Ember Lane / Weston Green

[Sunsetsandautumnalcolours]

Hi everyone - I’m looking to move to Elmbridge with husband and 10 month old asap. We’re got a fairly wide search area as we don’t seem able to find much meeting our criteria and budget (think there may be a backlog of houses coming on the market cos of lockdown).

We really like Claygate but as I say haven’t been able to find the right house as yet. We have however found a lovely house just off Ember Lane. Our concern though is that although it’s a lovely residential area, it doesn’t have many walkable amenities eg cafes etc and so whilst there’s lots within a 5-10 min drive, that may not be ideal with a little one.

Does anyone know the area and can comment on this and whether there’s a sense of community etc? Also any amenities that we’ve missed - we know of Marneys and the Imber Court sports club. Oh and the co op!

Thanks!

Hi there, welcome (nearly!) to the area.

We, like you, initially saw a lot of properties around Ember lane and Hinchley wood that were great in themselves, but the thing we were looking for was being able to walk to nice shops, cafes, activities and services as well as the station. The Ember lane area is good for Esher station, but not much else.

Claygate has a village centre (the "parade" with independent butcher, baker, fishmonger, cafe/delis etc. as well as the "old village" which is where the village hall and the church are (2 mins walk) ) plus the new clubhouse at the recreation ground where all the kids sports are on. All walkable within 10mins, as is Claygate Primary or ECS and for private: Shrewsbury, Milborne Lodge and Rowan for girls, so it's very much more self contained. Claygate properties tend to get snapped up even if they need a lot of work.

Get chatting to the local agents (Grosvenor and Matthew Pierce or Newton Hux) and you'll be in with a chance of getting something before market, esp now when sellers don't want lots of people trekking through.

My view is that the Ember Lane area is neither one thing nor the other - it's not London and it's not actually a Surrey village like East Molesey, Claygate, Oxshott ... but there are nice houses there and I'm sure those who live there will have lots of positives I haven't thought of.

Good luck!

I’ve got good friends who live in both Claygate and Esher (near Ember Lane). I love the little Claygate high street and proximity to the station. As the PP mentions, there are great schooling options too.

It would need to be a spectacular house to make me consider Ember Lane area. Especially as the road itself is very busy. Esher and Weybridge are similar in that you’re either near the station or the high street...it’s 20+ mins walk between station and amenities.

Also, if you’re planning to commute into London, it’s standing room only on the rush hour trains from Esher (or it used to be pre-covid!). That was enough to deter us from buying there.

Thanks both - really helpful and echoes my thinking really. It’s tricky when there’s a house you really like though and you have to risk not finding another one as good!

We’ve signed up with the agents as you suggested whiteflores.

Hadn’t even thought about the potential of trains being that busy - thanks JinglesWish. Do either of you know if they’re better from Claygate? I doubt I’ll return to commuting every day but even a few days a week I’m not keen on standing for 25 mins...Also re trains actually, do you know how reliable they are? I know they’re less frequent from/to Claygate than Esher, so punctuality and not being cancelled very often is more important...

Thanks again!

Hi @Sunsetsandautumnalcolours - we are in the same situation as you were, just a couple of years later. Please may I ask what you decided in the end and why? Would be really useful to know. Many thanks!