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.

Thank you, memememe.

I know you are currently home-schooling, but I do think you should have one eye on schools in whichever area you choose as you (or your children!) may decide they want to switch to school-based education as they get older.

I know three families who started off home-schooling and all are now in secondary school. Two switched in at 11 and one at 13. In two of the families it was the children themselves who said they wanted to go to school. In another, the mum became ill (cancer) and couldn't continue . My point is that you need to think ahead and check that any area you move to has decent schools otherwise you might find yoruself forced to move again or pay private school fees.

Yes, I think I have said that in either this one or my previous that we are bearing choice in mind, for secondary.
Thank you though!

Any update, OP? We are also considering a move to the area, preferably a village near Guildford, so this thread has been very helpful.