Relocation queries

[Bosslaidi]

I am mum of 2 and live in the essex area. I need advice on the best areas to live in. We would like to relocate to the Surrey area such as caterham, oxted, horley. Unfortunately, I dont know how it is like out there and I need your honest opinion.
What are the schools like?
Where is the best place for bringing up my two lovely children without regretting leaving the Essex lifestyle.

Thank you

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

That's where you can compare schools. What is it that you’re worried about missing in your lifestyle?

On the whole, Surrey is posher, more affluent and more hilly than Essex.

Oxted is a tranquil town and still has a villagey feel but it has a good selection of shops, restaurants, supermarkets, a cinema, a leisure centre etc.

Caterham is ‘nice’ and has a lovely setting but not that much of a town centre (IMO).

Horley is right next to Gatwick Airport so wouldn’t be my first choice.

Thank you JoJoSM2.
I was having mixed emotions about moving. Especially with the children settled in their current school. I am not too worried about my own lifestyle as long as my children can continue with similar activities as offered in their school and also an environment where people are friendly. An area that is suitable for a young family like mine.

Do you have a new job in Surrey, hence the move? What is the motivation for moving? Are you needing to commute?

Where is essex are you roughly? A far north coastal area is very different from say Loughton or Basildon! A village, large town, coastal?

It is a big move so it will be worrying and a lot of upheaval. However, there are nice places in Surrey so hopefully you’ll be happy and settled eventually.

Isn’t Essex quite large and incredibly varied? What’s the ‘Essex lifestyle’ you’re talking about?

Hi Elouera,

I live just about 20min away from basildon and I actually work in Kent. Crazy I know but I have been working in Kent for 2 years now. I am in need for a change of environment that would be suitable to bring up my children. I am actually looking for a very good independent school as they go to one now.

Thanks JoJoSM2, a major decision to be made to be honest. I hope the end result will a happy one too

Hi MagMell,

I dont think there is any mention of Essex lifestyle but rather my lifestyle in general. I am in search for an area that wouldn't be too much of a contrast from where I am now but also nice and family friendly.

What's your budget, most importantly?! That will determine which bits of Surrey are more accessible than others. Nowhere is that bad, or too far from really nice bits though, which is what I like about it most!

@Bosslaidi

Hi MagMell,

I dont think there is any mention of Essex lifestyle but rather my lifestyle in general. I am in search for an area that wouldn't be too much of a contrast from where I am now but also nice and family friendly.

You say in your original post ‘without regretting leaving the Essex lifestyle’.

I actually meant having similar environment. Hence my explanation of finding an area where its not too much of a contrast.

Most of Surrey's towns will have all the services and amenities that Essex towns do.

My in-laws live in Essex and I must admit they have a LOT more beauty salons in their local town centre than we do in our Surrey town (we aren't without a choice of nail bars and hairdressers though).

They also have a tube line into London (central line) which we don't.

Hi goldpendant,

We are looking at about 800k really. Friendly area, but not too quiet and good schools as well

I am actually not to bothered as I often dont go into central London as much. As I work mostly my fun time is usually with the children and looking for exciting activities for them.

Kent has some good schools also. Any reason you want Surrey and not Kent?

@Elouera

Kent has some good schools also. Any reason you want Surrey and not Kent?

That's what I was going to ask. If you work in Kent why not live in Kent?

We are in the Richmond/Kingston area and while it can feel quite busy, what I like about it is that it still feels quite urban/"London" - like some of the closer to town Essex spots do. Schools are generally excellent.

£800K would get you a decent place but probably 3/4 bed, small ish garden, depending on how far you are prepared to be from the town centres you will get more for your money.

Towards Sutton/Epsom or Guildford/Woking etc you'll get more space and bigger gardens/driveways. Guildford is a lovely buzzy town, as is Esher.

Good luck!

Out of the areas you’ve mentioned, Caterham would be brill for a selection of indies. There’s the all-through Caterham School on the doorstep + it’s easily accessible for the Croydon indies (several preps and senior schools such as Whitgift, Trinity, Royal Russell, Croydon High and others).

You could also check out the Reigate/Redhill area. There are several indies around. It’s on the edge of the Surrey Hills AONB so gorgeous coutryside. Reigate has a naice town centre, Redhill not so much but the residential areas are good.

I’m in the Sutton area (South Sutton, Cheam Village and Carshalton Beeches are the more desirable areas). Tons of indies but you’d be in outer London with the coutryside within walking distance so possibly too close to London.

More West in Surrey, there are loads of lovely towns and villages in the Surrey Hills or the South Downs National Park. Generally attractive, affluent and no shortage of independents but might not be commutable to Kent.

Kent has some good schools also.

Good point. Sevenoaks is a stereotypical naice town with plenty of indies.

Thank you all so much for the information, this is really helpful. I am hoping to view schools this month. Just got a response from a school in caterham for visitation.

@Elouera@DappledThings. I work in kent and my partner works in Maidenhead which is kind of crazy as we have been commuting all this while and now it's too exhausting for us. So we needed somewhere in the middle.
Thank you all for suggestions. I will keep you posted on my journey

I live in Caterham and really like it. We moved out from South London, Clapham area originally but have been here. or nearby, since having kids, now secondary age.

My secondary age kids go to one of the Croydon independents mentioned by a PP and the primary aged one goes to a private prep so I only really have experience of the private schools. However, I have lots of friends whose kids go to state secondary schools like De Stafford, Warlingham etc and all seem pretty happy with them, kids all seem to get on well. I dont know much about the state primary schools but there are three or four in Caterham. Reigate College is very popular for state sixth form in nearby Reigate and has a great reputation.

We both work from home mainly with a day or two in London but used to commute into London full time. I really like Caterham for that reason. It's very green and leafy with lots of parks and green spaces and very near some lovely countryside, but you can be in London Bridge or Victoria in little more than half an hour. Driving to Beckenham/Kent is very doable from here and there is a good back route you can take in the morning to avoid traffic.

My family live in Wokingham not far from Maidenhead and of course you're right on top of the M25 junction 8 at Caterham which makes it really easy to get there, or down to the coast, Bluewater, wherever. Of course this is theoretical and dependant on the M25 which can be a pig! I can normally get to Wokingham in about 50 minutes but I'd say it would be l hour 20/30 in rush hour.

Caterham town centre is a bit bland/old fashioned but there is a lot of talk and effort to try and improve it. It's perfectly fine for day to day stuff though with hairdressers, barbers, Pizza Express, Waitrose, Morrisons, couple of restaurants and nice Costa/Neros. Reigate and Oxted high streets 15/20 mins away and a bit more vibrant. Caterham on the Hill high street is also improving with some nice delis, cafes and a nice pub.

Could work well for "in the middle between Kent and Maidenhead" - though I think your husband will have the longer journey :)