Oxshott - Valid Concerns? Or Esher/Thames Ditton

[FBRaincoat]

Hi - my wife, 9 month old daughter and I are making the well-worn move from south-West London to Surrey and have focused our search so far on Esher, Thames Ditton and Teddington.
We both commute a couple of times a week to the city.

We're looking for a good family home (4+ bedrooms), with a good garden, done guys green spaces around and preferably a good community with some nice shops/cafes etc. Obviously good schools too, but I think all these areas have those.

Anyway, our focus had been on Esher/Thames D (Teddington seemed too expensive to get any decent garden), but have struggled a little too find the right place, with it favorite house to date being just north of Esher station. I guess an 8/10 house for us.

Which leads us to Oxshott . It hadn't been a focus us, but we just found online and viewed wear is close to a 'dream' house for us in Oxshott. Beautiful garden, perfect size, good parks around etc. We understand drive of the drawbacks there, including longer commute and v small village and are pretty much comfortable with them.

Which takes me to my question. What is the overall vibe and friendliness of Oxshott? It obviously has the celeb/footballer reputation, but is there a more regular, down to earth community? We are particularly worried about our daughter, who we don't really want to grow up thinking that everybody in this world lives in gated communities of mansions. We'd like some 'normal' friends for her basically!

Are we worried about nothing? People seemed v nice when we walked around, but then you get some horror stories when looking online etc!

Thanks.

Sorry about the typos/autocorrects - sent while walking baby in sling! 'Some good green spaces'...'what is close to a dream house'... 'some of the drawbacks there'... Hopefully the rest makes sense!

If you want the high street vibe, Cobham might be better. Sounds like you have the budget for it.

I drive quite often between Cobham and Oxshott. The large mansions in Oxshott always give me the impression that no one sees their neighbours. The houses never looked lived in. Residents probably always at their second homes.

Are you from the US? There’s a large community in Cobham.

Hi,

No, I'm from south London!

Sorry, you said “favourite”!

Ha, yes. Think my phone defaults to US spelling sometimes.

But yes, there are parts of Oxshott that seem very gated, but then parts that seem far more open. I guess I'd really like to know from someone who lives round there if they do have a friendly neighborhood!

They’re too posh to be on Mumsnet!

Have you thought about Epsom? This house was built in 2016. We locals thought the price was shocking, but apparently they sold like hot cakes to people from SW London who were amazed that they got so much more for their money.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/map.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E9607&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=399&propertyTypes=&includeSSTC=true&viewType=MAP&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&viewport=-0.252961%2C-0.241975%2C51.3419%2C51.346&keywords=

Try Claygate, which abuts Esher? There are v expensive houses and more reasonable houses. Cafes, commons, parks, shops, pubs, lots of mother/baby/toddler groups. A very villagey feel.

It isn't nearly as exclusive and distanced feeling as Oxshott, and is closer to London.

Yes thanks, we've looked at Claygate. Seemed great and we probably would prefer it. The problem, like I mentioned, is that so really found a perfect house in Oxshott, whilst we're slightly drawing blanks in Esher, TD and Claygate. So I'm really trying to work out if I just need to forget that house and veto Oxshott.

Plenty of non-footballers in Oxshott. There's even a council estate ! Sense of community - I think if you have kids or are church goers there's plenty of potential. Personally I think it can struggle a bit though, particularly now the Vic has closed for good. Clay gate I always felt was far better community-wise.

Transport isn't good though, if you have teens they're relying on a half hourly train service or parent taxi.

Have you looked at East Molesey? Walkable to Esher station, London buses, slightly cheaper than Oxshott. Or Claygate/Hinckley wood.

Post a link to the Oxshott house and we can comment.

You couldn’t pay me to live in Oxshott. There is no real heart to the place. Wherever you live in Elmbridge you are well placed for the woods, but if you want somewhere with a community feel have a look at East Molesey.

And the name of the coffee shop in Oxshott brings out an irrational reaction in me. Munch and Wiggles, argh just writing it makes my teeth itch.

So not a fan then?

I still keep looking more at E Molesey, Claygate, Esher. It's just hard to find as nice a place there for anything like the same cost.

If community and amenities are important to you I'd definitely hang on for somewhere in KT10, KT8 or KT7.

Oxshott is lovely as a place to live and if you've found a house you love I would go for it. It isn't all gated developments and there is a nice community atmosphere. There isn't much going on in the village but most people go down the road to Cobham which has more in the ways of cafes etc and is very nice.
There used to be a brilliant preschool in the church hall which was a real social hub and a great place for people with young children to meet up but it's gone now and I'm not sure what replaced it.
The woods are on your doorstep and you can walk for miles off road and there is a nice playground in Oxshott and a couple more in Stoke D'Abernon which are suitable for small children.

Thanks SoppySpaniel - out of interest do you / did you live in Oxshott? I'd love to hear more about it in terms of where people hang out, friendliness of different areas etc!

I grew up in oxshott. If you me child goes to private school, you should be fine. It’s a lovely village, we had a great time. If not have you looked at The Horsleys? Lovely area, mix of private schools and fantastic state schools and very normal. Thames Ditton and Esher people tend to move away with children.

Op, what's your budget? I know Oxshott but can't comment on what it's like to live in, however I'd say it feels very definitely not London, whereas East Molesey still feels like what it is- right on the edge of London. I'm not sure they're really comparable as offer very different lifestyles. Oxshott will mean driving. If you got the right place in Easy Molesey you could very easily walk to most regular amenities, for example.