Recommended areas to live with access to both Heathrow and Gatwick

[Dynamo1987]

Hello all!
We are a couple in our early 30s with a 6 month old baby who work out of both Heathrow and Gatwick airport. Our budget is 400-500k and we’re looking for a 3 bed semi/detached.
As we don’t require excellent transport links into London, it’s more value for money we are after with a nice area to bring up kids (rather than overly priced commuter belt paradises full of wealthy stockbrokers! We are keeping an open mind and would consider West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire or Berkshire, as long as within an hour or so of each airport. Would definitely consider small towns although villages probably preference!

Thanks so much for listening to my waffle!

Leatherhead or Guildford would be worth looking at; both have fast access to both airports. Look at the outlying villages for more bang for buck

Cheam, Ewell, bits of Epsom. Guildford surely too stockbrokery and expensive?

I would focus on one of you finding a new job tbh! With m25 delays etc and hour commute from each is a struggle.

Thanks guys. Loofah any villages you know of around Leatherhead that are particularly worth a look? We’re from up north originally.

Thanks Chris will take a look at Cheam and Ewell.

Any more suggestions from anyone?

Godstone? Easy access to m25 and m23 for airports, no station so not that appealing to masses of commuters. Similarly bletchingly and south nutfeild. Cheaper than usual commuter towns. All nice communities for families.

Cheam and Ewell are nice but they are popular commuter destinations so you would pay a premium for something you don't need. Places like Ashtead (near Leatherhead) might work well (near M25 junction). It's still going to be reasonably pricey as Epsom is very desirable. If you go outside M25 prices might be lower and some more villagey (rather than suburban).

Cranleigh, Loxwood, Alfold and surrounding areas. There are some seriously lovely areas around here. Lots of building going on and I bet some very worried developers ATM so there may be bargains to be had.

Weybridge (closer to Heathrow than Gatwick). We live a mile from the town centre and DH travels weekly from both airports (or at least he did before coronavirus).

There are some seriously gorgeous properties and very fast train links to London (even though you say you don’t need them). Great schools too.

Yeh weybridge is lovely but very expensive! Some great tips here thanks to everyone for the help. Much appreciated. Will have a good look at some of these places when we can and we’ll make a decision soon

Dorking and Reigate are nice. Westhumble is a lovely small village close to Gatwick but on the london victoria and waterloo train lines. Villages on the Gatwick to reading train line include betchworth, and gomshall. Closer to leatherhead you could look at bookham which is a bit more built up than the smaller villages mentioned above.

I know it sounds premature but check a good school and nursery (even a good secondary as it will save moves in the future).

@Dynamo1987 Yep - Oxshott, Horsley, East Horsley, Effingham, Great Bookham are all nice. Slightly south of those (you'll see they're in a line moslty sort of south west of Leatherhead) and you have Shere, Abinger Hammer and Gomshall.

We're trying to buy in Dorking. Good transport links, great schools, lots to do with a young family, lovely countryside. We looked at ashtead and leatherhead too but you can hear the m25 which put us off. People have been really friendly when we've been in the parks and softplay etc. Lots of lovely villages nearby too if you don't need to be close to a station

Some of the villages around the Woking area would be suitable.

Byfleet, West Byfleet, Addlestone, New Haw are nice and more affordable than Weybridge.

Epsom. We used to call Gatwick Epsom Airport. It is 20 minutes by car. Heathrow is the same mileage but a slower journey. I spent 3 years travelling to both airports weekly. If you look at the College Area of Epsom that is closer to the road that takes you to Gatwick.

Ashtray is lovely. Leatherhead is Ok but for younger people like you Epsom has more going on and easier to get to London if you want.

Dorking is lovely too.

Redhill, Reigate, Mogador. All reasonable travelling distance to both.