Buying in Surbiton/Tolworth?

[Ntinyn]

Hi, we want to move to the Surbiton area from West Hampstead with an 18m old. We started by viewing property towards Thames Ditton and have realised that we can get the size of house we really want if we go more towards Tolworth. The decision between a near perfect house in our eyes in a not-sooo-leafy green area or a smaller house in TD area is really getting to us! The property we are selling is now under offer and we need to make up our minds asap.

I've seen older threads on here where people have said Tolworth is up and coming... Does anyone have any present day experience living around here?

We've seen some lovely houses v close to Tolworth infant and junior school - anyone send their kids here? We couldn't hear the A3 too much from around here but I'm slightly concerned about the possible air pollution levels.

DH would be commuting to London - the walk to Surbiton station is c. 20 mins so not so bad, but is the commute itself hell-ish? We've only been down there at weekends by train/car so don't know about the rush hour madness.

Where we currently live, I'm out every day at toddler groups / the park with DD and I'm hoping to continue doing this when we move. Have seen plenty of families / buggies around the streets and read about local activities so that makes me feel like I will be able to continue.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

We lived between Tolworth and Surbiton until 2010 and had 2 children in that time. It's a great area, I used to walk everywhere. You're not aware of the A3 unless you live on one of the streets right next to it.

I still miss being in walking distance of library, M+S food and fishponds park with the ducks.

Traffic on the Ewell Road is bad at both rush hours to be honest. I used the buses not the trains so I don't know about that. It's getting more built up now but the area is definitely looking smarter than when we were first living there.

Thanks so much for your reply. I'll be walking / using buses mostly as well. You've made me feel a bit better about it all

I had a friend who rented in Tolworth thinking it was Surbiton. It's not Surbiton. She hated it (but no children to think about). There's no shops, no character "nothing going for it" (she said).

She couldn't wait to move in to Surbiton proper (she loves it there)

No shops? On Tolworth Broadway? There's no Harrods, granted

Hhhmm, yes we have walked down Tolworth Broadway... We weren't too impressed with the shops but it does have an M&S! Obviously no competition with the high St in Surbiton proper. Thanks for sharing your friend's experience

Why not rent for a while - see what you think, then you will have a bit more time to be sure you're doing the right thing.

Yes renting is a good option - currently looking into as we're so indecisive about this.

Surbiton and Thames Ditton are both lovely areas. Tolworth really isn't. I don't think it's particularly 'up and coming' either.

In your situation I would definitely go for the smaller house in the nicer area.

The commute from Surbiton into London is quick and easy.

The houses we're looking at are on the Tolworth/ Surbiton border - so 20 mins walk from Surbiton station and about the same to Tolworth but I think DH would only use Surbiton - walk much nicer. I don't think I'd use Tolworth's Broadway day to day much - just as easy to get to Surbiton.

I didn't get many up and coming vibes whilst there this weekend - thanks for confirming I wasn't missing something!

I think we're a bit confused because there are two houses we love in this area but nothing that we'd even consider in the TD area right now. The property we're selling is under offer so we're feeling the pressure of making an offer (or just banking the cash, renting and waiting it out....)

If you don't know the area then you really should rent first, don't you think? It's a great way to get to know an area.