Surrey / Hampshire boarders

[helpmechoosewheretolive]

I'm in need of some insight into several Surrey / Hampshire areas as we are planning on buying that way later this year. In particular, Ash, Ash Vale, Aldershot and Farnborough.

I know Aldershot isn't deemed as that desirable, but our budget constrains us to these areas for affordability. We've seen a few houses in each area but would love to know what the community aspect is in each area, primary schools, accessibility to transport and shops.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

I dont know about schools but i like aldershot. Its being invested in. It has all the essentials and its minutes to Farnham if you want a shopping centre with a market town feel or to eat somewhere with a vibe.

Farnborough is on a better train line. I dont know it so well though.

@helpmechoosewheretolive we've just moved from Ash. It's an ok place to live and the schools seemed ok but there's a fair bit of anti social behavior in the area....I'm sure it happens in every area though.
Aldershot definitely has nicer bits and they are doing quite allot of investment in the area.

Personally I wouldn't move to Farnborough as it just doesn't seem like the nicest place to live but that's probably personal preference. Have you thought about Mychett or Frimley?

Nothing wrong with A’shot. It’s what you make of it that’s more important. Plenty of pro’s and con’s with the area, as there are with many other areas. Not many places have the history and heritage like A’shot does.

Only one of us drive due to medical reasons, and we have a toddler, so a good connection straight into London (family are based here, as is work) is a must, which is putting us off Mychett etc.

Bentley, Liss and Liphook are on the train line into London. Is it the Hampshire side of the border that you are looking at?

It's anywhere that is near a station that can get me & potentially a buggy / 2 kids into Clapham or Waterloo within 45 mins. Our budget is small so Aldershot seems to be best bang for the buck!

@arthurdaly are you able to tell me if there are any parts in particular to avoid in Ash? Also, where do people get their food shop from?!

OP - I'm looking in the same areas. I'm keener on Farnborough as the train service is better to London and to my job. The area east of the airport/north camp seems fine to me but I currently live on a council estate so most places seem better

I'd also like to hear some more views on these areas.

Farnborough main is Waterloo in 45 minutes most days. Housing stock has massive variety. Ash Vale is also on the main line but Ash is on the branch line, Reading to Guildford. Ash Vale is a bit more spread out, Ash is more villagey, Aldershot is having a lot of housing built on ex-Army land but doesn't have much to rave about in the town centre. I would be driven more by school reputations and ousted reports if that was relevant to my needs. The county boundary runs between them so if you want Wavell school you're better off choosing Aldershot or Farnborough to make admissions a bit easier.

Have you looked a bit further out on the Petersfield train line? So Petersfield has a wide housing stock, Liss, lip hook, parts of Guildford. These all have community feel and local shops.

You could even look at Havant areas that's on the train line to Waterloo and again great mix of housing.

And then you've all got the little known Alton train line - Alton would suit and Tick all of your boxes, lots of new housing going up, older stock, great schools and a train to London but I think it's a slower train, but the town is good, lots of shops and community.

Note that the station at Ash Vale is great on the main line but has a lot to steps up which could be challenge with a buggy. They've been talking about a lift for years but nothing yet.

@Camandmitch the only parts that are probably best to avoid are Winchester Road and some of the roads that surround it.

@luxurychocolate that's really helpful about the Ash Vale train station steps, I didn't realise Ash didn't go straight into London. Ideally I need to be able to get into Clapham Junction in 30-45 mins, again sometimes with a buggy for childcare purposes. Work wise, we need to be able to get into Victoria (hence Clapham) and Putney.

I wouldn't live in Aldershot.

The steps at Ash Vale are dreadful.

Farnborough is a great train line, but the place itself is IMO utterly soulless.

As mentioned Ash is only a branch line to Guilly.

Guilly is expensive.

Alton is the start of the line into Waterloo and you will always get a seat.

I live in Farnham, but if I had to move it would be to Alton.

Alton is lovely. I also think Fleet and Farnham seem nice.

Fleet has a nice high street, in that it looks like a high street should, not sure of the quality of the shops now as I haven't been there for years, but it's proximity to the M3 is both a blessing and a curse. IMO

Guilly?!

I have honestly never heard Guildford referred to as Guilly!

I’m in Fleet and it’s a good place. I’m in Ancells which is probably one of the cheaper bits, I’m about 250m from the m3 but tbh it’s not too bad- it’s there if you listen for it but it’s not massively in your face. Schools seem good generally, ds9 will be hopefully going to Calthorpe which has a good reputation. Waterloo 54 mins at the moment but there were faster services pre covid (39mins I think)

@Mildura

Guilly?!

I have honestly never heard Guildford referred to as Guilly!

You clearly don't have enough teenagers in the back of your car.

I realised after I had hit post that I had used the shorthand.

My son and his teen friends think they are rappers at the moment, everything gets abbreviated.

We have:

The shot (Aldershot)

The Farn (Farnborough)

The Ham (Farnham)

Guilly

Yesterday, I heard one of my sons late teen (19/20) friends speak to one of the other guys and in the most beautiful Surrey/Hampshire accent say to them hey Bro you up for comin (no g) to FF's crib, for pizza and beers. I may have sprayed my wine.

And this is why we need an edit button.

Sorry for going off on a tangent OP

Farnham, Alton, Petersfield all much more expensive than Aldershot OP when you are on a budget.

Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Havant all more than 35/45 mins to Clapham junction.

The shot

in the most beautiful Surrey/Hampshire accent say to them hey Bro you up for comin (no g) to FF's crib, for pizza and beers

Love this.

You clearly don't have enough teenagers in the back of your car

Haha

Nope, not at that stage yet.

Brilliant!

Since you mention need to get to Clapham... Weirdly most of the trains from Farnborough (and also Fleet which has been mentioned upthread and would otherwise be a great option if budget can stretch) don’t stop at Clapham during rush hour. So you’d have to change, probably at Woking or pay more money to into Waterloo and back. It doesn’t take ages, about 40 minutes for Farnborough via Woking but you have to time the journey precisely and slight delays can totally bugger it up. Don’t know if that would be a deal breaker for you? A relative of mine did Fleet->Clapham every day for years and it drove him to distraction.