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.

Eight and four, and an allotment is a consideration - but their cousins had one and only ever found it a chore having to go to it rather than just being able to open the back door - I'd really rather our own garden.

Have you thought about/looked at Merstham?
Just north of Redhill, not the most beautiful architecturally, but a good community feel, and we can walk to most activities for the DC.
Trains to London Bridge/Victoria in 35mins and it’s only 14mins to Gatwick.
I think it’s quite villiagey with a lovely village fete and lots of people know each other. 3 good primary schools (not a consideration for you but good for selling on!) and a new secondary.
You can get a detached within your budget within easy walking of the station!

Albury Road, Merstham, Redhill
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59857584.html

Thank you! Also considering areas outside of those within z6 as per my OP, was just seeing if I could get what I wanted close to London, but seems not - Merstham seems like it could work for us - thank you!

That house on Wyeths Road backs onto allotments. Lots of the houses have gates from house to allotment, don't know if that one does.

I lived for 20 years with a tiny garden but a gate into my double allotment. It was wonderful!

What about something like this? You've only 25 mins walk from the station 35 from Waterloo
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69492124.html

Funnily enough I was also going to say Merstham. But I’m not sure what it and Redhill would offer for teens, aside from the East Surrey college.

@usingmyindoirvoice do you mean educationally? Most of the secondaries have 6th forms and there’s also Reigate college.
You can get to Nescot, Croydon and Crawley colleges on public transport easily.

Well if it literally backs on, that could work!

Thanks. Ariela - internal space is ample, just the garden slightly less than ideal. I was actually just looking at this one, just outside Woking, but with a garden that would be perfect - not sure how too far out it is though, don't know the area at all: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61089717.html - obviously a bit above budget but they might budge.

Also love this one, and under budget!
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59268423.html - any info on this area?

I know these areas well and I wouldn’t consider them. I think Reigate, Epsom, Oxted are much nicer and easy to get into London

Can you tell me why, please? (Apart from ease of getting to London.)

I'm getting so much more for my money just a little bit out, and the kids would love a woody garden.

What about Great Bookham? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75298124.html?onetime_savedPropertyId=75298124#summary75298124

I meant for ‘stuff to do’ under their own steam, mango
Oxted is nice but I always think Just William is going to pop out from behind a house with his gang of outlaws and a pea shooter!

The Pyrford one is quite a nice spot, with the common across the road. It’s in between Woking and West Byfleet stations so not that close to either of them. I’d say that’s a better location than the Hermitage, but that’s quite good for open space too and has a good community feel.

Great Bookham is nice, much more village-like and with really great access to the Surrey Hills, but commute is longer - nothing like Woking - and not as much going on.

We moved to Kenley at the start of the year having previously lived in zone 2 very close to the tube. I love it. We have a lovely big garden and it’s easy to get the train into London Bridge. We do spend a lot of time driving now which is the down side. I really love Godstone and Nutfield if you’re looking for a village feel with a cute high street. Reigate is lovely but expensive.

Many thanks, all of you!

I already have to drive a lot, I can't imagine anywhere necessitates more driving than I currently do for all their clubs and activities. I'm not bothered about driving, but I don't want to be sat in traffic too much - is congestion a concern around the areas we are talking about (outwith school rush hour and the work rush hour)?

OP, we are in similar position to you, I would prefer Detached as well, but will probably have to compromise for good school and commute. Our shortlist of location is in Surrey - Weybridge, Addlestone, Dorking, Haslemere, Guidlford and also to throw in options in Herfordshire - St Albans, Harpenden, Hertford. Would love to hear everyone opinion too. :-)

Caterham has a lot going for it, up and coming (big town centre regeneration project about to start), good schools, wide range of housing stock, good community feel - lots of events, farmers markets, etc Not that pretty yet but getting better. Fantastic transport links, half an hour to London from zone 6, 2 separate lines to offset any issues. Hour or so from the coast. Easy access to M25,.Gatwick, Heathrow. Still in zone 6 so train fares aren't crazy.

Hi, zchm. Is your budget around the same as ours? I think if we had just £100k more we could get SO much more house. I have lived attached all my adult life (grew up in detached) and I have vowed never again - we have had nothing but issues, and I'd really rather add an extra 15 minute walk to get into town/train station - and count it as exercise rather than a chore! I also had this kind of long walk as a teen to get any public transport and it help me fit. Won't hurt the kids to do the same.
Are you relocating from far away? Or do you know the areas under consideration at all?

calpop, thank you. I think we are veering towards Bookham/Epsom/Ewell and Caterham - ish.
Though at the same time, Dorking keeps calling me!!! DH is a very keen cyclist, he'd love it - the space would be great for the rest of us, so when we are ready to move, I feel I have a little focus now. (We haven't even got ours on the market yet - I am just trying to get my head around the new areas, and working out if it's viable. I think it is, and I am keen to move.)
Oh, and also Guildford as the swimming pool looks AMAZING and my children would live there!

its an easy journey from epsom/ewell to the swimming pool in Guildford

I would make sure you pick the area of Epsom/Ewell for the good secondary schools as well

Thanks - I will bear that in mind.

Any info on Dorking secondary schools/college?

OP, I think we have similar budget :-), but our requirement is such a long list. We are moving over from St Albans - would love to stay here, but prefer more option since everything seems to be over our budget and we always love Surrey - our favourite restaurants/pubs are in Guildford and nearby. No family attached so our location is very flexible, as long as it's easy to commute (75mins door to door max), good school (prefer walkable as I would hate drive everywhere for school run), safe/nice town with things to do for us, the kids, must be near somewhere green as well for the daily dogs walk, 2 parking space, 4 beds or 3 beds plus study (or 3 beds with option to convert) - Not many requirement at all
Have you looked into St Albans -not the town centre with your budget, but worth look into area of Marshalwick or Sandridge (if you love cycling, it's very easy to get to the station). I can say all the things you are after you can find in St Albans (lovely town with swimming pools, fitness centre), theatre, cinema (lovely adult cinema Odyssey or Imax Cinema in Hemmel Hamstead), tons of activities for teenage in nearby Watford too, lovely walks and parks.

If your husband is a keen cyclist he’ll want to cycle to Dorking and Box Hill not live there😉
Places for you to visit:
East Molesey, Bridge Road and Hurst Park Meadows, Molesey Lock and a walk along the Thames
Leatherhead and Bocketts Farm, close to Bookham Fetcham etc
Epsom, and onto the Downs, Tattenham Corner, and around the race course
Merstham, Gatton Park and the top of Reigate Hill
Oxted, and back to Godstone and Bletchingley, to Redhill/Reigate
Caterham on the Hill and the Happy Valley area,
Drive from Leatherhead to Guildford