Outer London/Surrey - London or Surrey, best of both?

[Yoozanaim]

Hi
Further to my other posts regarding relocating (so thank you again those who contributed there) I am weighing up my options - 'proper' Surrey (Guildford/Godalming/Oxted etc), or Surrey/Greater London borders.
DH will be commuting in to London so I am factoring in commute times and costs, but also finding the right area for us to raise our children. I had my heart set on a pretty Surrey village but am a bit put off by some previous comments about how isolating that could be for independent teens, so am rethinking that, as well as a tedious commute into London.

So I have started looking at the Greater London area which is London-ish but also Surrey. I'd love some input please into the following areas - primarily - how nice they are, do they feel proper Surrey or more like London (or a good combination of both/neither/or what), do any have a pretty high street and a nice village green, do they have a nice community vibe, are they safe? Anything I need to know (apart from schooling.)?

• Tadworth
• Caterham
• Cheam
• Kenley
• Old Coulsdon
• Warlingham
• Chaldon
• Banstead

(I am not closed to any other similar areas - have listed these as I have identified affordable properties that fit our requirements there.)
Thank you in advance.

I definitely do not want to live in an area that is just housing - I want detached house in a nice area with decent access to activities for the kids (ballet, football, swimming etc), good public transport for us now but also for when the kids are independent teens, not a tedious slow train and not so far from London that we never make the effort to go there for day trips or theatre nights and Xmas shopping etc, and also not so far that DH can't do it daily and not feel demoralised about it.

I do feel a pull to Dorking or the villages around Guildford, but worry they are just that little bit too far from London, timewise and the cost of travel hiking up.

Chaldon is quite rural.

Reigate is very nice but not London, although prices are similar, trains are not the best but there are some. Redhill is bigger and has a station where trains actually run.

Coulsdon, Purley might be of interest. Worcester Park, Chobham.

From Warlingham/Kenley you would find most activities still a drive away in either Oxted, Caterham or
Purley.

Whyteleafe and Caterham are Zone 6.

Oxted and Reigate are not.

Council tax is a lot lower if you buy over the boundary into LB Croydon.

Some xposting, sorry.

Cece, requirements are:

• decently spacious home and decent garden, (I don't need a palace, but we do need space)

• commutable to Waterloo within around an hour (ideally an hour door to door)

DH is moving jobs hence relocating, and job will be near Waterloo, but I also want to focus on Surrey as other jobs come up in his industry around Guildford and Brighton, so it would be good to have options to commute to those areas too and not have to move house again.

• community spirit (I was initially looking at village life but started a previous thread and most people put me off, mainly for reasons of lack of decent public transport and teenages being stuck unable to go anywhere.)
• good array of clubs and classes (my kids are currently home educated and we over-compensate with a multitude of activities like trampolining club, swimming, diving, ballet, gym, drama/singing, athletics etc)
• bonus points for somewhere with great outdoor cycling and rowing
• bonus points for a pretty high street - I don't really do shopping and lunching, but I do like a mooch around pretty surroundings
• woods/forest and lots of green spaces/water

I live in one of those places too. What you want isn’t possible with your budget. Sorry.

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions, I truly appreciate you all taking the time to help me.

Anywhere you can suggest, Orangedaisy? Or what budget do I need? Perhaps we can stretch.

If you don't mind new build developments you could look at Cane Hill or Netherne (slightly older) which are relatively close to the Coulsdon stations, although you may find detached is beyond your budget. Both have cycle paths and designed community feel.

I looked at Netherne but as far as I can see, it's got some weird set up where you have to pay if you ever move out, and you pay an annual fee for living there too.
Not heard of Cane Hill - will look. Am not opposed to new builds on principle but the vast majority all have such tiny gardens that I rule them out.

Cane Hill is hideous!

Caterham/Warlingham is no good for Waterloo. And Guildford is often a driving nightmare going that way round M25. Redhill would be an easier train to Guildford. Next to Reigate and a bit cheaper.

Ugly as hell though.

4 bed detached in Whyteleafe. Easy walk to the 2 stations. Buses to Caterham and Purley (free for kids) . Very close open spaces.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-58787325.html

Have you thought about Molesey?
Close to the Thames, swimming pool, annual carnival, good schools, easy to get to Waterloo,lots going on in Kingston, ( Rose Theatre, cinema, bowling etc)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E83062&index=24

Thank you! I've already got that one saved! :) I like it. And well within budget.

What about Woldingham? Possibly too rural but only a stop on the train from both Oxted and Warlingham.

There is a shop in the village where you can buy things for your horse - thats a sign of ‘country’ for me!

West Molesey ticks the area boxes, but I can't find a detached place within budget unless it has tiny boxes for bedrooms - but I have saved it as a search, thank you. We wouldn't mind a doer-upper as long as it was habitable.

I meant to add Hampton Court and Bushy Park on the doorstep too.

Surbiton is gorgeous and closer into London than Guildford. Cheam is also lovely

Woldingham is very expensive and not great transport links. I live in Warlingham near the village green - it's great here but I think you should look at Sanderstead - much better schools for primary and Riddlesdown for secondary is good. Good transport. It's a bit more upmarket than Warlingham I think.

Thanks all.

Ha, won't be getting a horse, but good to know!

Surbiton proving too pricey, but I have got a couple of places saved in Cheam - can you tell me any more about Cheam, stanski?

Cheam is very very urban compared to Warlingham etc. Very different vibe. Cheam Village is nice (and priced accordingly) but it falls off quite a bit going North.

Cheam station is pretty poor for getting in to town considering how close in it is. LB Sutton is a grammar area which may sway you one way or another.

What about Walton on Thames? Nice enough high Street. Not pretty, but it's got some good bits. It's by the river too.

Buy in Hersham and you are on the quick train into London.

So much to research - stations look like they could be good then I hear the service is terrible.
Looked at Walton On Thames - think it's been proving a little pricey too, but will keep it in mind, thank you, especially Hersham if the trains are good to London.

Having lived Purley / Coulsdon /Carshalton / Caterham area during 1950s/60s/70s I wouldn't go back now - much too busy , seems you are in a traffic jam every time you go out.
Now in Godalming which I love but that too has become busier especially in last 5 years
Can you visit ?

No chance of a detached for 650k in surbiton though...