Abstract: A guiding device comprises a support, including a first substantially planar guiding surface; a movable body adapted to be guided on the support, and including a second substantially planar guiding surface; and a plurality of hydrostatic guide blocks disposed between the first and second guiding surfaces, each guide block including a first hydrostatic bearing portion connected to a source of pressurized fluid for slidably connecting either the movable body or the support to the respective guide block, and a second hydrostatic bearing portion connected to the source of pressurized fluid for slidably connecting the other of the movable body and the support to the respective guide block, and in which each of the first and second bearing portions includes a flow restriction for restricting the flow of fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the respective bearing portion, whereby fluid flows from the source to the first bearing portion without passing through the second bearing portion and fluid flows from