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Original poster

do you live in kingston in surrey?

205 replies

zebramummy · 26/10/2009 21:13

have recently starting to consider moving there and would be v grateful for some advice.

how cut-off it feels from london and which zone it is in (if any at all?)

i originally considered barnes though I was put off by the aircraft noise - does kingston have a similar issue?

what are the state primaries and secondaries like (ds is 4) and are catchment areas v tight?

is it all chain stores or are there some nice independant shops too such as cafes, ethnic food shops?

which areas or roads are a safe bet in terms of schools and moving away if i absolutely hate it?

i considered parts of surrey and herts (you may remember some previous posts) though i was put off by the whole 'white middle-class' thing. i want ds to grow up feeling that he is in a multicultural society and for him to be able to hold his own amongst the london kids!

many thanks

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 31/10/2009 20:24

how can you tell who is an axe murderer and who isn't?

paedophiles/rapists/axe murderers get rehoused everywhere. You wouldn't know if you were next door to one or not.

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 20:25

foxinsocks and others i should apologise - i am not talking down your area (that would be impossible, anyway, with it being so highly regarded). it is just that i liked everything about it when suddenly google earth dropped this bombshell - it is as though you are walking through all this beautiful greenery and think you can see a museum in the distance, which turns out to be anything but....

OP posts:
Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 20:25

I was brought up in Kingston (well, Surbiton, just outside) but went to school and lived in and around there until I was in my early 20's.

My sister still lives just outside in Thames Ditton.

On the whole, its got really good schools.

It used to be something like the 3rd biggest shopping centre in London. Not sure if it still is. Very good for chain shops, not so great for independants.

Not particularly noisey, but the nearer you are to the Richmond side, the noiser it is.

Not sure I would live in actual Kingston, due to the traffic congestion. But, there are areas just outside which are really nice.

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 20:27

Ciforjif - I used to live round the corner from the Fishponds!

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 20:28

thanks cforjif - surbiton is a good compromise in that respect, except that i am not looking at religious schools and wonder what my chances would be of getting a place within walking distance; i do not drive

OP posts:
Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 20:29

could you tell me which are the best roads in surbiton for schools? also, are there any secondary schools or would one have to travel further afield?
thanks

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 31/10/2009 20:31

oh I don't live there, and wouldn't really care if you did an area down, just think you need to get some perspective about it, that's all

but ultimately, if you are going to move there, you have to be happy with it

CarGirl · 31/10/2009 20:34

read up on the schools, visit them, ask about their admissions procedure and catchment area over the last few years.

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 20:50

I don't think its a "proper" prison. I think its like a young offenders instititute thingy. Its very low level security & on the middle of a housing estate in a nice area. (The Tudor Estate) which incidentally has a couple of nice primary schools on it.

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 20:56

ok lizz - i just got the impression that it was a proper one! are there a lot of estates in kingston? could you tell me the names? its just that i trawl through the estate agents listings and it is hard to place everything on one map.

what roads are considered nice and safe & villagey?

sorry about all the questions but i am really interested
thanks

OP posts:
CarGirl · 31/10/2009 20:58

Probably easiest to get an A-Z and ring the schools and start from them outwards.....

girlsyearapart · 31/10/2009 21:10

It isn't young offenders but it isn't a proper prison. The prisoners are on day release and sometimes weekend release. It's a half way house to prepare long serving prisoners for real release. AFAIK.

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 21:18

I live in Kingston. Haven't read the thread but will attempt to answer your questions (some may have been answered already).

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 21:19

There are 2 big estates in Kingston; Cambridge Estate (in Norbiton, just outside the town centre) and Kings Nympton, up Kingston Hill.
Both of these estates although not without their problems, have plenty of nice, houses on the outside. (Meaning 4 bed victorian town house type houses) So, its hard to say they are 'bad' when 5 mins walk away there are some gorgeous family homes, and the local schools (seniors particularly) are made up of a mix of children from both areas.
There is another estate, Alpha Road estate in Surbiton, but again, its bordered by some lovely areas (Berrylands) and not really considered a problem area.

