Living in Guildford?
Discussion
Having lived for the last 4 years in south west london suburbia - Wifey and I have decided to up sticks and move further out.
We are looking to move to Guildford as its:
1) near her folks - no nippers yet but thinking of the babysitter potential...
2) on the A3 for both escaping/getting up to town (I work in Hammersmith)
3) decent trainline into Waterloo (If I move jobs in the next few years its highly likely to be based in the West End)
So - whats it like to live?
Commuter trains absolutely rammed?
Traffic a nightmare in rush hour? - (i plan to still drive in to work)
Were looking to be near-ish the station with easy access to the A3 Onslow Village-ish...
would be really useful if anyone can give any advice!
We are looking to move to Guildford as its:
1) near her folks - no nippers yet but thinking of the babysitter potential...
2) on the A3 for both escaping/getting up to town (I work in Hammersmith)
3) decent trainline into Waterloo (If I move jobs in the next few years its highly likely to be based in the West End)
So - whats it like to live?
Commuter trains absolutely rammed?
Traffic a nightmare in rush hour? - (i plan to still drive in to work)
Were looking to be near-ish the station with easy access to the A3 Onslow Village-ish...
would be really useful if anyone can give any advice!
I live in Chobham about 20 mins from guildford and come into london (leicester square) on the train from Woking,
I get the 6.43 and usuually get the last seat in first class no hope in normal usually standing (hence why i take first)
Traffic busy during rush hour but quiet is at weekends but getting busy over the last couple of years.
Still a lovely area to live but moving out further hampshire / wiltshire in a couple of years as house prices are nuts and its getting too busy !!!
I get the 6.43 and usuually get the last seat in first class no hope in normal usually standing (hence why i take first)
Traffic busy during rush hour but quiet is at weekends but getting busy over the last couple of years.
Still a lovely area to live but moving out further hampshire / wiltshire in a couple of years as house prices are nuts and its getting too busy !!!
Edited by phib on Tuesday 25th March 12:58
I commute in daily (from Reading) and the traffic is not much fun. It can often take me as long to go 5 miles over the hogs back as the previous 20 miles! Less of a problem on school holidays and either side of a bank holiday but I've given up getting to work around 9am due to the traffic. Either an hour earlier or 30-45 minutes later will knock 20 minutes off the journey.
If you're planning to commute into London every day, then look one or two stops out (Farncombe, Godalming etc). As you get closer, the trains get busier. A mate of mine does Milford to London every day and always gets a seat, its the people who get on at Guildford and Woking who stand.
Guildford itself is very nice. loads of shops, bar and restaurants but traffic on the A3 is a pain; I lived just behind the station and commuted from Guildford to Esher and always got stuck in traffic coming home, normally at the Wooden Bridge/Cathedral exit. Not sure what the train is like though.
I lived in "Onslow-Village-ish" from 2001-2007. Property is very expensive, but "desirable", and very convenient for some good schools.
It's about 15 minutes walk to the station, and 20 into the centre of town. No problem at all, as it's downhill on the way there, and you can wear your beer coat for the uphill journey later on.
Guildford sometimes has a direct train to London, meaning you get a seat on an empty train at about 8.30, and be into the City within an hour. At other times you may not get a seat, but I only went to London about once a week.
Note: there is no pub in Onslow Village itself (unless you count the Astolat, which I never once stepped foot in). From Onslow you can walk into town to many pubs, or walk over the hog's back to the Withies pub in about 45 minutes, which is a really good place for food and booze in the summer.
Beware of the liberal do-gooder-holier-than-thou neighbours. They are all Mrs Bucket.
It's about 15 minutes walk to the station, and 20 into the centre of town. No problem at all, as it's downhill on the way there, and you can wear your beer coat for the uphill journey later on.
Guildford sometimes has a direct train to London, meaning you get a seat on an empty train at about 8.30, and be into the City within an hour. At other times you may not get a seat, but I only went to London about once a week.
Note: there is no pub in Onslow Village itself (unless you count the Astolat, which I never once stepped foot in). From Onslow you can walk into town to many pubs, or walk over the hog's back to the Withies pub in about 45 minutes, which is a really good place for food and booze in the summer.
Beware of the liberal do-gooder-holier-than-thou neighbours. They are all Mrs Bucket.
Guildford is a university town so going out of an evening means avoiding the town center IMO but there are lots of nice restaurants, bars, lovely walks and fast country road in the area.
If you are scouting about the place go careful on the Hogs Back (between Guildford and Farnham) they ALWAYS seem to be speed trapping and it a lovely long piece of dual carriage way so very easy for the speed to creep up.
ETA
If you are scouting about the place go careful on the Hogs Back (between Guildford and Farnham) they ALWAYS seem to be speed trapping and it a lovely long piece of dual carriage way so very easy for the speed to creep up.
ETA
Edited by 13th on Tuesday 25th March 14:00
13th said:
If you are scouting about the place go careful on the Hogs Back (between Guildford and Farnham) they ALWAYS seem to be speed trapping and it a lovely long piece of duel carriage way so very easy for the speed to creep up.
The A31, and it can be a complete nightmare trying to get on the A3 at Guildford coming from Farnham in the morning.I am living in Guildford (10min walk from Station) and get the 7.45 train into London and always get a seat. I some times get the earlier trains and still always get a seat.
My neighbor drives to Wimbledon every day and doesn’t have to many problems.
Can’t write much now but will add later but is a very nice place. I’ll be buying soon, but will move to Godelming as house a little cheaper there but I still prefer Guildford.
My neighbor drives to Wimbledon every day and doesn’t have to many problems.
Can’t write much now but will add later but is a very nice place. I’ll be buying soon, but will move to Godelming as house a little cheaper there but I still prefer Guildford.
