Equivalent of Weybridge in the South East?

[AllTheGoodOnesAreTaken]

Say if Wimbledon is Dulwich and Guilford is Tunbridge Wells, what is Weybridge?

Somewhere smaller and more expensive than Dulwich and TW with an excellent commute via train into london

Yes but what South East town between Dulwich and TW would you equate with Weybridge?

I don't know them well enough tbh - the most expensive one as Weybridge is one of the most expensive places in the country?

I'm confused - what do mean by equivalent of Weybridge in the South East, Weybridge WAS in the South East last time I looked?!

Yes annh had me confused too, think they mean SE of London rather than SW of London

Yes that's what I thought too.

watford north

Yes Watford is virtually Scotland dont ya know

Greatstone on Sea.

Why do you want to know?

I grew up just outside Weybridge and went to school there. Fairly horrible place, very up itself and precious.

Sorry, I knew I had explained myself really badly when I posted; I just thought somebody might be able to read my mind...

Reshape, we're considering a move from Wimbledon to Weybridge because state schools are good and we like the style of houses in the area. However like you said, I suspect the place is a bit stiff and unfriendly so I'm wondering what other places might be suitable for us. Weybridge is as small a village/town as I'm willing to go you see?

Godalming, Guildford, Cobham, Esher (although state secondary not great in the last two). If I wanted good state schools I would live in Guildford or surrounding villages.

Teddington if you don't want to leave town.

I live in Weybridge and think it's really friendly.
It is a little WAG style stiff, but easy to ignore that.

I think Sevenoaks would be a good Weybridge analogy - WAG/Cityish, expensive, good schools, large houses, big egos . Coming from the Royal town down the road, we are far less like that .

Fiddledee, I absolutely love Guilford but the houses within the catchment area of George Abbot secondary school are dire and overpriced (sorry, don't mean to offent anyone) and we wouldn't really be within walking distance to Guilford anyway so I feel we wouldn't get the benefits.

Godalming, again, really don't mean to offend anyone, but I found it WAY too small and sleepy as well as a bit 'old' and very very white middle class. I got the feeling that if you don't go to church you wouldn't be part of the community?

If there are no great state secondaries in Cobham and Esher, then we can't consider those areas...

Dickcheese, thanks for your input. How is Weybrisge friendly? I love the houses there. Again, we would want to move within the catchment area of Heathside but also need primary schools. Budget for house is about £625K. Is Weybridge pretty much walkable as in primary schools and out of schools activities (Karate, swimming, ballet, etc)?

PanicMode, where do you live?

Sevenoaks schools aren't anything to shout about unless you are going private when yes they are worth a loud shout.

Sevenoaks only has only one state secondary now (Knole academy) which is a new academy merging the two former secondary moderns. (Bradbourne girls and Wildernesse boys) The grammars are all in Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells for which you would be considered in area. You have to travel south for the comprehensives too.

I wouldn't recommend Sevenoaks at all unless you have pots of dosh.

Bromley may be a better analogy

State in Cobham/Esher OK actually - schools' reputation very old and totally incorrect now.

However Weybridge as a town probably bigger than both Cobham and Esher. How about Walton?

Dorking would be my suggestion. Schools fine as far as i know, direct train line to London, easy to get down to the coast and lovely countryside

I know quite a lot about towns in the South East, but I have no idea what Weybridge is like. Maybe you'd get more ideas if you put what it is you like about Weybridge - what are you looking for in your new town?

What I'm looking for is:

Decent train links into London (preferably Waterloo)
Good to excellent primary and secondary state schools (absolutely no option of private)
Nice pleasant area to live in
Walking access to all amenities, i.e. shops and out of school activities for children.
Nice friendly community, not stuck-up
Possibility of buying 4-bed period house within catchment of good schools for about £625K

There are gorgeous houses in George Abbot catchment, try Trodds Lane area or Warren road if you want to be more town centre. The further east on Warren Road the more secure GA catchment, although further from the station/ town centre, although most of your neighbours will go private (but not all).

I live in a nice house but risky for GA.

No idea what it's like as have only been through it, but maybe Chislehurst? Got a grammar school near by, village green, very easy commute to London (London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross, Cannon Street etc.) - and not as expensive as Tunbridge Wells I think. Not as nice either though. Quite a lot of modern housing and on fringe of London. But I think there are quite a few Victorian houses around the village green? I also think the local primary school is nice too. And there is definitely some pretty countryside near by. However, don't know the area at all - just from what I've heard and scoping out possible areas to move to on the internet!! It is nowhere near as smart (stuck up?) as Weybridge though but might be good value for money!

Well Weybridge definitely has
decent train links
good state schools (Oatlands and Cleves both regularly outstanding ofsteds and Heathside for senior school which is a very good school too oxbridge entrants etc)
Very pleasant to live in (river walks, nice parks, good shops, etc)
walking access to schools (not all super close but do-able) - I'm not sure of the amenities as we drive across to Walton to the XCEL for most activities at the moment - swimming and trampolining
It is stuck up, there is a lot of money here and big fancy houses and 4wds. But there is also a big community of 30ish people who have moved out here to have kids. I've met lovely friends at pre-school drop off, playgroups etc.
I'm don't think 625 would stretch to 4bed period features. Definitely large 3 bed or modern 4 bed.
I honestly think we won't leave here now unless DH radically changes jobs and gets a transfer to another country.

Walton is also very nice (Ashley COFE outstanding school 4-12) but I'm not sure where it leaves you for senior school. I don't think you get into Heathside from there and I believe Esher High (also very good) is constantly oversubscribed.
Your 625 there would get you abit more.

MummyTime we have seen about 15 houses in Burpham and Merrow and I have not liked any of them at all. Again, I don't mean to offend, I guess I only like period properties and that's just my personal preference. After seeing so many properties around Burpham I also realised that really, we would not benefit from living in Guilford AT ALL as we would be too far away to go there frequently unless we had something specific to do and it would not be walkable which I believe detracts a bit from quality of life (again, in my opinion).