One of the best primary schools in the area (have no idea if it still is) was Coombe Hill Primary. Coombe Hills is one of the more expensive areas of Kingston (its on the New Malden side).

Villiagey/Safe roads are difficult to define. Its fundamentally a commuter belt suburb.

As has been mentioned Surbiton is nice (20 years ago I never thought I would say that!)
My sister lives in Thames Ditton which is officially classed as a village, has period homes, gastro pubs, independant local shops. Is a 20-30 minute walk into Kingston town centre. Is still on the main line to Waterloo.

I think you are better off looking outside of Kingston town centre.

Hinchley Wood, Esher, parts of New Malden, Surbiton, even Tolworth, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Berrylands, Ham, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick these are all nice areas to live, and to bring up children in. Obviously there are nasty bits to every area, but the nasty areas here are still not too bad.

Norbiton, which I have mentioned, has its own station, but is a stones throw from the town centre (& Tiffin Boys & Kingston Grammer, if thats important to you) its not too far from Richmond Park either.

Does that help?

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 21:24

!. No it doesn't feel cut off from London. It's only half an hour to Waterloo on the train, 20 mins to Clapham Junction.

  1. No big issue with aircraft noise. I hardly ever notice planes going over.
  1. State primaries fantastic in north Kingston and still very good in south Kingston. Not well served by secondaries for boys but a new one will be built by 2014, ion time for a four-year-old.
  1. Mostly chain stores but it's a very big town centre and there are lots of independent shops, little squares with cafes etc.
  1. Most streets in north Kingston are a good bet for resale value. Live as close to the school of choice as possible to have a good chance of getting in as catchments are very tight.
  1. It's very multicultural. So many races and nationalities are represented here.

I don't regret moving here for a minute. Hope it's the same for you if you decide to go for it.

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 21:25

very comprehensive thank you for that - i had discounted hampton because i know someone scary who lives there
will have a look at the two dittons now

OP posts:
Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 21:26

Oooh - where are they building the new boys secondary? (sister has twin boys in reception atm)

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 21:27

thanks lyra - sounds great (all over again). v interesting re the secondary school as i obv cannot rely on the tiffin possibility!!

OP posts:
Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 21:28

Hampton Wick & Hampton Hill are nice, Bushy Park and the River is right on the doorstep.
The Hampton Court flower show is a total nightmare.

Sunbury, just outside Hampton Court, may be a good place to look too.

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 21:29

thanks lizz - sunbury came up previously - is it within the LU zones?
thanks

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 31/10/2009 21:34

no tube near sundbury (Richmond closest?) but thats why its cheaper.

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 21:35

London Underground?

No, that stops at Wimbledon.

There is no Underground anywhere in Kingston.

Is that what you meant?

(I think its still in zone 6 though)

Kingston has an odd train line, if getting to central London quickly is important to you, make sure you live somewhere which has a train line which goes through Surbiton. (much quicker train than the Kingston one) I once got back from Oxford Circus to Surbiton station in 30 minutes. (other times it has taken much much longer than that!)

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 21:35

Re the prison, it's at the other end of the street I live on. It's a very long street though, 10 mins walk end to end. Also it's a low category prison so no murderers, rapists etc as far as I know.

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 21:36

Meant to write that the Hampton Court Flower Show causes the traffic in the area to be a total nightmare for the week (or two) that it is on. Its a very nice place apart from that though!

bibbitybobbitycat · 31/10/2009 21:36

Zebra - I can't understand why you want to move out of London? I see you don't like the primary school, but does that mean you have to forget about London entirely?

Kingston town centre (forgive me locals) is cut in half by a huge main road, is congested with traffic, and is just like every other town centre in the UK. You are not in the city (couldn't get a black cab home at night) but not in the countryside either. You have to jostle and hustle and fight for school places.

Why not just move within London?