Relocating from USA to surrey

[luced08]

Hi
Looking for any guidance on an impending move my husband and I maybe choosing to make. We are 2 Brit's, lived in the USA for 16years, with 2 kids born and raised in the US (10 & 12)
Looking for a new adventure and return to some familiarity and normalcy, after living in California.

We'd be looking at relocating in surrey, around the Cobham/ esher / weybridge area with a decent budget (for 4bed detached house) and the kids at ACS Cobham incoming 5th and 7th grader - as it seems like state schools are extremely hard to get into Vs private.
Like the idea of being close to the big city but living in a smaller suburb that offers family life and community. Our work will allow work from home, so train line doesn't have to be for a daily commute, but ideally easy enough to be able to get into London frequently.

If you have experience / knowledge in the areas above, we'd love some guidance as neither of us are from the London area.
What are the families / kids like at ACS? Are the areas above typical places families live who attend ACS, are there other areas we should consider?

We are visiting for a week at Easter (over spring break) and want to cram as much in as we can before we make a final decision on the move.. as it's a big one! If we go for it, we'd like to be relocated by aug/ sept ready for the next school year.

Any help will be much appreciated thanks!!

[mesha123]

Hi,

I came across your post and want to know about your experience in Usa - California.

We might be moving to California shortly having lived in the UK since couple of decades.

I have a 9 year old so before we move I need to find about schools there as well.

How was your experience with regards to schools, safety (considering the amount of hun crime is there), social scene, etc.

Sorry not very helpful regarding Surrey as such coz I live in London.

Thanks

[luced08]

@mesha123

Hi,

I came across your post and want to know about your experience in Usa - California.

We might be moving to California shortly having lived in the UK since couple of decades.

I have a 9 year old so before we move I need to find about schools there as well.

How was your experience with regards to schools, safety (considering the amount of hun crime is there), social scene, etc.

Sorry not very helpful regarding Surrey as such coz I live in London.

Thanks

Hi yea can def give you my 2 cents .. firstly where in cali because it's MASSIVELY different depending on where you are .
We are in socal / Orange County

[mesha123]

Mostly in LA

[Sandgroper]

Hi

I live in one of those areas and have messaged you.

[mesha123]

Thanks but did you dm me? Don't know why but in my app can't send ir receive private messages.

[LabradorLady1]

I live in Cobham, not far from the ACS school. It’s a lovely place to live. It has a ‘village’ feel about it, with lovely countryside/ woods all around but with a great high street and trains that go into Waterloo so easy to get into London for shows/ museums/ days out. If your kids are sporty I would highly recommend getting them involved with local sports ie; cobham rugby club, local football teams etc. Most people that live here have moved elsewhere in the UK (Mostly Lobdon) and also from America, South Africa etc so we all remember being the new person here and as a result I think it’s more friendly than most places- my husband is Australian and found it much easier to integrate here compared to London. I have had friends whose children were at ACS. It is a good school with great facilities and most of the kids are American. They always seem well behaved and polite when they are out and about.

[BlauVogel]

I was used to live in West side of Woking close to Chobham and found it uneventful and boring. Woking Town center was also used to be empty in the evening. I would rather prefer living in Guildford or Kingston upon Thames