Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies 13 miles (21 km) south of London, 3 miles (5 km) south of Sutton, 5 miles (8 km) west of Croydon and 8.5 miles (14 km) south-east of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt; Banstead Downs is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Although Banstead is a town, it is frequently referred to and known as "Banstead Village". Nearby towns include Epsom and Worcester Park to the west, Reigate to the south and Leatherhead to the west.
At the 2001 Census the population of Banstead Village ward was 8,510, although the area covered by the former Banstead Urban District had 46,280 people.
Banstead appears as a destination in the 1895 novel The Time Machine by H. G. Wells and also gains a brief mention in another of his novels, The War of the Worlds.
Read more about Banstead: History, Economy, Surrounding Area, Religion, Education, Transport, Landmarks, Open Space, Notable Residents