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Original poster

Where to move to within a 30 mins drive of Guildford?

43 replies

Sorcsd · 09/01/2013 12:20

Hi there, my husband and I have both secured a transfer from Dublin to the Guildford office of our company and I would like any advise you could give as to where to move to within about a 30 minute drive of Guildford. We will be looking for a long term furnished house rental. We have a 3 year old son and I am due our second in May. We would prefer a town or village than Guildford itself as we think we might get more for our money in the surrounding area? Our budget will about £2,000 p/m. Nurseries and school are obviously a major influencing factor (any advise on these also very welcome!) and I would like to be within walking distance of local shops and parks if possible. I have seen a few properties online that I like the look of in Fleet, Normandy, Godalming, Albury. Any and all advise appreciated.

OP posts:
Goodwordguide · 09/01/2013 12:25

I used to live in Godalming - it's very nice, easy connections to Guildford, good primary school and full of families. The Surrey villages are sought after in their own right so I wouldn't assume they are necessarily cheaper than Guidford.

Also be careful regarding school catchment - it's very popular and many of the schools are over-subscribed. I would start with a list of schools you like and work from there regarding houses.

homebythesea · 09/01/2013 12:50

Consider looking East-Horsley, Effingham,Bookham,Ashtead and Leatherhead. All (perhaps with the exception of Horsley) will be cheaper than Guildford itself and all great communities with local shops and busy scene for young families. Easy drive or train to Guildford and A3and M25 on your doorstep And equidistant LHR and LGW for trips back home!

Hattifattner · 09/01/2013 12:59

Normandy is in the middle of nowhere and while lovely, has nothing there really.

Try Farnham and surrounds. However, traffic on the A31 into Guildford of a morning can be a mare. Don't go anywhere requiring use of the M3 into London. its a carpark.

I used to commute through guildford when lived in Weybridge. Tis expensive but good facilities. Cobham too.

Id rule out Fleet due to traffic

Original poster
Sorcsd · 09/01/2013 13:45

Thanks for the advise everyone - it gives me lots to work with!

OP posts:
pepperrabbit · 09/01/2013 13:55

I used to live in Fleet and commute to Guildford - if you leave early enough it's fine. If you have the choice ie. can afford a house in Guildford or closer then I would choose that.
This is such a London commuter area that most good schools will be over-subscribed or have quite small catchment areas. be very careful checking that out - though of course you have a little while before your eldest starts school itself, so why not start with a house and commute you like, then when you're here have a better nose around for a school?

misscph1973 · 09/01/2013 14:01

Hartley Wintney is gorgeous and schools are good.

Kahlua4me · 09/01/2013 14:06

I agree, Hartley Witney is lovely and schools are good.

Also have a look at Haslemere. We have friends there and they are very happy and kids are really happy at their schools.

Kahlua4me · 09/01/2013 14:07

Should have said also that our friends in Haslemere work in Guildford and find the commute easy.

PigletJohn · 09/01/2013 14:41

morning and evening travel in/out/through Guildford is absolutely awful. If I was renting for work I would look for a very short journey.

I have a chum in a foresty bit of Haslemere which seems nice.

Rhubarbgarden · 09/01/2013 20:10

We nearly moved to Godalming. It's lovely.

Angelfootprints · 10/01/2013 13:37

There are loads of lovely villages- Shamley Green, Shalford, Albury, Shere, Gomshall, St Marys, Peaslakes, etc. Anything in the Surrey Hills really.

Godalming is lovely too.

Dorking and the villages arround it like Westcott though may be a little far.

Cranleigh is nice too.

grabbacuppa · 10/01/2013 14:43

Haslemere or Godalming. Great communte, great schools - excellent swimming club (should you be interested)!!

Original poster
Sorcsd · 21/01/2013 11:02

After much debate we've decided to try and find somewhere in Guildford itself - in the direction of London Road / Epsom Road as my husband has view a couple of nice houses there. Does anyone know this area? Is it nice?

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 21/01/2013 11:04

Epsom road/London road consists of some of the most expensive housing in the area.

Pagwatch · 21/01/2013 11:07

Both are main roads. Traffic is busy on them all day. London road is especially busy when GHS starts in the morning.
Mixed houses and flats
Epsom road includes flats and office buildings/dentists.

Hamnvik · 21/01/2013 11:12

Another vote for Godalming , DH is from there its lovely! I don't think I'd want to live in Guildford the villages round about it are much nicer!

CarlingBlackMabel · 21/01/2013 11:14

Brockham

KumquatMae · 21/01/2013 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Angelfootprints · 21/01/2013 19:29

I wouldn't want to live on those roads, but Im not a town person.

Handy for the station I imagine, but the traffic would stress me out to no end. Not very attractive either.Plus think drunk people at the weekends walking back to get on the train.

I would 100% go for a beautiful village or small town. Your sure to get a nicer house too.

Dededum · 29/01/2013 20:18

Epsom / London Rd area is very nice. Catchment area for good schools - look for Sandfield, Pewley Down, Merrow infants, Boxgrove, St Thomas.

If you can I would rent in Guildford - nice parks, Sports centres, playgroups, lots of young kids, cafes, shopping etc..

Link some properties and we can tell you a bit more about the area.

Godalming is lovely as well, but not sure it will be much cheaper than Guildford and doesn't have so much to offer.

denialandpanic · 30/01/2013 21:50

sourcd the area you are considering in Guildford is very like Dublin 4 what I think of as posh Dublin.does that help?

Original poster
Sorcsd · 26/03/2013 16:46

So, we have moved and are currently living in a temporary apartment in Guildford town centre and our son is in a nursery close by but we are not happy with it at all. He is in the pre-school class and there is up to 30 kids in the room on a given day - he came from a creche with a max of 12 kids in his room so it's a tough adjustment for him and he keeps getting into fights (physical) which is a new thing. We are hoping to get a more permanent house sorted soon so we are thinking of moving out to somewhere in the direction of Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet (North East Hampshire) where the nurserys appear to be much smaller in size. I am a city girl so I'm not too bothered if it's not a beautiful village and I'm well used to traffic. Any and all advise welcome!

OP posts:
sppp · 26/03/2013 21:28

What is your budget? You have mentioned Fleet a couple of times and the schools are excellent there as long as you are in catchment. Plenty of people on Fleet commute to Guildford and the pre-schools are pretty good.

serin · 26/03/2013 22:54

This?

GeorgianMumto5 · 26/03/2013 23:06

Godalming is vair, vair nice. Fleet is nice, but be careful which bit you pick. The two secondary schools are heavily oversubscribed and Fleet children in some areas are soon to be bussed out of Fleet to Aldershot schools, so I'm told. Bit stupid really, as people move to Fleet and pay Fleet prices for the schools, so the developers build and build...and then there are no places in the schools. If Fleet, avoid Pondtail, for that reason.