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Black Mumsnetters

This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.

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Original poster

Moving to Guildford

16 replies

Matt18 · 11/09/2022 07:39

Hi everyone.I am a black South African mum with a 6 and 4year old and expecting in Nov.We will be moving to the UK in January hubby got a job in Guildford and we are thinking of staying there. Is it a good place,I don't want my little ones affected by racism especially in school. I am open to recommendations where we can stay and which schools are a bit multicultural as I noticed it is a not very multicultural place.

OP posts:

AntlerRose · 11/09/2022 08:19

If you look at schools closer to the university, research park and hospital (so more the town schools) you will find more diversity than in the village schools.

Original poster

Matt18 · 11/09/2022 10:03

Thank you,I will look into those.

OP posts:

catandcoffee · 14/09/2022 22:20

Guildford is a very, white area. It's not a place I'd choose to live if I wanted diversity.
I know that doesn't help , as your husband has to work there.

Try not to live in any of the small villages around Guildford.

RomanMum · 14/09/2022 22:33

Woking is a lot more diverse and has regular easy train links to Guildford so I'd definitely look at that option. Guildford itself is not too bad but probably avoid the villages around.

britneyisfree · 15/09/2022 00:13

I live in one of the little villages around Guildford.

Not diverse at all. My DD isn't school age yet so no idea what it'll be like then.

EquityReleaseAdvice123 · 16/09/2022 18:29

Are the villages that bad?

Lndnmummy · 17/09/2022 16:54

I'd stay clear of villages. Woking and Redhill are more diverse.

britneyisfree · 17/09/2022 22:17

@EquityReleaseAdvice123 it's been okay so far. Close enough to everything to build our own community. Early days so hard to say.

RedWingBoots · 18/09/2022 19:18

Lndnmummy · 17/09/2022 16:54

I'd stay clear of villages. Woking and Redhill are more diverse.

Agree.

I have 3 siblings and their families who live in Redhill so it is as they wouldn't have moved there otherwise. (I've met other non-white people who live there also. )

Randomly been to Woking and again it looks diverse walking around the actual town in the day. I know the surrounds are definitely not like Guilford.

The problem is like in many areas in SE that are similar if there are science parks or large technology companies, then the area will look diverse in the day but may not actually be if you live there.

Farmerazza · 23/09/2022 03:28

I would disagree - Guildford is quite diverse - it's not Woolwich, but it's diverse enough. It's the smaller villages you need to worry about. There's also Woking nearby as someone mentioned above which is also relatively diverse.

I can't advise re: schools however. I have only been to St Catherines which was predominantly white. Although this is common with Independent schools.

Farmerazza · 23/09/2022 03:30

Just to clarify places like Shalford, Shamley green etc - I would avoid. Pretty villages but you might be bored anyway and they aren't as diverse.

RedWingBoots · 23/09/2022 17:34

I would disagree - Guildford is quite diverse - it's not Woolwich, but it's diverse enough.

Diverse enough to an adult is not necessarily diverse enough for a child.* *

When I was considering where to live in the area I live now, I was told to avoid certain parts by an older friend because it wasn't diverse enough. One of my younger relations, who was a child at the time, also mentioned that no children looked like him.

Coucous · 23/09/2022 18:22

The best thing to do is visit the schools?
We managed to make friends with families like ours and our school is diverse for the UK.

There are LOTs of South African families in the area - but mainly white. Majority of those I know are lovely.
Guildford is a nice area - where did you live in SA ?

I can't make exact comparisons but may be able to give you a good idea. I don't think you can avoid racism though in the UK. You will need to make friends so your children can socialise with people like you if there aren't enough at school. It definitely wont be like SA.

I would personally just live in Guildford / Surrounding areas - avoid the teeny tiny boring villages. Depends on your budget as well OP.

TheNinthLock · 23/09/2022 18:25

I live on the outskirts of Woking and work in a primary school here.

It is definitely diverse here, and so are the local schools.

Woking itself has had some money spent on it and has undergone some regeneration and it really is a good place to be 😊

Original poster

Matt18 · 19/05/2023 22:09

Thank you everyone for your feedback.We settled in Guildford very close to town.Its as diverse as can be expected for UK i suppose.I am trying to find families that look like us so my children can socialize with their children hopefully.

OP posts:

desperatelyseekingnoone · 19/08/2023 20:37

Matt18 · 19/05/2023 22:09

Hi, congrats on the move and wishing you the best. We are a mixed could and considering Guildford for a future family. Your thread was helpful - thank you for starting it. May I ask: which areas do you recommend as the nicer places but also has some multi-culturalism in it. We are trying to find areas that are safe, nice, leafy and hopefully we aren't the only mixed family, or people of colour. I grew up in a very diverse London, so would like this for my family.

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