To consider moving to Epsom: how is it like?

[IncyWincySpy]

Posting here too for traffic:
DH and I are considering relocating to Epsom in order to be able to buy our first property. We currently live in London and have 1 DD who is 3yo. We don’t have a massive budget but should be enough to get us either a small house or a nice maisonette there.
I have done a bit of research but keen to hear from those who know the area well. How is it living there? Main things for us are:

commute (for school pick ups etc): I saw there are 2 trains from Wloo after 4pm that would take me there on time to collect DD from nursery/school clubs before 6pm closing time. Are these reliable?
safety: I was reading that it is one of the most “dangerous” towns in Surrey but it doesn’t seem that way based on people comments. Is it just because of size? I know Guildford is one of the most “dangerous” towns too but I’d happily live there for example
schools: good primaries and secondaries and a wide array of childcare arrangements as we work ft
community/diversity: we are european and currently live in London, would love to be in a place with a variety of nationalities and backgrounds; is it one of those 90% white middle class British?

Any other info on best areas etc is well accepted; will need to be walkable distance from station. Budget is around half a million max.

Cheam is nice too

Depends s what you like of course but very low crime, being basically 1 big park with a small town built in it and being 24 mins from Central London whilst still being affordable and grabbing great options for schools.

Yeah roundshaw isn't great but just don't go there, plus they all stay local to there eating each other anyway.

The high street is struggling but this threads about Epsom so I'm trying to compare like for approximate like

there just isn't really anything there but schools are good yes.

Actually I think my friend who lives in Worcester Park comes under Kingston.

It isn't terribly exciting you are correct. That's the worst thing about living here but that's where the 25 minutes to central comes into it's own. It's actually pretty well set up for functional if unexciting shops

But nor is Epsom very exciting and it's further away 😅

Have you actually visited Epsom yet OP? If so, you’ll see it’s a ‘naice’ middle class area, not very diverse, not dangerous. Good schools and lots of expensive property.

My friend has a similar commute to me & Im in z3. I think she is nearer to Worcester Park then Epsom though but definitely Epsom borough.

I also think the benefit of that side is closer to other areas eg Kingston but that's my own bias as I'm SW.

Hi yes I know you were talking about Epsom but I was giving you other options that might be more beneficial/nicer for you. But if you have your heart set on Epsom then so be it! I've worked there too for many years in a place that lots of people attend and even from 10 years ago it was always diverse if not a bit more white. Shops aren't amazing but ok I think they have most of the high street shops (is Lakeland still there ?) but then again Kingston has also gone down hill in terms of the high street as more and more shops have closed and new 'pop up' shops come. School wise as pp has said Glyn and Rosebery are very very good schools. Shame we are out of catchment for those now. Anyway good luck. Maybe you should go visit first!

@Domino20 my budget in London gets you a small flat at best

@IncyWincySpy well that's not true just depends where you want to be.

Mitcham
Streatham Common/Norbury borders
South/Upper Norwood

New Malden which is up & coming & under Kingston

@soffa I never heard of W Park, hust seen that trains are fairly good, will look into it!

Anerley

You only need more than 500k for a house if you are looking in the fashionable areas

@IncyWincySpy friend really likes it, she was in Raynes Park but wanted a house & the schools are very good. She bought during covid though so prices may have risen there.

And remember in this climate you can definitely negotiate on asking prices!

Mentioned Worcester park earlier in my first comment but you disregarded it saying you were only looking at Epsom ! I have loved living in WP my self that's why I mentioned and it's decent prices for 2 bed

It's not exciting but it's functional! Relatively affordable. Not to bad a commute. Lots of parks. Good bus links.

I'd love them to extend the overground out from west Croydon though.

@Beebopawhop are you my colleague? 😆

Another advantage of staying the Epsom/Kingston side is Crossrail 2 is meant to be that direction I think. Although it may not happen but Crossrail 1 has been pretty transformative. Sadiq was talking about it in relation to the budget.

@soffa I think I might be haha

definitely more diversity in Worcester Park, New Malden vs Epsom.

@Beebopawhop see you tmw!

@Beebopawhop you are right, sorry, didn’t mean to be rude, I just didn’t want it to become a thread where everyone started to suggest other areas as was keen on info re Epsom :)
How are the schools there? Just checking rightmove and can see a lot of primaries near houses I could afford but zero secondaries? Ideally we want to move somewhere DD can grow older.
is it safe at night?

I know not to me but my friends dc are in a excellent primary. It was in the Times power thing as we were looking at work. She is tutoring for the local grammar's but she's also catholic so has that option. There is a good comp in Cheam I think.

As lots of people have said, schools are excellent. Glyn and Rosebery are single sex secondaries, with excellent reputations and results. Blenheim is mixed sex. Less academic but an excellent school working hard to improve.

Just started following this thread as I'm house hunting in Epsom and found a lovely semi-detached house on Lower Court Road but I'm concerned that it is close to where Longmead Road begins near Hook Road. For those that live in Epsom or know the area well, can you please shed some light on whether Lower Court Road is safe? It's also difficult to find Longmead Estate on Google Maps as Longmead Rd is quite long but I was under the impression that the worse part of it is where it connects with Chessington Road. Appreciate any feedback you can share.

I’ve lived in Epsom a number of years - I moved here from London where I had lived for 15 years or so. A.great deal of friends I have now moved out from London also ( a lot like us moved from Wimbledon). For us it was a pragmatic choice due in part to housing stock, low crime and transport links. You can catch trains into Victoria, Waterloo and London Bridge. It was a shock to the system when we first moved when shops closed at 5.30 / 6.00 but I became pregnant when I arrived and all of a sudden things that didn’t interest me much became more important like schooling and open spaces.

The High street had a bit dip definitely but there’s a bit of a revival with Rituals, Gail’s, recently arrived and Oliver Bonas coming soon. Primark will open next year. The Picturehouse cinema has also recently opened so we also get some art films in addition to the Odeon. I would probably go to Kingston for “ proper” shopping but it’s 30 minutes drive so not much a hardship.
I think there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour but crime like street robberies are not happening to my knowledge.
Nicer sides are the College area, the Woodcote estate, the Chase Estate near Stamford Green and the area behind the Cricketer PH near the Common. I have a lot of friends who live at The Wells which is a bit cheaper but seemingly a nice community. Ashtead is nice. Neither place is fantastically diverse but more diverse than when I first moved here.