Reigate or Banstead?

[buntingandstarcharts]

Hi everyone, I posted yesterday about which areas may suit us for our next move (from
Earlsfield) and everyone was incredibly helpful. It's such a difficult time not being able to drive to these places for a walk without breaking lockdown rules so for now we are continuing to research as much as poss. Two places that have come up again and again are Reigate and Banstead. I will be driving to Wimbledon for work and my husband will need to commute to
Soho. We have young children and so good state schools are essential. Our families are both south London too so all in all both these locations seem great on paper. It seems both are pricey but we could get a 3 bed for our budget. However, would love insider info on which is 'nicer' or general experiences, are both similar? Is one more family esque than another? As mentioned: I don't know either area at all and so I'm keen to hear any honest opinions to help us before we are able to go and view the areas and some properties for ourselves. Thanks again for everyone's time, it is truly appreciated

The drive from Reigate to Wimbledon is a long drag up the A217 everyday.especailly in traffic.

Commuting from Banstead by train is crap but if you get to Sutton it's good Commuting to London from Reigate isn't great and lots of people go from Redhill.

During the day not much between the two towns. Banstead has a Waitrose whereas Reigate has a Morrisons.

Priory park in Reigate is much better than Banstead park

In the evening Banstead can be quiet and Reigate has (had) much more of an evening economy/night life.

Of the 2 I prefer Reigate but it is a long drive to Wimbledon

I think I would go mad if I had to commute from Reigate to Wimbledon and back every day - assuming you have to go in every day.

Thank you @Blankscreen that's very helpful and some very interesting points. You both say the drive to Wimbledon would be awful so maybe that scraps Reigate off the list? I work part time but would still be back and forth three days a week which isn't ideal if it's a bad journey. I thought it might take 40 mins but google maps isn't going to be a true deal right now so probs a bit deluded x

As i posted yesterday i drive from putney to redhill via A3 and M25 and it takes 50 mins. The same drive to Reigate would take an hour. Your journey from Merstham for example to Wimbledon should be achievable in 45 mins imo. Merstham is just north of Redhill on the A23.

You will have to be very careful in both for secondary school admissions - they both have school deserts. I would be looking more around Epsom and Ewell or even Cheam if you want Surrey but a quicker commute to Wimbledon.

Reigate to Wimbledon would be a nightmare. Trains from both are awkward. I dont know about schools. I'd look at sutton, cheam, epsom personally based on your comments. Or kingston/surbiton but not sure how those compare price wise to reigate/banstead.

Thanks @sunshinesupermum somehow I missed this post yesterday, or didn't register - it's very handy to have a real life experience compare to.

@Reedwarbler @SpaceOp I would be driving to Wimbledon on the a217 and 50 mins doesn't sound too dreadful, 3 days a week ... or is this a route that often gets snarled up? I wouldn't be getting the train.

@sunshinesupermum

As i posted yesterday i drive from putney to redhill via A3 and M25 and it takes 50 mins. The same drive to Reigate would take an hour. Your journey from Merstham for example to Wimbledon should be achievable in 45 mins imo. Merstham is just north of Redhill on the A23.

But that section on m25 is notorious for hold ups. You can access m25 at Reigate Hill so not much difference in times between Reigate or Merstham. Leatherhead/Ashstead might be a compromise, perhaps using A24.

LIZS yes I use the A24 or A217 routes as well. Just wanted to let bunting know that her route to Wimbledon from Redhill (not Reigate!) may not be as bad as she is being led to believe! At least it's not every day.

Have a look at the Leatherhead, Bookham area. Smaller towns/villages but easier drive to Wimbledon and better train service.

My sister used to drive from Reigate to Wimbledon and she hated it I've asked how long it used to take and she said about 1 hr 20 in normal traffic in the mornings.

50 minutes on a saturday afternoon in lockdown is more like 90 minutes in traffic. I used to drive from the Sutton/cheam border to earls field often and with traffic it could take 40 minutes. I think from reigate in rush hour..... well, I wouldnt want to do it.

Ok so driving to Wimbledon might be ridiculous from Reigate immediately after maternity leave so next question is.... which is nicest Ewell or Banstead? Similar? Any opinions greatly appreciated x

naicer? In a MN way? definitely bits of Banstead but you will have to watch the school admissions. Depends how much money you have really - if its a lot then I would just choose Cheam Village and have done with it.

Banstead station is across the A217 from the village and commute not great. High Street pleasant and it has a community feel. Ewell feels like suburb of Epsom.

@ChristopherTracy thanks for your help. Sadly, not a lot of money and certainly less than we imagined making on our two bed flat (weep). £550k and we would require 3 bed minimum, gulp. Thanks for your help throughout this thread, really really kind of you and so so helpful.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100122149#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73739733#/

I think banstead is "nicer" ito the area, high street etc. I like the houses and shops, more restaurants and so on. Ewell is more practical. Depending on where in ewell you are house prices are manageable. Ditto school choices are great (for girls it can depend where in ewell you are). ewell more convenient ito being easy to get to sw london by both car or train.

@buntingandstarcharts I live between Reigate and Banstead but drive to merstham station to commute into London which is great. House prices are generally cheaper as we aren't in walking distance to station but if you don't mind driving you can get a lot more for your money. With regards to driving to Wimbledon it really depends on what time you plan on driving. I can do it in under 30 minutes but at the wrong time it's easily over an hour.

I wouldn’t fancy the drive from Reigate to Wimbledon 3 times a week in rush hour. Perfectly doable but would think circa 1 hr 10 to 15 mins would be expected.
Really do look at Cheam Village. You will get a 3 bed semi. It’s nice but not too far from everything familiar to you in Earlsfield. Easy commute for Wimbledon and your DH into London. Still close to your extended family etc.

It’s not such a shock as say moving further out to villages around Guildford. Some nice shops. Easy access into Sutton and Kingston. Definitely does have a suburban village type appeal (unlike Balham ha ha!). If I had wanted a half way house prior to leaving Earlsfield and going further out Cheam Village would have been high up on my list.

The thing is that you really need to drive to these places and just drive around the high street and surrounding roads to initially see if you like them. Then look at houses in the places that you like.

Banstead still worth a look as well.

You might also like Epsom. Much bigger. The link to that 2nd house that ChristoperTracy has given is in a sweet road 10 mins walk to the Station and 7 mins to the centre of Epsom. My nephew lived two doors down but has recently moved to Banstead.
If your DH was brought up in Earlsfield none of these places are going to be a backwater for you both, unlike say actual villages much further out of London.