Please recommend somewhere nice to live southwest of London (but not SW London)

[littleomar]

We need space and can't afford to move to a bigger house in our area. Extending isn't an option. I'm not convinced we should move as we would be giving up a lot of nice stuff in exchange and I'm not sure it's really worth it. Convince me and make DH happy!

Our criteria:

• four/five bed house with a reasonable bit of garden
• shops/station/school in walking distance
• train into Waterloo 45 minutes max
• good non-church primary shools (or church schools that don't operate attendance-based admissions policies, if they exist)
• easy to get to A3/M3/M25 (DH commute)
• budget is £750k max

We're currently thinking about West Byfleet and Godalming. What do you think of those?

TIA

I was coming on here to say Winchester which ticks most of your boxes, but it's 55mins to Waterloo and I think a bit too pricey house-wise.

V nice though.

Sorry, not helpful..

Good luck!

thanks, winchester was on the list (i grew up near there) but i think the commute would be too too much. somewhere like that but a bit closer!

We're in Epsom; ticks all of your boxes. Good primaries and secondaries, 35 mins to Waterloo, 10 mins to M25/A3, should be able to get a decent property with 4/5 beds and garden for that in walking distance of town. We moved from SW London (Fulham) for just those reasons!

I agree about Epsom. We moved out from Balham 15 years ago. Great schools both primary and secondary, fantastic countryside on your doorstep - Epsom Common, Horton Country Park, cinema, leisure centre, David Lloyd. Need to be in right part though to be in catchment area for some schools.

West Byfleet and the surrounding area would tick all your boxes. You could get something really nice in your price bracket. This is a lovely woody area - Horsell Common on the doorstep. There are several excellent primaries in the area. Fast trains take just over 30 mins to Waterloo. M25 about 15 mins away. We moved here (between West Byfleet and Woking) a few months ago and we absolutely love it.