Where to live / avoid on the train line into Waterloo

[OrangeBlossom2]

We would like to move out of London to Surrey but still be within an hour's commute of Waterloo station. I realise we won't be the first people ever with this plan!

Our budget is up to £450k and we are looking for a 3+ bed house near good schools (primary especially) and within a mile of a train station on the South West line into Waterloo.

We really like Godalming.
Any other areas you would suggest or that we should avoid?

Thank you!

I grew up in Haslemere- very nice but maybe a little too far out for you.
You can't go too far wrong with Godalming, it's lovely and quiet but also has a great high street. I'm now living near Weybridge and find the commute very quick and pain free.

Thanks nannyjenn. Haslemere is 52 minutes so just about doable and we've been there before on walks, I agree, it's lovely. We will look at Weybridge too.

Farncombe, Godalming, Milford and Witley are all great and you should get a seat on the rush hour londonbound trains. Godalming will have the most services in and out of Waterloo per hour - but not by much.

Some good schools in Godalming - Busbridge is probably most in demand and the house prices reflect it but Milford, Moss Lane, Farncombe infants and Loseley Fields are also all well spoken of by parents.

That's really helpful MrsSlats, thank you.

Bookham, Effingham and Fetcham have some 3 bedroomed houses in your price range.

The cheaper parts of Godalming are in Farncombe, but estate agents rarely distinguish between them. Farncombe is worth a drive around. It is popular but we didn't fancy it at all. I think 3 beds in Godalming for 450k is tricky, 2 bed at that price is realistic and there is not much housing stock near the station, a drive is more realistic. You get much more value for money in the smaller villages than the town, so you will need to decide if size or closeness to town / station is what you are after.

Make sure you consider door to door commute. In some of the smaller villages around Godalming there are very few houses walking distance from the station, so you would have to add the time (and cost) of a drive to the station.

Have you looked at Guildford, or Shalford/Chilworth/Gomshall?

New Haw? Close to West Byfleet station which is 40 mins in the morning, less than 30 in the evening. Evening commute from the city less than an hour door to door. Good choice of primary schools and good (but big) comprehensive at Fullbrook.

Thank you. These are all very helpful suggestions.