Where to live in Surrey (Rent)?

[Shabs]

Hi Guys,

My wife and I have finally had enough of London and are moving to Surrey. We have spent some time driving around looking for an area and I would like to get some advice on potential locations that could suit my needs. Here are the criteria:

1) We prefer a village or an area with a good community feel to it. We looked at places like Woking and it feels very sub-urban, full of hoodies, like living in outer London which is just not for us

2) My wife works from home but I work in the city. She will drive me to the station, but I would prefer my commute into the city to be under 1 hour, 40 minutes on a fast train would be better

3) Lots of greenery and a country feel is a big plus to us, I really don't want to feel like I have moved out of Belsize Park into Brent Cross kind of thing

So far we really like Godalming and Compton, which we are seriously considering. The plan is to rent for 6-12 months to get a feel for the area and then buy

Thanks for the advice,

Shabs

PS: Saw a beautiful red Sag in the Guilford (I think) area on the weekend, this made me exceptionally happy

[JJCW]

Checkout Brockham, might work for you

[Shabs]

Will do, thanks mate

[nonuts]

Anywhere close to the mainline fast train stations on the Padington -> Reading route would be worth a look at. There's loads of nice villages close to Maidenhead for example and that's very quick into town.

[morebeanz]

Also consider Horsley, Shalford and one I rather like is Shere - all short drives to guildford main line station and 35 mins to Waterloo.

[limpsfield]

I live just outside Godalming - it is quite green around here, and the benefits of getting on the train at Godalming is you dodge the crush at Guildford. I think it's about 50 minutes on the train to Waterloo.

I have lived all over Surrey the past 15 years - Oxted is my favourite, but that's the other end to Godalming. Have you thought about Weybridge - I preferred that to where I live now to be honest, and it is a very fast train in.

Watch out for the drive bys in Compton....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ0_HYuR_fk

Edited by limpsfield on Thursday 6th August 14:22

[Robatr0n]

Bit off topic but I'm sure I've seen that Chim of yours in West London. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it looks lovely!

[GFWilliams]

Have a look south of Reigate - There are a few nice villages there (sort of including Brockham)

[beergibbon]

morebeanz said:

Also consider Horsley, Shalford and one I rather like is Shere - all short drives to guildford main line station and 35 mins to Waterloo.

I am just near here, so take a look at Wonersh, Bramley and Shamley Green. 10-12 minute drive to Guildford train station in the morning...

[tubbystu]

GFWilliams said:

Have a look south of Reigate - There are a few nice villages there (sort of including Brockham)

Or just north of Reigate & M25. Services along the Tattenham Corner branch line are 40 odd mins to London Bridge. Tatt Corner, Tadworth, Kingswood, Chipstead, Woodmansterne etc. Green & pleasant too.

[A.Wang]

Guildford will have a nice direct/frequent rail link to Waterloo, quick hop on the Waterloo & City Line - should be a bearable commute.

Ripley is a lovely village - I drive through that every morning to get to Woking (agreed, a bit of a dump). High concentration of 911s too, but that's Surrey for you!

[Shabs]

Thanks guys, very much appreciated! I am looking very forward to moving, Mrs Shabs and I have had enough of London to be honest, it is driving us a bit mad! Time to get on rightmove and

Robatr0n said:

Bit off topic but I'm sure I've seen that Chim of yours in West London. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it looks lovely!

Thanks Robatr0n, I live in Hampstead so very likely! Only problem with having a Chim in London other than on-street-parking is driving for an hour over speedbumps to get to a decent country lane (something I hope to resolve soon)

Shabs

[motorbreath]

Haslemere has a main line stop for fast trains heading into waterloo, 45 - 50 mins loads of greenery around in the shape of trees and grass, even a couple of commons splattered here and there. Its in a good spot for the A3 in the middle of London and Portsmouth. Im moving down there at the end of the month! Woohoo!

Edited by motorbreath on Thursday 6th August 20:21

[Nidjit]

Ayup Anywhere in the Crangleigh/Guildford/Haslemere triangle might be of interest. It's far enough from London to be green and leafy, but not too far from it that it'll give you a nosebleed.

I live in Woking and well.....yes, there are hoodies. But I'd still recommend it. It's close enough to London (26mins direct to Waterloo), the M25, M3, A3, and you have the option of saying "what the heck" and boogying in Chameleon in spite of yourself

[Mike Rob]

Surrey is full of great places to live.

It's a very varied county so chose well. Around Guildford area is always a safe bet. Been here for 25 years now and would not look anywhere else. Further west you go is the safest bet.

Once you are in you won't want to move!

[Eddie the Ead]

How come no mention of Farnham as yet. Decent links to Waterloo in under an hour and I love the place. Leafy but still plenty going on.

[croyde]

Bramley, just south of Guildford is very nice. Bus or drive to Guildford mainline. 2 couples I know, have both moved there and seem very happy with it.

[limpsfield]

Eddie the Ead said:

How come no mention of Farnham as yet.

The rest of us think it's really pikey and are trying to get it offloaded to Hampshire

[obscene]

limpsfield said:

Eddie the Ead said:

How come no mention of Farnham as yet.

The rest of us think it's really pikey and are trying to get it offloaded to Hampshire

[Alex_MCS]

motorbreath said:

Haslemere has a main line stop for fast trains heading into waterloo, 45 - 50 mins loads of greenery around in the shape of trees and grass, even a couple of commons splattered here and there. Its in a good spot for the A3 in the middle of London and Portsmouth. Im moving down there at the end of the month! Woohoo!

Edited by motorbreath on Thursday 6th August 20:21

Also worth noting that Haslemere has a better train service than Godalming for Waterloo :P