anyone help pls with areas to live W.Surrey/S.Bucks/N.Hamps./E.Berks - schools/towns/quality of life

[MissChief]

Just had "serious discussion" with dh and we've decided to look ahead to our next move and would really appreciate any help from others! Since making interim move out of London 2 years ago not quite settled in new town mainly due to its poor state school provision & quality of life locally (it's noisy - under flightpath, loads of cars everywhere, narrow streets, not enough green going on, not restful..).

We basically need the following:

1. to be within 45 mins commuting distance of Staines, Surrey
2. to have access to v good state schools - primary & secondary 2)to be ideally v nr to smallish town (by car or on foot) - with decent stuff going on such as cafes/shops/cinema/theatre/park
3. to escape the Heathrow flightpath! 4)to find somewhere where c.£500k gets you an oldish semi or detached 4-bed house of decent size with garden & parking
4. to find some peace & quiet! Maybe village location

If you're still with me so far is this too much to ask?? Any suggestions of where to look/places to avoid??
TIA!

Shopping is great in Guildford, kids entertainment is pretty good, two theatres with some west end transfers at the Yvonne Arnaud and more alternative stuff at the Electric Theatre. Friend of mine is re-qualifying at the Uni at the moment so I assume a lot of part time courses there. The sports centre has a great swimming pool, ice rink, bowling, soft play, creche, loads of classes both for adults and kids, good holiday courses for kids.

And some totally gorgeous countryside - you can walk from Guildford to Shere without hardly touching the roads.

Restaurants are better than they used to be - very good thai, some good italian bistro/pizza place, one expensive italian and one expensive french. Must admit only been to the Thai and bistros so can't comment on the others.

so how did the trial commute go MissChief?

yesterday evening's commute back from Staines-Godalming took 45 mins, but this am Godalming-Staines took 1hr! (dh went west to Farnham to pick up M3 though as he thought A3 looked too snarled up, now thinks A3 wd have been better though!). Not great, but good enough he thinks, so man from Staines he says yes!

I would second what Hellywobs says about the Fleet area.

It meets all your requirements and is in a beautiful area. You are within local distance of Reading (20mins) Basingstoke (20 mins) Guildford (20 mins) Farnham (10 mins) etc etc etc plus you can be in the countryside in a matter of mins, in the city in around 50 mins or at the seaside in under an hour. It is also only a short drive from the New Forest which is beautiful.

The schools are brilliant and there are some beautiful older properties here too.

There are loads of tiny villages scattered about too which you could look at - Dogmersfield, Odiham, Hartly Wintney, Winchfield etc etc etc

KS have you tried Bel and the Dragon or La Luna in Godalming? We went to the Bel place and oh lordy was I ill the next day

so there must be a market for my cafe/deli with gourmet cheeses etc, home-made cakes, GREAT coffee??! i know\there's the natural cafe, which is ok, but cd be so much better..

yes I would def say there is a market for that!

ok, Ks, you've driven me to google now! Got me worried about moving to such a place .
Bryce's Seafood Restaurant
Ockley Mentioned in the AA Restaurant Guide 2005, the Michelin Red Guide 2005 and the Time Out Restaurant Guide.
Best fish restaurant in the area any good??
drakes on the pond??

Sounds like you're pretty much decided on Godalming but thought I'd just suggest Farnham Common/Royal. They're both villages on the A355 which runs between the M4 and the M40. There're are a coupke of other villages around - Burnham, Stoke Poges, Hedgerley, Wooburn Common, Bourne End - that may be worth trying. Excellent links to London (at Slough or Beaconsfield), close to Windsor and Reading (10 and 30 mins respectively), good schools in all the villages (except hedgerley??), Burnham Beeches (huge forest, site of many a film set!)within walking distance if you're in the Farnhams. Quite expensive, though. Let me know if you need more info, I live in Farnham Common and was bought up here, so know it quite well.

LGJ lobs Farnham, Surrey into the mix and legs it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New restaurant just opened in Guildford - Dolce Vita at top of high street. Haven't tried it yet though.

What about Olivio's ? What about Loch Fyne's? Haven't been there though so cannot comment.

I like Bar Centro & Strada as more family places.

Went to Cafe de Paris - thought it was abmysal.

Olivios is wonderful, and worth the trip into Guildford.

But Farnham,Surrey is still divine...............

Ockley - SE of Guildford, off A29 S of Dorking.
So there's a Strada in Guildford too? That's promising - they generally do decent family food..shame there's nowhere good in Godalming though, not even at any of the pubs?? They look gorgeous from the outside but dare say they do the standard "home-cooked" fayre, courtesy of their very own freezer/microwave..

Godalming aside, still wondering about leaving our current area for good - I'm really going to miss my friends here, the convenience of town location - nothing like moving to make you suddenly appreciate where you live! I'd love it if we could find somewhere off the flight-path, with good schools, etc etc near where we are now but think we're going to have to take the plunge & move right away from here for a better quality of life. Dreading all that being new about town again though..

..moan, moan, moan! sorry, having a feeling sorry for self moment.. , will get over it when we get onto the exciting part of house-hunting!

Well Misschief - you'll know us!! And I have a friend hopefully moving to Busbridge..

I was in your position last July and have found people, mostly met through school, really friendly. But then I moved from the most unfriendly place in the world - south kensington/earls court - so maybe not hard

Well Misschief - you'll know us!! And I have a friend hopefully moving to Busbridge..

I was in your position last July and have found people, mostly met through school, really friendly. But then I moved from the most unfriendly place in the world - south kensington/earls court - so maybe not hard

thanks, Klaus!
Ks - I've heard good things about LF too - one near us now but never been..

my head's spinning from paint fumes (readying house to put house on market - how obvious is that? Hope no-one comes round too soon.. )

\link{http://www.theartichokerestaurant.co.uk/reviews.htm\can't tempt you with this one?}