What do teenagers do who live in Godalming?

[TwigTheWonderKid]

We're considering moving to Godalming from London but I am concerned about whether this would be a sensible move for our two boys who are currently 8 and 12. I know initially they'd love a more spacious house and garden but our 12 year old is already very independent and can currently meet friends in Wimbledon and Kingston for cinema, shops etc and get himself to and from their homes on foot and by bus and trains and I'm worried about what lie outside London would be like for him. My parents moved from London to the Home Counties when I was a child and I really resented it and the reliance I had on my parents for transport.

Any words of wisdom please? If it's relevant, he would be attending a state school (assuming there are places)

go into Guildford by train I think-mine are grown up now
lots of drama,sports groups etc

You need to look carefully at catchment areas for schools.

Thanks Bin85. Any words of advice on secondary schools?

Depends where you live in Godalming. If near the station or bus route then Guildford within easy reach without too much parental intervention. Spectrum is heaven for teens, also Odeon by Guildford station and of course shopping / Starbucks/ McDonalds etc

Would definitely be near the station as DH will need to get to work in London.

So apart from Guildford, are there many local activities? He's quite sporty,

My parents moved from London to the Home Counties when I was a child and I really resented it and the reliance I had on my parents for transport.

No words of wisdom, but why would you want to do the above to your boys & for your husband to commute?

Personally I'd rather live in a smaller space in the right location.

goldangel my husband and boys are very keen to move, it's me who is reluctant and after several years of resisting a move I suddenly realised I was projecting my own preconceptions on to them and they are very different to the child I was. It would only add about 20 mins to DH's journey to work and my sons are desperate for more outdoor space. What I was most concerned about was that although running around outside is their main occupation now, I wasn't sure how they'd amuse themselves when they're older.

We moved to godalming partly because of the quick train trip to Guildford, so when my kids are teens they can go there. (They are currently only 6 and 4!) There are loads of sports clubs it seems - I see cricket and tennis and stuff going on all over the place, and there is a sports centre in Farnham. Also loads of cycling opportunities (with big hills!). Rod borough and broadwater are the two main secondary schools if you are in the state system. Former seems to have the better reputation but I'm not an expert as kids are young.

But it's way way less exciting, vibrant, varied, crazy, diverse than London. So boredom is a definite possibility. You have to get over that if you are going to be happy here. Four years later I still long for the city sometimes. Luckily it's only 45 mins to Waterloo!

I wouldn't do it. The freedom afforded to your 12 yr old with Wimbledon and Kingston on their doorsteps, is perfect for the 13-18 year old phrase. They would find godalming awful, truely awful once they'd had that,surely?

We moved to Surbiton when son and daughter 13 and 15... brilliant for buses and trains. 7 mins train to Wimbledon 10-15 min walk to Kingston

Madness, you will have to ferry them around. Loads of sports clubs, but you will have to drive them there and back. godalming is definitely not vibrant.

Oh no! You have all confirmed my worries and that my preconceptions are actually realistic. That was not what I was expecting to hear :-( Oh bugger.

QuirkyGoose are you speaking from experience?

We moved from Wimbledon to Guildford. I can think of lots of things that they can do in Guildford that they couldn't do in Wimbledon, but am struggling to think of any opportunities that they have lost. Guildford has a cinema, two theatres, a venue for concerts / comedy shows, better shops than Wimbledon (but perhaps not a Kingston), bars and restaurants, a leisure pool, a lido, a 50m swimming pool, multiple tennis clubs, at least two climbing walls, an ice rink, bowling, a go ape type course, the river for kayaking, the Downs for walking / cycling, multiple clubs for cricket, rugby, football, Surrey Storm netball, a trampoline park, a gymnastics centre, hockey club, Surrey basketball and ice hockey teams.....

Ah I see twig. Personally I would go with your gut full of preconceptions & worry* & consider the move carefully, I couldn't imagine moving my family at your stage (my dc are 8 & 11) outside of London for a bit of outdoor space (plenty of parks in London), I would struggle and with your past experience that says it all, why repeat? I agree with PP esp obmolov*. London has so much more to offer, why settle for less. Good luck!

Bold fail

Playing devil's advocate - if is your dh and ds's idea to move, what is motivating that? Maybe the London freedom isn't actually what is important to them???
Godalming is a lovely country town surrounded by open common land. The teenagers round there spend a lot of time outside, skateboarding, mountain biking, swimming in the lido, football, cricket, canoeing etc etc. Guildford is a short train or bus ride away with as a PP said, huge amounts of entertainment to please most teens. Yes you would have to do a share of ferrying around but that can be a good opportunity for catching up. Shopping in Guildford is good too!
Schools - Rodborough has a pretty good reputation, Broadwater seems to be excellent for special needs and has great sports facilities. Some dc from Godalming go to Guildford County if they are in a low birth year and it has space.

I wouldn't do it. I was brought up in West London and we didn't have a car. Could use public transport. The Home Counties is different and there is an expectation that parents will ferry them around.

I wouldn't go tbh. What happens if they then decide they don't like it. Teenagers don't realise that it costs £1000's to move (and then move back!)

We moved same direction but kids were tiny and now coming up to teenage years and I thinks it's fine, but would not move later. I grew up in London and loved it as a teenager. We live very near a station but most of their friends do not, so you do need to do a lot more ferrying. Guildford does have loads going on, but most people drive to the Spectrum it's not in the town centre.

There are very few decent properties near a station in Goldalming or Guildford. May have more luck with other stations but then not such a fast service.

If you live near Wimbledon/Kingston I assume it is in a fairly nice area and house and going to fairly good schools?
Around there or not far is Richmond Park and the commons etc. There isn't much more they'd get out in Guildford. Yes there is real countryside on the doorstep in Godalming but you can drive down there in 40 mins or go to Richmond Park to cycle etc.
A longer commute (you rarely get a seat on that train) surely isn't worth it. Would the house be significantly better?
As they get beyond the teenage stage (so only 6+ years) living v near London is great as so it is often a meeting point for uni friends, easy to commute in for internships or easy to live at home initially with grad jobs.
There is lots on offer in Guildford (not so much Godalming) but it isn't significantly more than Wimbledon or Kingston combined.
Also starting a new school as a boy aged 12 isn't easy.

The only thing that would swing it for me is a significantly bigger house or significantly better schools?
What kind of schools would you be looking at? A lot are oversubscribed in Godalming/Guildford and there are definite schools around Godalming you do/don't want your DC to go to!

Just seen your DH and DS are keen. Maybe a day trip down there to look at some houses and a v frank discussion about the pros and cons then....

I think you've all convinced me that staying put is the best option. Yes, we would be able to have a substantially larger house but I think the upsides of being here are significant.