and commercial development. The locks are maintained by the Environment Agency and are accessible to recreational boaters. There is a public path along the Thames nearby.
Visit: Shepperton Locks (historic site)
Surrey, south of London — The narrator's refuge and encounters with survivors
Leatherhead becomes a temporary refuge for the narrator and his wife as they flee the advancing Martian line. The town serves as a gathering point for survivors trying to make sense of the invasion. The narrator witnesses the terror and desperation of townspeople attempting to organize evacuation. Eventually, even Leatherhead becomes threatened as the Martians push further south and west, forcing another desperate flight.
Leatherhead is an ancient market town on the River Mole, known since Saxon times. By the Victorian era, it was a prosperous coaching town with several inns and a growing middle-class population. The railway had arrived in the 1860s, making it increasingly accessible to London commuters.
Leatherhead is now a significant market town in Surrey with a well-preserved historic high street. The town center retains many Victorian-era buildings. The River Mole still runs through the town. Various pubs and restaurants occupy former coaching inns, and the town remains a shopping and cultural center for the area.
Visit: Leatherhead High Street & Town Centre (landmark)
Near Harrow, northwest London — Military command center and failed defense
The British military establishes a command center and defensive position at Wealdstone Camp to coordinate the response to the Martian invasion. Military leaders attempt to organize artillery and troop movements against the invaders. However, the Martians' superior heat-ray technology proves devastating against conventional military forces. The camp becomes a focal point of human resistance, though ultimately futile. Officers struggle with the unprecedented nature of the threat.
Wealdstone was a hamlet on the outskirts of London in the 1890s, relatively undeveloped. The area later became part of Greater London's suburban expansion. During Wells' time, the countryside around Wealdstone was semi-rural with scattered villages and farms.
Wealdstone is now a busy suburban area in the London Borough of Harrow. The specific camp location is now residential and commercial development. The area retains some Victorian architecture but is primarily modern suburban London. A shopping center and various residential estates occupy the former open land.
Southwest London — The narrator witnesses the Martian advance from elevated ground
The narrator climbs to higher ground in Richmond Park and observes the Martian invasion from a distance, watching the heat-rays sweep across London and the red weed begin to spread across the countryside. From this vantage point, he witnesses the systematic destruction of the English capital and its suburbs. The park's elevation allows him to comprehend the scale of the catastrophe unfolding before him. The serene parkland becomes a place from which to witness apocalypse.
Richmond Park was established as a royal hunting ground in the 1630s by King Charles I. It remains one of London's largest parks, encompassing over 2,500 acres. By the Victorian era, it was a popular destination for London's middle and upper classes seeking respite from the city. The park's landscape of open grasslands, woods, and ancient oaks had been carefully maintained for centuries.
Richmond Park remains one of London's most important green spaces, managed by the Royal Parks. It is open to the public and contains ancient trees, herds of red and fallow deer, and numerous walking trails. The park is a major attraction for hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers, and offers several viewpoints overlooking the Thames and London.
Visit: Richmond Park (park)
South London — The narrator's house and initial observations of the invasion
The narrator returns to his home in Streatham after witnessing the initial Martian cylinder landing. He attempts to warn his neighbors and prepare for the invasion, but they refuse to believe him or dismiss the threat as exaggerated. This suburban domestic setting contrasts sharply with the cosmic horror approaching. His home becomes a refuge where he gathers with his wife before they must flee. The comfortable middle-class neighborhood is about to be transformed into a war zone.
Streatham was a prosperous suburban village south of London in the 1890s, populated by middle-class families and professionals who commuted to the City. It had grown substantially with the expansion of railways and London's suburban sprawl. Victorian villas and terraced homes lined the quiet streets.
Streatham is now a busy suburban area of south London in the London Borough of Lambeth. It retains much Victorian architecture, including many original terraced homes and villas. The area has shops, restaurants, and parks. Streatham Common remains a significant green space in the neighborhood. The character of the area is still primarily residential suburban London.
Visit: Streatham Common (park)
Southwest London — Refuge and observation point during the invasion
Wimbledon Common becomes another refuge for survivors as they flee London. The elevated terrain and open space provide vantage points for observing the advancing Martians and their heat-rays destroying the surrounding suburbs. Survivors gather here temporarily before being forced to evacuate further. The common represents one of London's few places of relative safety and visibility as civilization collapses around them.
Wimbledon Common has been common land since medieval times, originally used for grazing and fuel gathering. By the Victorian era, it was a popular recreational destination for Londoners seeking country air. The common encompasses about 460 acres of grassland, woods, and heathland. It was already considered a protected green space by Wells' time.
Wimbledon Common remains a large protected open space in southwest London, managed by the Wimbledon & Putney Commons Conservators. It is popular for walking, running, horse-riding, and cycling. The common hosts numerous trails, a windmill museum, and ponds. It remains essentially unchanged in character from the Victorian era, preserving its wild character despite surrounding urbanization.
Visit: Wimbledon Common (park)
Surrey, south of Woking — The red weed invasion and nature's transformation
As the Martians advance through Surrey, the red weed—a fast-growing extraterrestrial plant—spreads across the English countryside. Ockham and the surrounding area become overtaken by this alien vegetation, which thrives in Earth's atmosphere and water. The countryside transforms into something unrecognizable and hostile. The protagonist observes how quickly nature itself becomes corrupted and altered by the Martian invasion, with the red weed choking waterways and spreading across fields.
Ockham is a village in Surrey with medieval roots, featuring a church and scattered farmland. In the 1890s, it was quintessential English countryside—quiet, agricultural, and remote from urban centers. The village retained much of its rural character despite being within commuting distance of London.
