Guildford to London commuting.

[Cyrus1971]

Hi, calling all PH'ers with opinions please on the daily commute from Guildford central train station into London.

The wife and I are considering moving from SW London to somewhere in the Surrey Hills. We need to work out the detail of how it will affect our commutes. So anything helpful on stuff like access to the main station, what the 6-7AM traffic is like, when the parking fills up, train reliability, are there any trains originating from Guildford you can actually get a prime time seat on ?

I was also wondering if it is actually "easier" from further south E.G. - Godalming or Milford ?

Cheers,
Cyrus

[HiAsAKite]

I did it for 10+ years. Train service from Guildford is very good but, you will not always get a seat after 7am...

Pre 7.00am, eg6.54,much more chance.

You spot the 'old timers' who know exactly which crack on the platform to stand next to so as to be one of the first 3 onto the carriage...

Overall though, provided you are happy to stand once in a while, it's pretty good. Obviously more likelihood from Godalming or Haslemere, but I think there are less trains back there..

[HiAsAKite]

Re car parking, use Farnham Road car park, cheaper than station, and st that time, always space ( you can usually get a space with only one space next to it too if you try)

[BlueJazz]

There is also the London Road Guildford train station. It's the slow trains but you always get a seat.

[toppstuff]

Commuting from Woking is often faster than from Guildford, simply because there are lots of trains where there are no stops between Woking and Waterloo. Its on the main line to the South coast.

[Cyrus1971]

Thanks for the advice. The move is very likely. We just have to brace ourselves for an increase in commute time - which I guess is the main trade off for a country life.

[bracken78]

I used to do Guildford to St James Square (via Waterloo) and door to door was 1 hour 15 mins. As has been mentioned you should get a seat on most trains between 7 and 8 provided you are one of the first on but anything before 7am, you will be fine 99% of the time but don’t expect to sit together.

Overall it was a good commute, the trains where clean and generally people were polite.

Not in a position to comment on the parking as I walked to the station but there is plenty of parking.

[RichE60]

Have done this commute for 8 years. Quick trains go every 15 minutes or so (sometimes more) from G'ford to Waterloo, if you don't know the "special spots" its tough to get a seat after 7:30, but no issue on the way home. Expect to pay £3800 for an annual season ticket including tube (all zones). You used to be able to park next door to the station in the park and ride which was significantly cheaper but filled up fast. I work in Shoreditch and its an hour from the station to my desk.

[Vladimir]

Dad regularly commuted from West Horsley (near Guildford) to central London when I was a little un, both by car and train; always quick and easy and it was a nice place to live.

[RichE60]

Woking trains are every 5 minutes, but forget about a seat in the morning. However, a great deal more handy on the way home as they are more regular and later, and also serviced by more routes so less of a drama when the Portsmouth/Guildford line is out.

[rossb]

i live in surrey hills and frequently have to go into town - generally agree with most of the comments above - especially woking suggestion. Depending on where you end up living and if you have to go to Victoria - Dorking is on that line. If you don't ride a motorbike this will be irrelevant - but for info i can leave office in shere @8.30 and be parked in pimlico eccleston square underground car park @9.30 due to filtering etc. - and the parking is free for bikes! not sure how keen i would be to bike up in depths of winter though

[Dr Interceptor]

As others have said, if you don't commute from Guildford, Woking (or Farnborough) are just as quick. Farnborough is 35 minutes into Waterloo on a quick train.

Parking at Farnborough isn't great, but planning permission has just been granted to double the size of the car park.

Traffic around Farnborough at 7am is fine.