Reigate, town in Surrey, southern England. It is the administrative headquarters of the local government district of Reigate and Banstead. Reigate lies at the foot of the North Downs. The town has good transport links. It is near the M25 London ring road. Britain's second-busiest airport, Gatwick, is 10 km (6 mi) to the south. The town is served by a rail line running from Ashford in Kent to Guildford. Reigate is a largely residential area and a dormitory town for London, which is about 30 km (20 mi) to the north. A feature of Reigate is the old Market House which was built in 1708, and part of the church of St Mary Magdalene dates from the 12th century. The church contains the tomb of Lord Howard of Effingham, the lord high admiral of England who led the fight against the Spanish Armada in 1588. There are ruins of a priory and a castle; in the castle John Foxe, author of The Book of Martyrs, was tutor to the children of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, from 1548 to 1553. Population (1994 estimate) town 21,800; district 117,800.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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