AIBU to be so worried about moving to the right area in Surrey I may not end up moving at all

[blunderandfrightening]

Moving out of London and preferred area is Surrey. The thing is I can't see us ever moving because we are so worried about getting the area right.
AIBU to think the choice is so vast that we will never move.

Where would you recommend in the Surrey area.

Good schools, pretty location but close to a station?

I've just moved out of Cornwall and into Surrey, not far from Epsom. The only question in my mind is why I didn't do it sooner. You should never move to your holiday destination! And I'm from Cornwall, born and bred.

I love it here, I don't live in Epsom but I live in the borough. 25 minutes from Central London, so it's an easy commute to work, and I live on a lovely tree lined street behind a really pretty park. The schools are really good near me, and all walking distance.

I'll never live anywhere else.

Oxted

Hmm. What was it about Epsom that offended you so much? The many parks and green spaces? The good schools? The restaurants and bars? The cinema and theatre? The mainline station? The M25 and A3? The shops and leisure centre?

Like I said above, have been here 10 years and commuted into London from here. Trains fairly decent, traffic fine as long as you stay away from Malden Rushett in rush hour. Racing has minimal effect on the town except for the queen passing though once a year (and everyone goes mad with flags etc, it's quite sweet) and the concerts at the grandstand can be pretty good.

As someone above said, any area is what you make it. You obviously didn't.

I didn't realise Epsom. Was such a contentious subject.

Epsom town centre is a little dull IMO but the Downs are just lovely and I often pop up there during my lunch break. The new housing on the old psych hospital sites looks good too if a litte homogenous.

Well Phil and Kirsty said Epsom was the best place to live a couple of years ago...!

I'd say as long as you avoid those bits of Surrey that are really greater London (eg Morden, Mitcham, Croydon) you wouldn't really regret it.

Kingston / Surbiton aren't really Surrey living either, nice as they are. There is a difference between those places inside the M25 and outside. If you need regular commuting, Guildford is probably the limits of where is sensible (and as there are two different lives into Waterloo, it's slightly less vulnerable to disruptions)

Ashtead.

T'is a lovely village.

Walkable area sounds good. I need to add that to my list. Do not want to get into the var for a pint of milk!

Btw - I don't particularly like Epsom either.

And I live in Croydon (AKA The Cronx)

Look at Ashtead. Strong sense of community, library, two lovely high streets, a beautiful common.

Why are you being so rude pandas and georgie?!

You might not like Epsom, and it is useful for the OP to hear your reasons for that, but to describe it as a shithole especially when many people have said they live there is just rude.

And the comment about rather living in Essex as at least it knows what it is. And what is that exactly? Again, just rude.

I usually find the main factor about whether you like living in a place is whether you have friends there. I guess you didn't.

I think you're confused... I live in Epsom and was saying how much I love it...

Another vote for Oxted :)

How about caterham or coulsdon?

Oops, I meant stratter5 not georgie.

I also apologise for my last sentence, it was early and I was grumpy and tired and rude.

OP, I would start with schools and the commute (door to door) and local jobs if that is something you or your partner want.

Lots of state schools in surrey are very oversubscribed: the most popular non-selective ones often have small and shrinking catchments and a high premium on nearby housing. I think you said you'd be looking at private, so it's more about your preferences and the level of selectivity. Surrey selective schools angst is probably slightly less than London, but not much!

As for epsom, have lived here (moved from london) for five years now. Commute of 70-90 mins each way door to door (hideous). Pros: houses with gardens, good childcare, can get GP appointment, easy to drive around, lots to do for small DC (don't know about older ones as mine are quite small), including outdoorsy stuff, and there are fewer waiting lists than in London! Cons: feels like commuterville, poor public transport (not great for older DC), popular schools oversubscribed, the public parks aren't a patch on the ones where we lived in London. And worst of all have had no decent restaurant meals or takeaways at all since we moved here!

Oh and the future of the local hospital is under threat, seems Ok for now but could well close in the future, which would seriously make me consider leaving as there is no other A and E within reasonable travel time (read on here hat something similar happened in trafford area and people have died as a result). Could be a factor if you or DC have health issues.

I moved out of London to Woking in 2006. I love it. Plus I have a fab circle of friends too.

Although OP for you, with boys needing private school, I would consider Guildford area.

I live in one of the villages near gomshall close to dorking and love it... Nice village primary school, dorking has a great secondary school and the countryside is bootiful. Moved here from London also and am very happy with our choice...

Someone touched on this earlier: the poor air quality in parts of Surrey closest to the M25.

I've developed mild Asthma due the pollution drifting off the M25. My GP and the Respiratory Nurse said it's quite a common occurance. Very surprised considering I used to live in the concrete jungle that is SE London!

I ve got lots of friends in Epsom, although no desire to move there myself. A friend has moved to Godalming and seems very happy there. I am staying put in south London! I went to college in Guildford and its a nice town, but again, no desire to live there.

Lots of good advice here. When deciding where to buy and live in London, we took our time... There are so many options. We looked at houses in our budget, areas, schools on the metropolitan line - west Hampsted and around. Didn't like it and so changed focus to southern part of Northern line. It took us a while but we are so pleased with where we are now after 4 years, it was worth getting it right.

Remember that weekend traffic when you are house hunting may be very different to what you will face in the week. Especially if you live near a station.

I was brought up in Surrey and have family and friends in bookham, fetcham, dorking, horsley, Farnham. If I had to choose I would probably go for dorking - good trains, schools and a nice town centre. I am with they 'bleugh' on Epsom centre (outside ok).
I really really don't understand the hype of Surrey tbh - too crowded, traffic getting worse and horrendous prices.
Now live in Gloucestershire and 1.5hrs into London. Much nicer

Chiddingfold
Greyshott
Churt
Mychett
Hambledown and
Elstead

are all lovely. Real villagey feel, but easily commutable. Churt is not all that expensive for what you get for your money.

Weybridge is also nice. St George's is a fabulous junior school, but I wouldn't recommend it at senior level.

Farnham is nice, takes a while to crack but when you do, it is great.