Moving out of Croydon Possible East Grinstead or surrounding areas?

[riadan]

Hi there, :) I have an 8 year old and really wish to get out of Croydon. Considering East Grinstead but after a couple of weekend visits that we enjoyed have just been told that the week is totally different!

Very busy - a dreadful commute, traffic a nightmare and town very chavvy.
We are late 40's, enjoy a decent pub, want a home with a garden and imagine my child at 14 being safe to go shopping with a couple of mates on a Saturday. Don;t want him hanging around MCDonalds but involved in clubs and out cycling.
I know its a way off and sometimes Mumsnet is about younger children but any feedback on living there?

Hope so
Thanks

How will your commute be from EG?? Surely worse than from Croydon.

What about Horsham? Oxted is nice, but pricey and not much availability.

EG is a traffic disaster area!

Where do you have to commute to?

Trains from EG are not bad - Thameslink to London Bridge and through to Bedford during rush hour morning and evening. Half hourly Southern service to Victoria throughout the day. Both via East Croydon so options to change there.

We used to live in EG and loved it there. For some of the time we lived there DH commuted to London (bearable, esp as it was terminus to terminus so you got a seat), and for a couple of years he commuted to Croydon (awful). I was working in Crawley (fine).

The worst thing about living there was the traffic if the M25 was fouled up tbh

I used to live near E.G. Always went there for shopping etc, We would of happily lived there, nice area really with good transport links. Could you 'holiday' there for a week to get a better feel?

I don't live in EG but nearby. It's not chavvy! I think you are mixing it up with Crawley Traffic is only an issue if you use the A22 north of the town and then only during rush hour. The commute is fine - the station is a terminus so always get a seat in the morning, although it is long for only 30 miles into London and the trains stop everywhere. Plenty to do - swimming pool, theatre, choirs, churches etc.

thanks for reply. I work from home and occasionally in London and partner will have to get to Tower Hill but hopes to change job soon.

Yeah, I reckon that drive will be awful to Croydon but trains OKay - we are going to do train journey at peak to check out.

Thanks - after Croydon, a local town feel is what we are looking for and E.G seemed to have that. Glad you like it

will check out Horsham - don't know it thanks

How about Haywards Heath? Lots of trains to East Croydon/London Bridge/Victoria.