Woking, West Byfleet, Brookwood.... What are they like?

[bracken78]

Hi all,

I’m hoping some people here might be able to offer some pointers in what places are like to live in. I used to rent in Guildford till a couple of months back and now live in Farnham. Farnham is a really nice place but for work I get the train to Waterloo and walk to St’ James square which is a total od 1h 20 mins to work and it is just to fair.

I would like to live in Guildford and buy a house there but right now my budget will not stretch enough so have been looking around Woking, Brookwood and West Byfleet areas. Does anyone know what they are like and what are the good bad areas to be in?

My OH is a teacher in Guildford so we would need to be relatively close to there but also on the SWT railway line so we could ditch one car and only have one which is cheaper.

My views

• Woking – Not a very nice area I think. Have been looking around Old Woking which is just walkable to the station. Best station as trains take 25mins ish.
• Brookwood and West Byfleet are new to me, trains seem ok but there is a big price drop by getting the train from West Byfleet.

If anyone has opinions on these areas please let me know. I really would like to know about West Byfleet. Or maybe I have missed somewhere really nice?

[XJSJohn]

i have a few friends that live in West Fleabite, strange place, no pubs (some old by-law or the like) but a few wine bars / hotels. Nice chippy but otherwise well worth avoiding in my experiance!

[bracken78]

XJSJohn said:

i have a few friends that live in West Fleabite, strange place, no pubs (some old by-law or the like) but a few wine bars / hotels. Nice chippy but otherwise well worth avoiding in my experiance!

So not the nicest place to live then, will still have a look this weekend.

[Bollah]

Well i lived in Byfleet for nearly 20 years and a good friend of mine used to live in West Byfleet. They do have a pub, but it's a harvester, and a couple of fancy bars down by the station and the claremont on the other side of the station.

Living in W.Byfleet is a nice place, i don't think there is a rough area to it really. Seems to be new houses / developments going up there as well. Only one supermarket (Waitrose) unless you venture down to Byfleet for the Tesco / M&S.

[13th]

bracken78 said:

Have been looking around Old Woking which is just walkable to the station.

It's walkable if you like a route march of a morning!!!!

If you want easy access to the station then I'd look at the White Rose Lane area, depending on your budget of course.

Send and West End also have some nice areas and are much quieter but would need car transport to the station. Worplesdon is lovely, really lovely, and has a station that my friends husbands use for easy access to town.

Happy hunting, but on a note of caution totally avoid the area near Pet City etc..... rough as hell!!!!

[toppstuff]

Let's not forget that Brooklands is up the road !

[13th]

toppstuff said:

Let's not forget that Brooklands is up the road !

Ah yes! that's a great Marks and Spencers

On a serious note a friend did an afternoon on the Merc track and skid pad I'm told if you get the right co pilot it's awsome; the restaurant on the top floor is also to be recommended.

(Have also been told that if you get the wrong chap it's a bit all gong and no dinner........ )

[phillvr6]

A few of us live on and around Goldsworth Park in Woking...its ok.

Try asking over on the Thames Valley and Surrey forum.

[parakitaMol.]

I'm in Guildford, looking at a house in W Byfleet this week... you can buy mine if I fall in love with the one I view!

[NoelWatson]

13th said:

toppstuff said:

Let's not forget that Brooklands is up the road !

Ah yes! that's a great Marks and Spencers

On a serious note a friend did an afternoon on the Merc track and skid pad I'm told if you get the right co pilot it's awsome; the restaurant on the top floor is also to be recommended.

(Have also been told that if you get the wrong chap it's a bit all gong and no dinner........ )

It is a good day out - I insisted on the E63 AMG for the skidpad as it had the longest wheelbase - you could hold a drift almost indefinitely

[bracken78]

NoelWatson said:

13th said:

toppstuff said:

Let's not forget that Brooklands is up the road !

Ah yes! that's a great Marks and Spencers

On a serious note a friend did an afternoon on the Merc track and skid pad I'm told if you get the right co pilot it's awsome; the restaurant on the top floor is also to be recommended.

(Have also been told that if you get the wrong chap it's a bit all gong and no dinner........ )

It is a good day out - I insisted on the E63 AMG for the skidpad as it had the longest wheelbase - you could hold a drift almost indefinitely

Funny that, did the merc day about 3 weeks ago. Was going to be in an SL55 but that was being worked on (read broken). Has a SLK 55 and did about 3 laps of the skid pan before a chump in an E63 estate joins and spin. Was a really good day and I totally agree that you need a good co pilot.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I’ve been drawing on an ordinate survey marking areas to avoid and not avoid. Budget is about 220K max so we are a limited in out choice