Know Guildford well.
Good points: Roads are very easily marked and getting around for newcomers is very easy. For PHs lots of lovely car showrooms and most of them are all in one place + Bramleys isn't too far for looking at things you maybe can't afford. Lots of good shops on the high street (excellent House of Fraser.) and some good resturants. Schools I wouldn't know about but some are meant to be very good. Some really nice houses, again if you can afford them. Lots of lovely pubs within close driving range. (not too many in the actual city centre.). If you like Theatre you'll be happy, two good ones that are used to test audiences for shows before West End openings. The station is actually good too and easy to get to. Not too many speed cameras or traffic calming bumps. The Ice Hockey & Basketball teams are quite good.
Bad Points: Just because the areas rich doesn't mean it hasn't got pikeys. Park Barn is no go area after dark and the Friary Shopping Centre is like a cattle market most pms with the Kappa dressed hordes of scum munching on their McDs as they graze the shops yelling "I'll be there in a minute, babe!" into their mobile phones. Some idiot allowed Burger King to set up shop on a corner next to this cattleshed so the trolls in their Novas and Clios do the circuit most days leering at the pasty teenage wobble bottoms as they stagger out of Top Shop trying to look like Ms Hilton. Also don't forget that all the yummy mummys in their 4 x 4s have rights to park where the hell they like (cos they're better than the rest of us.) so driving round the centre on a Saturday evening is a right laugh as they drop off Zara at Pizza Express or pick up their shopping from M & S darling, double parking where they like. The cinema, despite being only a few years old, is pathetic and over priced and getting out of the car park after a show is a nightmare. The road surfaces, especially around by the castle, are really alloy wheel breakers.
So just like any town in the south of England really.
My advice, Farncombe, Godalming or Haslemere. All a lot more civilised................. Apart from Godalming on school day pm when all the yoof from the college pour into the centre and fill up the coffee shops pretending they're hard & cool just like the kids from Skins before jumping on the bus to Chiddingfold and their parents £750,000 house......
Don't worry I am seeking help for my anger issues.....
Good points: Roads are very easily marked and getting around for newcomers is very easy. For PHs lots of lovely car showrooms and most of them are all in one place + Bramleys isn't too far for looking at things you maybe can't afford. Lots of good shops on the high street (excellent House of Fraser.) and some good resturants. Schools I wouldn't know about but some are meant to be very good. Some really nice houses, again if you can afford them. Lots of lovely pubs within close driving range. (not too many in the actual city centre.). If you like Theatre you'll be happy, two good ones that are used to test audiences for shows before West End openings. The station is actually good too and easy to get to. Not too many speed cameras or traffic calming bumps. The Ice Hockey & Basketball teams are quite good.
Bad Points: Just because the areas rich doesn't mean it hasn't got pikeys. Park Barn is no go area after dark and the Friary Shopping Centre is like a cattle market most pms with the Kappa dressed hordes of scum munching on their McDs as they graze the shops yelling "I'll be there in a minute, babe!" into their mobile phones. Some idiot allowed Burger King to set up shop on a corner next to this cattleshed so the trolls in their Novas and Clios do the circuit most days leering at the pasty teenage wobble bottoms as they stagger out of Top Shop trying to look like Ms Hilton. Also don't forget that all the yummy mummys in their 4 x 4s have rights to park where the hell they like (cos they're better than the rest of us.) so driving round the centre on a Saturday evening is a right laugh as they drop off Zara at Pizza Express or pick up their shopping from M & S darling, double parking where they like. The cinema, despite being only a few years old, is pathetic and over priced and getting out of the car park after a show is a nightmare. The road surfaces, especially around by the castle, are really alloy wheel breakers.
So just like any town in the south of England really.
My advice, Farncombe, Godalming or Haslemere. All a lot more civilised................. Apart from Godalming on school day pm when all the yoof from the college pour into the centre and fill up the coffee shops pretending they're hard & cool just like the kids from Skins before jumping on the bus to Chiddingfold and their parents £750,000 house......
Don't worry I am seeking help for my anger issues.....
The Hypno-Toad said:
Apart from Godalming on school day pm when all the yoof from the college pour into the centre and fill up the coffee shops pretending they're hard & cool just like the kids from Skins before jumping on the bus to Chiddingfold and their parents £750,000 house......
Genius.13th said:
Guildford is a university town so going out of an evening means avoiding the town center IMO but there are lots of nice restaurants, bars, lovely walks and fast country road in the area.
Surely students are a good thing in terms of going out? Non-uni towns are s
te to go out in usually.jacobyte said:
I lived in "Onslow-Village-ish" from 2001-2007. Property is very expensive, but "desirable".
Known as "Jews Island" for obvious reasons.Thats if you are in the know
Peeps like to move there and sit on their money and move up in the community. It's as clicky as hell full of different social classes which don't mix together.
jacobyte said:
Note: there is no pub in Onslow Village itself (unless you count the Astolat, which I never once stepped foot in).
Ah the Crapalot right on the perimeter of Jews town and the chavs down the hill..never the twain shall mix. 
billynomates said:
"Jews Island"
I forgot about that!I would always tell people I lived in "Guildford - up Farnham road". Saying the "O" word was deeply embarrassing (despite the fact that we chose to move there). Cliquey doesn't even come close. I hope you didn't commit the social faux-pas of trying to join their "lawn tenis club" (you know, that asphalt blob by the recreation ground).
Sorry, not painting a very good picture here...
jacobyte said:
billynomates said:
"Jews Island"
I forgot about that!I hope you didn't commit the social faux-pas of trying to join their "lawn tenis club" (you know, that asphalt blob by the recreation ground).
A thorn in my side is that blob .....tis seen from my window.
I don't look out much
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