Guildford Spectrum is owned by Guildford Borough Council and managed in partnership by Freedom Leisure. The complex was opened on 23 February 1993 by the then Mayor of Guildford Cllr. Anthony Page. The complex took two years to build at a cost of £28 million.

It was the first of its kind in the UK and still today it is unrivalled in the facilities it houses all under one roof. Guildford Spectrum prides itself in providing first class facilities for the residents of Guildford as their local leisure centre, to the 1000’s of day visitors as a regional tourist attraction with a catchment of 1½ hours drive time and also the attendees and spectators to the numerous sporting and non-sporting events that take place each year.