If you could choose - Thames Ditton/ Claygate, Epsom, or Guildford??

[Wombled]

We are moving out from London and have 'narrowed' the area search down to the triangle (known as bermuda triangle in our house) of Kingston/ Epsom/ Guildford. Specifically:

• Thames Ditton or Claygate
  
• Epsom (Ashtead side)
  
• Guildford (Merrow)
  

They are all nice areas and work for us school wise, have a sense of community and village feel, but close to larger town, and easy access to open space - but we just can't choose between them at the minute!! If you could choose, where would get your vote??

[Wombled]

Bbump :)

[Gleek]

Having lived in both Guildford (a few yrs ago) and Epsom (now) I would probably go for Guildford, better town centre, further away from London, lots of good shops and restaurants without being so big it doesn't have a community feel.

[RachelHRD]

Slight bias here as I live in between Guildford town centre and Merrow - but it is a lovely area - close to town but still nice and green with plenty of open spaces, great schools and easy to get up to London from either the mainline station or London Road but not too far from the coast either. Good sports facilities too with The Spectrum and Surrey Sports Park. Oh and lots of good shopping!!

[WateryFowls]

Epsom (also biased). Guildford too busy and a fair schlep down the A3. I'm always amazed at how much further down past Epsom it is.

[RachelHRD]

Oh and G-Live the new entertainment venue and we're getting a Waitrose soon so all good :)

[Wombled]

Haha thank you! So far you have come up with lots of the positives we did (which is good!) - problem may be that i am comparing village with town with bigger town. Perhaps i need to be thinking thames ditton/ claygate (for kingston), ashtead (for epsom), merrow (for guildford)? More comparable?

[Wombled]

Bump

[NoWayNoHow]

I don't know Epsom and Guildford well, but Thames Ditton and Claygate are both lovely, and close to both Esher and Kingston for main shopping. I love how quaint and gorgeous Thames Ditton is, and the Infant and Junior there are brilliant.

Sorry, that's very biased answer!

[Wombled]

Thanks nowaynohow! I do too, plus love the idea of being so close to the river in TD.

[surreyhousefrau]

we looked at moving to all 3 of your triangle. big difference in what you can get for your money in all 3 and the style of houses !! unless budget is unlimited, you are not going to get much more space in thames ditton than you had in london probably, if that doesn't bother you agree it is a lovely place to live. but my first vote would be for guildford surrounds!

[Missmayhem]

Unfortunately there is a budget surreyhouse!! We would def have to accept a lesser house in TD or Claygate, but Guildford isn't much cheaper these days, esp Merroe, but we could perhaps find a 'project'. Epsom is better price wise for sure.

[LaGuerta]

Used to live in Guildford and work near Epsom. I was very happy in Guildford and didn't especially care for Epsom. Don't know DT though.

Within Guildford I wouldn't go for Merrow if you are commuting into London by train. Depending on budget and what you are looking for have a look at Wodeland Ave/Portsmouth Rd area. Pluses are: next to station. 5 mins walk to high st. 5 mins to river and pubs. 10 mins walk up to hogs back and North Downs and open country side. Schools pretty good too.

[LaGuerta]

TD even.

[surreyhousefrau]

the three towns have very different feel i'd say considering how close they are. leave the kids at home with daddy on a sat and go spend some quality coffee time in the name of research !! if you are looking at state schools, you could look at horsley or even bookham close to guildford and howard of effingham school. clandon next village out from merrow towards london is a bit of a no mans land for state schools... i second difficulty of living in merrow and commuting - think parking at guildford station is difficult and expensive...there may be bike space.

[RachelHRD]

Re living in Merrow and commuting - you can get trains direct from London Road or go from there to the mainline station which makes it much easier. DH commutes three days a week and walks to London Road from where we are on Epsom Road which is between Merrow and Guildford and it takes about 15 mins and would be an easy cycle from Merrow and there are bike racks.

[sweetblueeyeboy]

personally living in claygate, I am clambering to get out. I have lived here for 8 yrs and it is rapidly going down hill....possibly if you will be living in a large house in a quiet road it would be ok but if you are looking at regular 3 bed semi's beware. Constant scooters up and down, speeding issues, lots of travellers moving into houses and causing problems. Noise level is a major issue. I don't think much of claygate primary school either it is going down hill, mothers are all super pretentious or chavs...I kid you not, no middle ground for normal people. You have to be tattooed and orange or enjoying calling everyone darling and air kissing (and that's just the kids) ;). There are issues with secondary school placements for for kids from claygate. I would say thames ditton over claygate because it is closer to hinchley wood secondary and after having two sons go through there I think it is fantastic!

[Missmayhem]

loads of people rave about clay gate, and i really like it - but have never been sure if i've really got the place..

[leftfork]

Spent 5 years in Guildford. It is beautfiful (town and countryside) but we left because we don't like playing "keeping up with the Jones". Also, getting the state primary school we wanted was going to be impossible. And a night out in London was a bit of nightmare if you stayed out late. When we went out in Guildford (theatre for example, we were normally the youngest looking folks there - late 30s at the time).
We didn't find that there was that much difference in house prices. Moved to Surbiton 2 years ago and would never look back. Enough river and green in Kingston, Richmond, Hampton Court and the most down to earth, open minded people. Love it!
It's personal but I wanted to balance some of the opinions above.

[narmada]

A second for surbiton.

would not touch Td - it is v pretentious. Schools get good SAT Results but they are quite test-driven I understand.

Guildfird is v£££££ for what you get and train tix are more.

Epsom town centre choked with traffic and also has some dodge bits.

Claygate v nice but would drive me nuts as too small and yy to previous poster who mentioned the issues with secondary schools.

Surbiton- what's not to like? Brill schools, not too surrey housewife, and 19 mins to waterloo on train :). Kids will thank you for that when they are teens...

[cmsb]

We are moving to Ashtead very soon, and had looked at lots of areas in surrey.
Its a difficult choice, as there seem to be many lovely areas.

[TanyaVM]

What about East Molesey??!! Great place to live, good primary schools and close to river, kingston or walton on thames for shops.

[narmada]

Have always thought E Molesey unfairly overlooked, Tanya :). Seems to have a lot going for it to me.

[pist]

East Molesey gets my vote (but definitely "EAST"):
the river (Thames), parks (Bushey Park, Hurst Meadows, Wilderniss etc), Hampton Court Palace, Train to Waterloo (zone 6 so within "travelcard range"), lovely village community, Great local sports clubs (esp rowing and cricket), 5 mins to Kingston, Esher and Walton, 2 local Tescos, lovely mini urban feel at cafes + restaurants in Bridge Road, beautiful Victorian houses in large conservation area, good state schools (esp "The Orchard") and easy access to good private schools depending on which way you are inclined.

PS not so overlooked when you look at house prices....

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Love Epsom. Been here for 10 years. Greenery and a nice but not too big centre. Enough shops to keep you going and close to Kingston for major shopping. Has some nice pubs, a cinema and lots of parks and really easy commute to elsewhere.