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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Guildford, Godalming, Dorking or Haslemere?

40 replies

JooLoo · 13/08/2013 20:56

Planning to leave Kingston, which we have loved for many reasons, for somewhere closer to the country and a bigger house and garden. Our criteria are;
Walking distance to mainline station to WAterloo (with a seat on train!);
Close to nice countryside;
A proper town with facilities we can walk to, some character and preferably a community feel;
Good state primary and secondary schools.
Theses four towns seem to meet the criteria in principle but have only ever been to Godalming and Dorking. Currently overseas so hoping to get some thoughts to narrow down our options before we visit UK. We have £600,000 to spend on 3/4 bed with good garden in a nice area.
Would love to hear experiences of theses places, thanks!

OP posts:

HarderToKidnap · 14/08/2013 19:39

Wondering very much now what was said by ablabla...

Original poster

JooLoo · 14/08/2013 20:57

Ablababla, Kingston is great but just a bit too urban and overcrowded, at least in the less posh part where we are! Would be fine if we could live closer to the park but then it's either v expensive or a cramped house. Just feel I want a bit more space and somewhere easier to hike, cycle, ride etc

OP posts:

Original poster

JooLoo · 14/08/2013 21:01

Hardertokidnap, (what great names!) I was thinking about Ashtead but am told it is less Of a town in own right and not the range of amenities I might be looking for. Happy to be contradicted though!

OP posts:

Ablababla · 15/08/2013 07:34

Harder sorry I put some info which I then realised made me way too identifiable. But basically a decent 'family' 3 bed would be very difficult to get in the 'right' bit of kingston. Even spending half as much again will get you a nice house but something like 30ft of garden. I think we can get much more for our money elsewhere although it is a lovely area and we will be sad to leave!

newgirl68 · 15/08/2013 07:39

We are moving to dorking soon and it is a really nice town! obviously not as big as guildford which has a much better range of shops etc. But it depends what shops you want on your doorstop. It still has a good range for a small town, & it has some nice antique shops & a waitrose & lidl! Also has a swimming pool & cinema/theatre. The schools are great & the secondary have a v good reputation. The trains go to waterloo & victoria. The countryside all around is absolutely beautiful with box hill & the north downs. loads of national trust land. I would recommend & think you could prob get something for £600k.

DinkyB1983 · 15/08/2013 09:47

OP you mention wanting a bit more space and somewhere where you can cycle, hike and ride

Dorking has a great cycling club with 6 different levels ranging from gentle cycle upwards. They meet on Sundays and finish in the town centre for a drink.

There is so much lovely road cycling around Dorking and if you mountain bike there are some amazing off road trails all over the Surrey Hills.

I cycle and also horse ride. My horse is kept at a yard near Box Hill and there is so much amazing off road hacking in the area.

My desire to do more cycling and horse riding is a big factor in why DP and I decided to leave London and move to Surrey and we have not been disappointed.

greyvix · 15/08/2013 17:34

They are all great places to live, but have a look at Farnham too. Schools are among the best in the country. House prices are cheaper than Guildford and on a par with the other places you mention.

Original poster

JooLoo · 15/08/2013 18:27

Glad to hear some good reviews of Dorking as I have a gut feeling it would suit us well. Looks like I should add Farnham to the possibilities though this is not helping me shorten my list!

OP posts:

Alwaysinarush123 · 15/01/2016 22:39

Where did you choose???!!!!

Just a note to Flightoffancy "The Aarons Hill area and Green Oaks/Loseley Fields schools are the ones that some people avoid."

Yes you are right some do. However I moved here end of 2012 and love the area. The school is great too :))

Original poster

JooLoo · 16/01/2016 20:37

Can't believe this thread has been reactivated after more than two years! Well to cut a long story short we had offers in on properties in Farnham and Dorking which were not accepted and then one in Haslemere which was! Unfortunately can't tell you more as still overseas and renting out (the mortgage was a whole different saga) but we are looking forward to living there when we return.

OP posts:

coolpatterngirl · 17/01/2016 07:53

Hi Jooloo, did you get a mortgage on a foreign salary? Would love to know which bank or broker you used?

Original poster

JooLoo · 18/01/2016 20:18

Coolpatterngirl, I get paid in UK (civil servant) so it should have been easy. But it wasn't. Eventually went with HSBC who are probably best for expat mortgages. It helped that had been banking with them for years though.

OP posts:

Alwaysinarush123 · 18/01/2016 23:33

Oh Haslemere's great, I don't know it really, very well, but it seems lovely. I think you will be very happy there. Good luck with the move when you do it! :)

cupcakelovinggirl · 19/01/2016 10:47

Don't move to Dorking! While its very pretty it's a typical town for when children reach their teenage years get very bored. Think underlying drug using and drinking in the parks - not that half the mums are aware of it as they are usually from nice well to do families.

renouy · 27/07/2017 16:24

Hi we are thinking of moving to haselmere. I'd love to know how you got on. Do you like it there? Would you recommend it? Thanks in advance.

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