Ockham remains a small village in Surrey, though now part of the Green Belt. The village still has its church and several historic buildings. The surrounding area is protected green space with farmland and woods. It has maintained much of its rural character, though it is now more developed than in Wells' time.
Visit: Ockham Village (landmark)
Surrey, south of London — Military artillery positions and failed defense
Epsom Downs becomes a fortified position where the British military assembles artillery and troops in a desperate attempt to halt the Martian advance. Soldiers and cannon are positioned across the open downs in traditional military formations, attempting to repel the invaders. However, the Martians' superior weaponry—particularly the heat-rays—annihilates the military forces. The slaughter on Epsom Downs demonstrates the complete technological superiority of the invaders and the obsolescence of conventional warfare.
Epsom Downs is famous as the home of the Derby Stakes horse race, first held in 1780. The open downs have long been used for military exercises and training. In the 1890s, the area was used for cavalry training and other military activities. The terrain's open character made it ideal for such purposes.
Epsom Downs remains the home of the famous Epsom Derby horse race, held annually. The downs are managed for both racing and public recreation. There are walking trails, and the Epsom Downs Racecourse facilities are open during race season. The area retains its open character and remains a significant sporting and recreational destination.
Visit: Epsom Downs Racecourse (landmark)
South London — Observatory and scientific institution during invasion
The Crystal Palace area becomes a focal point for attempts to understand and document the Martian invasion scientifically. As an important center of scientific learning and cultural institutions, it represents humanity's attempt to apply reason and knowledge to the unprecedented crisis. The narrator and other educated people gather here seeking information and attempting to comprehend the Martian threat. However, scientific understanding proves as useless as military might against the invaders' overwhelming force.
The Crystal Palace was the iconic iron and glass structure built for the Great Exhibition of 1851, designed by Joseph Paxton. After the exhibition, it was moved to Sydenham in south London and became a major cultural and scientific institution housing museums, theaters, and educational facilities. By the 1890s, it was one of London's premier attractions.
The original Crystal Palace building was destroyed by fire in 1936. The site is now Crystal Palace Park, a public park managed by Bromley Council. The park contains gardens, a lake, dinosaur sculptures, and recreational facilities. Various sports facilities and cultural venues are located within the park. It remains a significant green space and cultural destination.
Visit: Crystal Palace Park (park)
Central London — Observation of Martian destruction of the capital
The narrator occasionally observes London from the Thames Embankment as the city is destroyed. The embankment, a symbol of London's engineering prowess and civilized order, becomes a vantage point from which to witness the complete annihilation of the capital. Smoke and fire consume the City and Westminster as the Martians systematically destroy London's landmarks and infrastructure. The Embankment represents the line between surviving civilization and total devastation.
The Thames Embankment was constructed between 1865 and 1902, creating a major engineering feat that protected London from flooding while creating a grand promenade. It was celebrated as a triumph of Victorian engineering and urban planning. By Wells' time in the 1890s, the Embankment was one of London's most important public spaces.
The Thames Embankment remains a significant public promenade and recreational area running along the northern bank of the Thames through central London. It features the Victoria Embankment Gardens, the Embankment tube station, and numerous historic buildings. It is heavily used by pedestrians, cyclists, and tourists. The Embankment continues to be iconic to London's identity.
Visit: Victoria Embankment & Gardens (park)
Kent, east of London — Final refuge and the Martians' apparent defeat
The narrator eventually reaches Gravesend with his wife after a desperate journey across the devastated countryside. The town represents one of the last refuges before complete collapse. Here, the narrator learns that the Martians have mysteriously ceased their conquest and begun to die from an unforeseen cause—terrestrial microorganisms to which their immune systems have no resistance. Gravesend becomes symbolic of humanity's last gasp before salvation through disease brings about the Martians' unexpected defeat.
Gravesend is an ancient town on the Thames estuary, historically important for river commerce and shipping. It was the point where larger ocean-going vessels typically transferred cargo to smaller river boats. By the 1890s, Gravesend was still an important port and transportation hub. The town had been a significant settlement since medieval times.
Gravesend remains a port town on the Thames with significant maritime heritage. The town center retains historic buildings and the riverside remains important for recreation and commerce. The town is accessible by train and serves as a commuter town for Greater London. Various historic sites and museums relate to its maritime history, including connections to Pocahontas and other historical figures.
Visit: Gravesend Town Centre & Riverside (landmark)
Central London — Ultimate symbol of destroyed civilization
St. Paul's Cathedral stands as the ultimate symbol of English civilization that the Martian invasion devastates. Though the narrator does not witness the cathedral's destruction directly, it represents the culmination of human achievement and faith now threatened with annihilation. The cathedral epitomizes the high culture, religious conviction, and architectural grandeur that the alien invaders reduce to ashes. The cathedral's potential destruction underscores the existential threat posed by the invasion.
St. Paul's Cathedral was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The iconic dome became one of the world's most recognizable architectural features. By the Victorian era, St. Paul's was not only London's religious center but also the symbol of British power, pride, and civilization. It had hosted state occasions and remained the seat of the Bishop of London.
St. Paul's Cathedral remains one of London's most iconic buildings and continues to function as the principal church of the Church of England in London. It is open to the public as both a place of worship and a major tourist attraction. Visitors can climb the dome for views of London. The cathedral has been carefully restored and maintained since its construction and remains a masterpiece of baroque architecture.
Visit: St. Paul's Cathedral (historic site)
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