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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:
girlsyearapart · 31/10/2009 22:10

I would not want to walk alone at night near the Cambridge Estate or Kingsnympton, I'd far rather live near the prison.

Agree New Malden not much cop. unless you want to be near 24hr tesco?

Latchmere and Fernhill both got good rep. Dds will go to Meadlands as nearer for us and DH went there.

OP you're better off driving around to look at the outside of the houses for sale that you fancy then coming back to ask what we think of the road/school in catchment.

Am watching with baited breath about what will happen with the school on Hawkers site as I go to the gym there and don't want to lose it!

preciouslillywhite · 31/10/2009 22:11

Lyra is New Malden really a bit shit??

what about Raynes Park??

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 22:13

New Malden is boring, yes, very boring, but, there are good schools there. And the leisure centre has good facilities. And its got good transport links.
There are some nice houses behind Waitrose.

(someone once told me that lots of the Korean restaurants were 'fronts' for brothels!)

Original poster
zebramummy · 31/10/2009 22:14

well i'm signing off now but i'll sleep on it and resume our discussion tomorrow!

OP posts:
bibbitybobbitycat · 31/10/2009 22:16

Sorry plw . Can't help talking it up. It is such a lovely place to live, as was confirmed to me again for the zillionth time tonight whilst out t or t'ing with my dc. We can only afford to live here cos we was dead lucky with our timings you know. And so now I could sell up and buy a much nicer house almost anywhere outside of London, and quite a lot of places within London - any why don't I? Cos I blardy loves it here, I do

ciforjif · 31/10/2009 22:18

Lizzz-we may have to start a different thread-ex Surbitonians!!!
Loads of people from Croydon down here as well, plus met someone from Tolworth the other week!

Sorry everyone!!!!!

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 22:19

Precious, not shit exactly, just a bit dull. Lots of houses, a small one-street town centre and not much else. It doesn't have the riverside, Richmond Park or the shopping/entertainment that Kingston does.

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 22:21

Raynes Park I don't really know, have only driven through it, but on the surface it's nothing to write home about.

Wheelybug · 31/10/2009 22:21

Agreed NM is not exciting but I'm not sure anywhere around here is. As with anywhere there are nicer areas - 'The Groves' particularly which is the (mostly) victorian area. Good schools and a more villagey (good or bad ?) feel to it than other places.

For the first 5 years we lived here we slept here only - both worked long hours and out in the evenings in the city. Since having children its been a lovely place to live. We have moved 3 times here and each time think about moving somewhere else but have stayed mainly because quick and easy into city, quick and easy to get out to country, good schools, friendly community, waitrose (). Finally got a 'gastropub' and now dd1 has started a good school so suspect we're stuck here for while !

LyraSilvertongue · 31/10/2009 22:23

Sorry wheelybug, didn't realise you live in NM. It's, erm, lovely

Wheelybug · 31/10/2009 22:27

DOn't worry Lyra - I wasn't that offended (much). Your description is a bit onesided and would be the impression of someone who doesn't live here and I would agree with it to certain extent. But it does have likeable traits too.

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 22:29

ok - tbh - I do actually come from Tolworth. But it was on the Surbiton side! went to school in New Malden.

ciforjif · 31/10/2009 22:29

New Malden is close to the A3-great for London.

Yeah it is a bit boring but there are some lovely houses in NM and some 'posh' area's. Depends what your after really. It is what it is-one long road of shops and not much else. Hope I don't offend anyone who lives there.

ciforjif · 31/10/2009 22:32

Lizzz-I went to Primary school in Tolworth but lived in Surbiton-proper like. High school in Wimbledon. None of you Tolworth mob trying to latch on to Surbiton
[sniff]. I'm not a snob really!!!

Lizzzombie · 31/10/2009 22:34

[nosey] which primary school?! I went to Grand Avenue.

Tolworth is no where near as bad as it was when I lived there! Parts of it are actually quite nice now. And Surbiton is really quite good for a night out now too! Imagine that!

foxinsocks · 31/10/2009 22:35

I liked Raynes Park when I looked at it (but this was yonks ago). I had to go there the other day and it hasn't changed much. Only thing that put me off before was the fact that they were changing school systems (from lower middle upper to primary secondary) but I guess they would have done with that now.

Loads of trains into central london and a reasonable journey time

ciforjif · 31/10/2009 22:44

I still can't believe there is a McD's there!!! In Surbiton!!!!!!!
At least they have an M&S there a few doors along.
I went to OLI on Tolworth Broadway behind the church. Not far from your old school!
It used to take me half an hour to walk to school, past both parks so there was always something to look at and the sweetie shop near the park!
I drive my children everywhere now because we are too far from school and clubs.

preciouslillywhite · 31/10/2009 22:57

Oh, I know, Bib- that's why everyone round these parts wants to be in them parts...

(I wasn't off sulking in a huff in my SE15 griefhole just now- just watching The Thick of It )

We are pondering moving SW though, so I'm really interested in what everyone says about New Malden. I am now at that stage of life where Boring Is Good. I took the dcs to look at the outside of some suburban houses over the holidays- down Seaforth Road, near Motspur Park- and on the walk from Raynes Park station everyone said hello to us

..it was like the 50s

bibbitybobbitycat · 31/10/2009 23:16

Ha ha! only other part of London we are possibly considering now is Raynes Park - dh often works there.

ciforjif · 31/10/2009 23:20

Even more boring than NM!!
I'm off to bed now before I get into really big trouble.
Sweet dreams of Surbiton......

preciouslillywhite · 31/10/2009 23:22

reeeeeelly, Bibbity?? how funny!

I liked the look of it. Plus would be a change for our nearest Big Shopping Place to be Wimbledon, instead of Rye Lane

...a while ago we were planning to move out to Essex, but my ds is in Y8 at Kingsdale and loves it, so we're trying to find somewhere where we could get a (slightly) bigger house and he'd still be able to get to school.

LyraSilvertongue · 01/11/2009 13:15

DP wants to say his twopenneth
He says the best thing about Kingston is being able to walk to everything - town centre, riverside, parks, cinema, theatre, schools, restaurants - and not having to get into a car or on a bus.

CybilLiberty · 01/11/2009 13:33

I agree 100% lyra

EyeballsintheSky · 01/11/2009 13:45

Lurking to defend New Malden as I grew up in Raynes Park/ New Malden and my parents still live there. So watch what you say!!

Wheelybug · 01/11/2009 14:41

Thanks Eyeballs .

LOL at Cif though - From what you say I assume you live in Eastbourne. I'd assumed you lived somewhere not dull , .