Kingston? Virginia Water? Sunningdale?

[onwardsmummy]

Does anyone live there or nearby - or know what they're like and if they're child - and mummy-friendly places to live?

I think they are all quite 'nice' iyswim. I live between them all if that makes sense. Have you looked at house prices fro Sunningdale? I think Sunninghill is good but slightly cheaper. The secondary school Charters is supposed to be good.

Are you after the train line, as Sunningdale one is very slow into town!

Oh good they looked nice but you can never tell.. ermm, can I ask nice in what way? ie parks, theatres, NCT groups?! I only have google earth to go on...!

Also what do you mean by after the train line?
We are looking for a reasonable service into Waterloo... or maybe Reading if that's what you're saying?

The only thing I know about Sunningdale is that Chesney Hawkes grew up there!!!

Is there anything on the NCT website? or the local Tourist Information website?

Yes I mean do you need the train line? It is just I noticed all of the places you listed have train stations.

Windlesham is lovely and not far from Sunningdale. But as I say that train line takes about an hour into London.

The Woking line is quicker. 28 mins. West Byfleet is nice place to live.

Do what I did when we were looking to move to the area. Do little day trips out to different places. Take your DC to the local park for a play and then go for a coffeee in the local cafe. It is amazing how you get a feel for a place from this.

that's what we're sort of planning cece, cheers, will look at west byfleet

Tell me your budget and I'll do a house search if you like. I am bored this morning! LOL

Sunningdale, near the station

Suninghill

Virginia Water

Nice littel infants school in this village

Olde Worlde charm

Detached and handy for station, shops and school

nice village and quiet location, close to park but need to cycle or drive to station

Oooh I live v near one of these houses, Cece.

I love living here - very countrified - but less choice I think if you want to be within walking distance of a station. DH commutes from VW but has to drive to the station (plentiful cheap parking mind you).

I adore our house, love our village, but less happy with the senior schools. The state primaries are really very good, and there are a few good Catholic secondaries, but the non Catholic senior schools are a bit dodgy. Heathside in Weybridge, the Woking schools, and Charters have the best rep. If you're going private there's more choice, but it's still a little lacking for boys' schools. Outside the catchments of the good state schools you get a lot more house and garden for your money. So think schools first before you fall in love with a house and area, as we did.

Ha! I have looked at one of those houses in Sunningdale!! You're about spot on with our budget - £400k. Great MNers think alike...

You're dead right about finding out about schools first asylum... I should be looking first at OFSTED and second at getting that 4th bedroom! Def could never afford or possibly really want private schools. Been there done that, wasn't overly impressed.

Couldn't do a village we live in London and like one of the other posters I have THE FEAR of leaving London, possibly ridiculous, but very real to me!... and a village might just be stretching it too far...

Or for some other places/schools - What's Wokingham like anyone??! It looks lovely enough? Or Windsor? Too touristy and busy or just pretty nice?

I work near Wokingham and many of my colleagues live there - do a search on here as there are a few Wokingham MNers - I think as a town, it's really family and mummy-friendly - but I don't know it terribly well, or the schools.

Windsor is gorgeous, fabulous shops, but you don't get much house for your money, and the school situation is a bit odd IIRC.

If you have the fear about leaving London, you need somewhere a bit bustly - Weybridge, West Byfleet, Woking (there are some nice bits, and the commute is shorter as there are fast trains), Guildford. Sunningdale and Ascot are smaller, but still quite nice. You probably don't want to be stuck in a village; mine is lovely but you have to get in the car if you want a cappuccino which has an impact on my quality of life and waistline....

I think Guildford might suit you then. Try to get in the catchment for George Abbot. All the local primary schools are good near there. Hold on, I'll go and look - you need 4 bedrooms, which might be tricky on that budget!

Merrow

maybe the same one?

another one

I'm about to move to Englefield green and my mum lives in Egham. Both are super with great schools and lots of family suff to do. Both pricey not sure what you would get with £400k if you wanted 4 bed. Might be worth a look.

4 beds on a budget of £400,000 is quite tight. For a nice house with 4 beds a budget of 5 or 6oo,000 is better!LOL don't we all wish! Look canal at bottom of garden...

dream on...

Woodham is walkable to W Byfleet, and lovely, but aren't the school catchments a bit iffy?

The nearer schools are on Sheerwater and Maybury but all the children in Woodham tend to go to West Byfleet or the school in New Haw (outstanding ofsted)- or private. For secondary there is Fullbrook which seems fine, not wonderful, but not terrible either.