Leaving London

[thopkins79]

Hi there,

My husband and I are moving to Pyrford in a few months and I was wondering if anyone lives in the area, or near Woking/West Byfleet and could give me some advice about the area. I have a five month old daughter and I'm really nervous about leaving London and all my friends but I will be closer to my family and we'll have much more space. Are there lots of activities/groups for mothers and babies? What is Woking like? I'm quite daunted at the prospect of driving to places as I walk everywhere at the moment.

Would love to hear from any locals mummy's and anyone who has had a similar experience and looking for new friends.

Tamasin

Hello!!

I moved to West Byfleet / New Haw a couple of years ago, we came from Kingston zone 6 so only just London but definitely more of a city feel. I also had your concerns.
I shouldn't have worried at all! I love it here and would never go back into a town setting :) I'll admit it has been hard to make friends locally but I was working full time and was happy to spend my free time with my old friends! I've just had DS who is now 3 months and I posted a message on here to see if anyone was around during the day for a friendly walk and chat!
I have found that the canal walk is brilliant for linking areas - I walk along to west byfleet and can go all the way into woking (not yet managed after birth but I'm working on it!) and then also in the other direction more towards weybridge.
If you want to drive, you've got Brooklands big, big tesco and M&S nearby and is open 24 hours (me and DH couldn't have coped with all shops closing early evening as we were so used to doing our food shop at midnight!). I thought I would miss Kingston shopping but Woking has everything you need and is very mum friendly (apart from the evil elevators in the Peacock centre... Grrrr).

I don't know Pyrford really well but when I have driven through it seems lovely and not really as isolated as you might initially think.

Good luck with the move and do ask if I can help with any other questions!

Hi Alixion,

Thanks for your message - it has really helped. I've heard the canal walk is lovely. I really struggle to find any green space to walk around where I currently live. Did you get many responses to your post for meet-ups? I'd love to meet up once I'm settled in to the new house. We haven't got a moving date yet but hoping it will be in the next few months. I'm just being super organised and trying to get as much stuff in place as possible before we leave London.

What is West Byfleet like? Does it have cafes and nice places to eat or have a coffee?

Hi,

I didn't get any responses to the meet up!! It seems quite slow around here...
Do PM me or post back on here and I'll pick it up when you move - I'm heading back to work in September but school hols only and am always happy to meet new people!

West Byfleet is lovely - lots of cafés - chain and independent - and people are always sitting out on the street watching the world go by with a coffee. The main food shop is Waitrose, there's also a Tesco petrol station.
There are a couple of banks, a post office in the Londis and a Boots - it's quite villagey in that the boots isn't open on a Sunday

There are lots of hairdressers and estate agents - read into that whatever you like...!!

Do ask if you want to know about anything else :)

Hi ladies, I live in Woodham near the canal and have a 2.5 year old boy. We moved here 5 months ago and I have found it so hard to meet mums. I left behind a great circle of mum friends and wd love to meet some friends here! I know you're both prob more interested in meeting mums with younger kids but just thought I'd say hi! Cathy x

Such a shame it's not more active. My dc are way too old but I really hope you get to meet more people locally.

I have lived around here 18 years now and it's been hard work making friends

Hi Cathy! Great to have some life on this thread!!!

What area do you live in? Would be great to meet up :)

I'm not worried about the children's age gaps - whether they're 2 months or 2 years they take all our attention but its just not the same as adult company is it??!

Bless you Alixion - I really hope some people turn up on here who are free to meet up with you. Sadly I work full time so can't come along to steal a snuggle from your little one!

Hi Alixion! I am so sorry I have only just seen this message, not used mumsnet before now and thought I wd get emailed an alert or something if there had been any replies! I wd love to meet up, although I am currently suffering from awful morning (all day) sickness and I can't imagine ever leaving house again! Praying it will go away soon. cathy x

Hello Cathy! Poor you When are you due?
Would be great to arrange a meet up!

thopkins79 - have you got a moving date yet?

Hi thopkins79 and Alixion, I have just moved to Pyrford 3 weeks ago, I moved down with my husband from Edinburgh. I have a 3 month old boy Caylen and I don't know anyone here yet.

I would really like to make friends with people in a similar situation to have a laugh, go for walks, lunching, shopping etc.

Let me know if you would like to catch up for a coffee.

Sang
X

Hi Sangita!

It would be great to meet up :) the more the merrier!!

I'll PM you!

Hi Alixion,

That sounds great, I'm not on this website that much but if you message me on my personal email [email protected] we can arrange to meet up, let me know when's good for you?