Surrey move: Where's best? Wonersh, Shamley Green, Bramley, Gomshall et al?

[Stockers73]

Hello,

this is my fist Mumsnet post so go easy on me - I don't know any of the popular site abbreviations ;-)

My husband and I are thinking of following the well-trodden path from SW London (Wimbledon) to one of the villages in the vicinity of Guildford. We want a bigger house and more greenery for us and our 6-year-old daughter. We have been to and like Wonersh, Shalford, Shere, Bramley, Shamley Green, Gomshall and a few others and like many of them but would be really grateful for some first-hand pros and cons for the villages, or indeed recommendations for places we have missed that are of a smiliar ilk. We realise we can't have everything we have here (all amenities walkable within minutes) but need a primary reasonably nearby and preferably a nice pub and shop as gateways into the community.

I'd also be keen to know if there is a 'hierarchy' in terms of the villages - ie one if deemed better than the other etc. I am not overly bothered by keeping up with the Joneses but of course these things matter on one level (not least understanding pricing rationale for one house over another). We saw a great house in Ash (west of Guildford) but afterwards a few people have made sounds about that being the wrong side of the tracks? We saw the house before we saw the village so we had no preconceptions. Sadly we found the latter depressing so it's a no go....

Wherever we end up it needs to have a nice primary not too far away and a short-ish drive to a station that is commutable to London. My husband works for himself but needs to be in town approx 2-3 days a week. I'll probably look for a PT job in Guildford.

Grateful for any insights!

Thanks

Shalford would be the most commutable if that is one you are considering? You'd definitely want to get the fast line from Guildford rather than the slow one. Any other requirements? Budget?

Parking at G'ford station is really expensive not sure how easy either unless you have a pass - something to bear in mind if your dh is planning on going in 2/3 days a week. I know people who live in Shere/Albury/Gomshall who drive to Clandon station for that reason.

If you are considering state secondary, you need to be careful, some of the places you listed have nice local primary schools but are a bit of a no mans land for secondary catchment areas. If you want to keep those options open, plus be close to transport, I'd look around Horsley, Godalming and Farnham.

Wherever you go, you'll meet many fellow ex Wimbledoners !

What is the budget and is commuting time important?

Farnham is further out but desirable although 60mins into Waterloo and only a couple trains per hour.
I would look for schools and then base your search around that.

The villages are all pretty similar on that side, and all lovely, but Shalford is probably the best for commuting, and Shalford Infants is outstanding though only goes up to year 2. A great area for private secondary’s but as others have said that area isn’t really served by many state secondary’s.

And you’re right about Ash.

Thanks ladies - this is all really useful stuff.

Budget up to about 1.4m. Drawn to Guildford for short-ish commute, pretty environs, village life and lovely town. My husband works for himself so will need to be in town approx 2-3 days a week - some of which may be late-ish evenings so helpful if if it isn't a really long drive from a station.

Interested to get a take on Godalming too, which I know is popular. We were disappointed with the town centre, having heard good things about the town. There seemed to be a lot of empty shops. Has it taken a hit from online shopping and its proximity to Guildford?

Also, more of a philosophical question for those that have moved from London to the Guildford area, how long did it take you to adjust to the village life and not having everything on your doorstep? Is it a pain having to drive everywhere or does it sort of blend into everyday life when everyone else around you are in the same situation?

Thanks!
Viveka

Personally I did find it a real adjustment having to drive everywhere. Think the bus to G'ford from where I live is once a day ! so not much choice other than to drive.

A village close to g'ford where you could walk to school, a shop or two, a station (not easy to find a cab off last train from Waterloo...) gives more options. Also think of future when you have teens.

Have you thought about Epsom /Ewell? You could get a lot for your budget, and should be able to be within walking distance to a station.
The houses in your budget are snapped up by SW Londoners who think they are getting a bargain. It’s Wimbledon-by-Surrey now.
Epsom Downs are nearby, Headley Heath, Hogsmill River. Nonsuch Park, Banstead Woods, Nork Park etc etc.
It’s only 30minutes to Waterloo on the train.
If you choose carefully you could walk to a station, Epsom, Ewell West or Ewell East.
Good state schools and private schools too. Epsom College etc.

It doesn’t matter how short the drive is to a railway station to go to London or Guildford, the car parks fill up very quickly in the mornings. And you will struggle to get a seat.
It’s not a rural idyll you know. It’s not especially village-y.
Be prepared for a lot of one -up-man-ship.

We live a different side of Guildford - be warned that the traffic is truly grim at times!! I agree with you about Godalming - I always think I should like it - but I don't!

I've lived in the area for 20+ years and my children are grown up but here's my take -

Bramley - horrendously busy and will get worse as the traffic builds from the massive development in Dunsfold which will increase the traffic on the A281 going through the village. Lots of 4x4's dropping girls at St Catherine's private school. Some little shops though and a primary school.
Wonersh - No school, children go to Shamley Green. Traffic issues at times but pretty. Very popular posh pub, GP surgery.
Shamley Green - good primary school and feeds to Glebelands in Cranleigh. My kids went to Glebelands but I'm not sure how good it is now, I know it went through an unhappy patch. All these villages feed to Glebelands to 16y then all go to Godalming College for 6th form. Good village atmosphere and friendly though and would be my first choice out of your list. There's a village website with info. You would need a car for everything though.
Shere - beautiful but packed with tourists and gangs of cyclists at the weekend. Good village atmosphere. Primary school, not sure where it feeds.
Gomshall - cheaper than Shere I think, not sure though. Train station to Guildford.
Shalford - has a railway station, 5 mins to Guildford, and school. Popular cafe and pub but lots of traffic and gridlocked in the morning unless you go through v early.

One thing is at your budget I would expect most people in this area to be sending their kids to private school so I'm not sure how many ex-Wimbledon types you'd find outside state school gates.
I echo the pp who says it's not a rural idyll here, it's more a pretty area with individuals living in it. The keeping up with the Joneses among the people in your price bracket and over is significant.

Hello - Newbie here also looking to move from London thinking of buying in Bramley but a little worried about the lack of secondary schools in the area

Where did you decide on in the end?