Should we move to Farnham or Winchester?

[duchessa]

Hello wise MNers,

We're moving back to the UK after a number of years overseas, and following many weeks of exhaustive searches we've narrowed our choices to Farnham or Winchester.

We want somewhere with great state primaries and secondaries, close to nature, a reasonable commute to London, a place with some charm/history, and also some 'buzz' (cafes/restaurants etc). We also wanted to be within easy reach of friends and family in SW London, to be somewhere not too commuter belt/generic, and ideally somewhere with an artsy bent of some description!

We've discounted St Albans (too hectic) and sadly Tunbridge Wells (grammar school fears!)

It's SO hard to be doing this from thousands of miles away, during a global pandemic! We have visited both Farnham and Winchester and liked both - Farnham probably had the edge but there are very few rental properties coming up there. We have a good budget - 4k/month.

If you could choose to live in either place, where would it be?

Bumping : )

Have you compared property prices in both areas because I was surprised how expensive Winchester is. I have friends who live there and we have visited often. It is beautiful but very expensive. I live in the Esher area of Surrey and was surprised that Winchester is the same as here even though we are much closer to London.

Even though you are renting for now, you will probably settle down and then won’t want to leave the area you settle in. That’s why I’m saying you should look at property prices.

I grew up in Farnham, I would move there just for Elphicks

I work in Farnham. It’s lovely but the traffic is just awful, awful, awful. It’s only going to get worse with plans ro pedestrianise some of the toqn centre. Currently house hunting, but avoiding farnham. Lovely town though!

Farnham and Winchester are incredibly diff cities. Very diff feel and ethos

I would say your impression of St Albans is not quite right.... I've lived close to both and Winchester is much busier (also because the road network of Winchester is a nightmare whereas St Albans is just normal city traffic). It's obv closer to London.....

@PixellatedPixie

Have you compared property prices in both areas because I was surprised how expensive Winchester is. I have friends who live there and we have visited often. It is beautiful but very expensive. I live in the Esher area of Surrey and was surprised that Winchester is the same as here even though we are much closer to London.

It's because it v fast train into London. Alongside beautiful city and excellent schools

It's because it v fast train into London.

It’s not all about London lol.

Anywhere in the A3 corridor would give you easy access to SW London. places like Esher, Cobham, Guildford, Farnham etc. Farnham is lovely but as pp said traffic is shocking. Guildford is fab, great schools and fast trains to London, as well as the A3 straight into London too. Esher is more 'villagey' but not sure about schools.

@JoJoSM2

It's because it v fast train into London.

It’s not all about London lol.

Hence my second sentence.... beautiful place and excellent schools.

With £4k a month I'd move to Winchester in a heartbeat. It has everything you're looking for and a great connection to Waterloo. But pay for the best area you can afford as it makes a difference school wise. And don't move outside the city too far as public transport is rubbish.

I'd say Winchester has the edge.

Farnham is having massive building works over the next few years. It has some great schools, but also some not so good ones. And the sixth form college is small and most people commute to Godalming or Alton.
I would consider Alton actually.
But then Winchester is very buzzy, and is a city. But the house prices could be a factor.

@Desperado40

I work in Farnham. It’s lovely but the traffic is just awful, awful, awful. It’s only going to get worse with plans ro pedestrianise some of the toqn centre. Currently house hunting, but avoiding farnham. Lovely town though!

I have read that the traffic is a nightmare (although people in Winchester say it's dreadful there, too!)

If we weren't in a global pandemic I would fly over and do a proper recce but the 14-day quarantine puts paid to that idea It's so hard to do this from thousands of miles away!

I'm curious as to which areas you're house hunting in?

I know both fairly well and they have a lot going for them but in Winchester terraced houses easy walk to centre/station are £££ as much as in London...more than in some parts of London.
It depends what sort of house you want but I've noticed about both places that detached houses with bigger gardens further out tend to be a bit dull and uninspiring, the character and charm is really in the centre.

Farnham for me every time. Yes it’s got traffic but so has Winchester.
But I agree you need to be near the centre. Therefore it might just come down to what is available fairly central in either of them. You won’t go wrong with either so perhaps allow yourself the flexibility of what comes up in the right price range for the right property near the centre of either.

Also go with your gut feeling. I remember your last thread and you said you really liked Farnham.

I know both and would go for Winchester but both are nice. Farnham always feels a bit more like a thoroughfare to me and is definitely more commuter town.
My daughter is in Winchester and whilst there is traffic, she always manages to park on street near her city centre house. She is maybe five to ten minutes from the station. Good line to London.
Farnham seems to be in the shadow of Guildford where Winchester has a more small city feel but with the College grounds, the Water Meadows and swimming in the river as well as access to the Downs and only half an hour from the beaches on the south coast.
Very good schools too. Peter Symonds is one of best state six forms in the country.

@CherryPavlova

I know both and would go for Winchester but both are nice. Farnham always feels a bit more like a thoroughfare to me and is definitely more commuter town. My daughter is in Winchester and whilst there is traffic, she always manages to park on street near her city centre house. She is maybe five to ten minutes from the station. Good line to London. Farnham seems to be in the shadow of Guildford where Winchester has a more small city feel but with the College grounds, the Water Meadows and swimming in the river as well as access to the Downs and only half an hour from the beaches on the south coast. Very good schools too. Peter Symonds is one of best state six forms in the country.

Thanks, CherryPavlova. I am more drawn to Winchester at the moment, partly because there is considerably more rental stock, it seems! It did seem lovely when we went, but day trips are obviously very different to relocations!

Farnham

Winchester has 3 times the population of Farnham so there should be more properties to choose from.

I would absolutely choose Winchester. I know Farnham well and it's a bit dull and pedestrian, plus horrendous traffic. Also - feels like a commuter town rather than its own place iyswim.

Winchester - if you want country - New Forest is only 20-30 mins away, beach is about 45 mins ( if you time traffic right and avoid peak summer).

I live not far from Winchester and enjoy it - when we are not in a pandemic they do have lots of great events such as the Hat fair, Xmas markets, lantern parade etc. Weekly market is good as is the regular farmers markets.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74143287#/

Snap up this one. Fabulous house and location

That’s a very nice house.

Bit too near the student route from the uni to town imo, but a beautiful house.