What's Woking like - Hook Heath in particular?

[consideringsurrey]

Hello
we are considering moving to Hook Heath near Woking and wondering what people think of it? Looks really nice to me but would like to hear the thoughts of those who know the area better.
Also what are the best prep schools in that area?
Any advice much appreciated!

There's an active residents' association.

And an alternative residents association for those who are more normal alternative.

It's pretty enough, St John's village is close enough for a walk. I presume you'd want to walk to the station as well?

Thanks for replying. Just wondering what the place is like really. Looks quite a nice, up market spot (with out wanting to sound at all snobish!) but just want to be sure before we take the leap.
Keep hearing and reading bad things about woking but don't really see hook heath as being in woking as such - more on the outskirts.
Not bothered about walk to the station really.
Any views on the prep schools round there would be great!
Thanks again!

Hook Heath is a very upmarket and desirable place to live. The houses are beautiful, the roads are residential only and the golf club is nice.
It has two resident's associations as far as I am aware...

Woking itself is a bit of an ugly duckling but money is being spend on regenerating it. It is perfect for most of our needs though.

The village of St Johns is pretty, with a large lye and the canal running through it.

(I live in St Johns and love it)

As for prep schools, I have no direct experience as my children are state school educated.
However, in Woking there are several prep schools: St Andrews which as a very good reputation, Greenfields School which has a very good reputation, and Hoebridge School which is also said to be very good.
There is also Halstead Preparatory School for Girls of which I have heard mixed reviews (one mum delighted with it and one mum whose dd did not settle)

I am sure someone with more direct experience of the schools will be along soon.

Thanks BehindLock! I just kind of needed someone to tell me that it wasn't just me who thinks it's nice! None of my friends know the area so I am going into it a bit blind.
Want to make a move and stay put. Not get it wrong and have to move again - way too stressful!
St Johns does look lovely and good place to walk to with the kids. That's the only think Hook Heath lacks I think is a place to go for a coffee.
Will take a closer look at the schools you have mentioned.
Only thing about Hook Heath is do you think it will all be older people and not many younger kids?

At the risk of sounding a bit snobbish, Hook Heath is pretty upmarket compared to Woking. Woking has its good points (travel to London, excellent Morrisons) and Guildford is not far away. My kids went to Hoe Bridge which was excellent but it was over 10 years ago.

One of the families from our school has just moved to Hook Heath - their children are aged 13, 10 and 6. So I think there will be other young families there too

If you want upmarket and have a very healthy budget The Hockering is lovely too. Parts of central Woking are nice too. The south side in the conservation area, Park Road and Pembroke Road too and Horsell.

Hook Heath is lovely.

No idea about prep schools though as mine go to state. However, lots of the boys at rugby go to St Andrews in Horsell (I think that is what it is called)

I know lots of young families who live there - but I can't see where you'd meet them: there's no church hall for toddler groups, no park/no swings, no coffee shops. So you'd be going into Woking, St Johns or Mayford for all of that social stuff.

Oh and we live on the outskirts of Woking but a different part and tbh I like it. Woking has lots of shops and so on that you need from week to week and more upmarket shopping is available in Guildford. Fast train from Woking into London - that is why we moved here.

Yep the fast train to London is the best thing. 23 mins to Waterloo.

A more villagey feel can be found in Horsell too.

Lots of replies! Thanks so much guys!
Ok I am now feeling very confident about the move.
It is a bit of a concern that there are no places like church halls to meet up but then I'm hoping school and nursery will help me meet people - will be straight on to the pta!
Also think I'll prob go to Guildford for shopping and nights out etc. Or into town on the super fast train.
Am really quite excited about it all now!

Also any nursery recommendations?

this, for example is in a lovely road, near the station.

That is a lovely house!

faith nice house.

Good location for the excellent catholic schools - primary and secondary!

Olde Worlde

Another nice one! Are you guys undercover estate agents?! Or just property obsessed like me!

Backs onto Horsell Common

LOL I spend hours on rightmove when I am bored

Fab kitchen and bathroom

swimming pool

This one also has a swimming pool

this is Hook Heath borders

Horsell really does have a village feel and if you went for St Andrews you could walk. There's two day care nurseries in Horsell and a couple of pre-schools.

Personally, if I wanted villagey. I'd go Horsell or Mayford (there's a local mums group, preschool in the village hall), Hook Heath/St Johns. Or Ripley.

Apparently there's going to be houses built on the fields to the west (?) of Hook Heath, between HH and Mayford on the road to Guildford - I don't know if the council have a grand plan on their website somewhere.