Help needed - Morning commute from Milford to RGS Guildford for school run

[DeepMintEagle]

Hi all,

We’re planning a move to the Guildford area and are trying to get a better sense of what day-to-day life would actually look like before we commit to a certain village.

One of the big questions for us is commuting — can anyone tell me what the morning commute is realistically like from Milford to RGS school? Google Maps gives one estimate, but I’d really love to hear from people who actually do it (or have done it), especially during school-run / rush hour times.

How long does it usually take door-to-door? Is traffic unpredictable? Are there particular bottlenecks or roads to avoid? And would you say it’s a manageable daily commute, or does it become draining?

We’re trying to work out where to focus our house search, so any honest local insight would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Are you thinking of train or car?

I am in Godalming , my sons used the train ( good , frequent service used by lots of pupils)Trains also frequent from Milford,or they got lifts from other parents. For a while it was convenient for my husband to drop them and some friends off but he usually left them at the bottom of the hill ( near White House pub) and they walked up.
If I wasn’t working and they had afternoon sports at Bradstone Brook I would sometimes pick them up from there.

Car

Thank you. My son is too young for the train so I will be driving him up every day. From the house we like (near Milford) Google maps is saying between 20-40mins in the morning and I can't decide whether 40mins is actually a possibility in which case that's too far!

Milford is right beside the A3, so in theory 20 mins is pretty accurate. However...the A3 is prone to delays and from this month through to December, there are major roadworks by the A3 slip road at Guildford. Delays will be significant.

You could go through Godalming and into the back of Guildford, and drop your DC at the George Abbot pub. Then they'll just need to walk straight up the High Street to RGS.

When old enough, lots of RGS kids get the train to/from London Road station in Guildford. It's about a 10 minute walk from there to the school.

Milford is a lovely place.

Do you mean RGS Prep? If it is the senior school then loads of Year 7 boys will be using the train

Also, when you do feel comfortable enough for your son to use the train, it is only 12 mins to Guildford Station and then lots of boys walk up the hill together from there. London Road Station is better suited for boys coming in from the London side of Guildford. Good luck with your move, it is such a lovely school!

They have a ball on the train

If RGS prep - doable but not many come from that far out. It would be a fairly unpleasant school run every day. If RGS senior - train is fine from year 7. Loads of boys get the train and form strong friendships as a result.

Thanks everyone. It is for prep (yr1) so I'm quite nervous that it's too far and we would regret it. 20mins would be fine but the traffic worries me quite a lot.

Option 1
Find another school nearer Milford until 11 e g St Hilary’s in Godalming or a state primary maybe with tutoring from year 4 or 5 to attempt RGS at 11
Option 2
Find another house nearer RGS prep
Good luck

You would definitely not be in the minority living outside of Guildford at the prep. In my son's year boys travel from Woking, Farnham, Aldershot, The Horsleys, The Clandons, Cranleigh, Godalming etc etc. So it is probably more about where you want to be long term and your appetite for travel and traffic! I would think it would be 15 mins without traffic and probably typically 30mins at peak times, especially in the evenings. If you are flexible and can live in Guildford near the school, then that would be ideal!