Moving to Guildford/Winchester/Oxford?

[Poseylouise]

Hi all! Myself, my husband and our two children (4 months and 3 years) are looking to relocate out of London. We currently live in surbiton which my husband likes but I think is pretty dull (very suburban for me!). We need to be an hour train from London for husbands work/family so have been thinking guildford/winchester/oxford. I went to uni in Brighton and adored it - I like the lefty/bohemian vibe but after visiting he feels it's a bit too 'city' to bring up the kids 🙄

So we are trying to agree - we want somewhere big enough with a 'buzz', things going on, access to the countryside but with a community feel. Preferably I would like somewhere with a cultural/arty vibe but not sure I will get that in any of these towns? Advice please! Also schools are important but I feel there are good schools everywhere.

Thanks so much xxx

I don't know Oxford well, but I do know Winchester and Guildford. They both have quite a bit going on, though neither are anywhere near as cultural/arty (or cool!) as Brighton. They both have the standard high street shops, nice restaurants, green space, etc. They're lovely traditional English towns and a nice place to bring up a family. They're also both close to lots of nice countryside.

Guildford is much quicker to London than Winchester - how often will he be commuting in? I used to commute from Winchester and often had to stand the whole journey because the trains or so busy, but this might be better since Covid. It's also worth factoring commuting costs into your budget - an annual travelcard from Winchester is about £600 per month I think, and a day return is about £80.

If you don't mind sharing, what's your budget and what do you want for your money? Winchester in particular is very expensive, and houses are going quickly - it's just taken some friends nearly a year to buy as they kept being outbid.

One final thing - why leave Surbiton? I can't think of anything Winchester or Guildford have that you couldn't also get in nearby Kingston or somewhere like Dulwich, except that they're surrounded by countryside.

Also, if you like Brighton, consider:

Bristol
Stroud
Tunbridge Wells
Hove
Totnes
Hastings

Winchester is lovely but extremely expensive and not lefty/arty, in my experience (of moving there from somewhere more like Brighton).

I think in fairness all three are likely to be categorised as extremely expensive and not as liberal/arty as Brighton!

Oxford is really vibrant. Loads of arty stuff going on - brilliant local theatre, Ashmolean for art exhibitions and the place is crawling with small concerts, shows by small scale touring companies etc. Great covered market and cafe culture. Countryside on the doorstep. Can be a bit lairy in the evenings and there is a visible homeless problem. Quite like Brighton - left wing and lively but (obviously) more academic and without the seaside.

If you’ve got a massive budget Winchester and Oxford are great for schools and countryside. Both are very culturally rich places but they’re obviously not lefty like Brighton. I don’t think Guildford has much more to offer culturally than surbiton but the countryside is very nice.

I agree with PPs that if you find Surbiton a bit dull and genteel, you will quickly go mad in Guildford or Winchester.

Guildford is nice but the culture is fairly mainstream (GLive and Yvonne Arnaud are not exactly cutting edge venues) and you are further from the rich culture of London. But the walks are out of this world. It is a pretty and safe place for DC (perfect town for teens to mill around safely, thinking they are being edgy by hanging out castle gardens etc.

If you’ve got a massive budget Winchester and Oxford are great for schools and countryside. Both are very culturally rich places but they’re obviously not lefty like Brighton. I don’t think Guildford has much more to offer culturally than surbiton but the countryside is very nice.

I agree with all of the above. Guildford is not anything like Brighton! What about Lewes?

I don’t think you will find Guildford or Winchester that different from surbiton. They are middle class, Home Counties.

Oxford is a bit more interesting/international because of the university, but housing in the city centre is extortionate and bought up by the university. You’ll probably need to live in one of the villages surrounding and again you may as well stay in surbiton (also your DH commute will be hideous).

Coming on to agree with other people.

Can't comment enough about Oxford, but neither Winchester or Guildford are arty / cultural edgy vibe places.

Winchester is extremely expensive and travel into London expensive.
Guildford a quicker option back to London and lots for teens. It's busy, traffic is a nightmare, it's big with lots on and has good access to both the coast and the countryside.

I'm honestly not at all sure that I would swap Surbiton (which I like) for Guildford unless you can make the figures work and get a much bigger property that suits you better. It's the type of move that you all have to really be on board with to make it work and perhaps desperately want more of a countryside option near to you.

I know Surbiton and Guildford well but Surbiton is basically Kingston which has the same amenities as Guildford in terms of shopping, theatres, music venues, pubs, restaurants and both have large student populations. Guildford town centre is prettier than Kingston (although a lot of shops on the high street are empty) but otherwise it's much of a muchness. I'd actually prefer to be in Surbiton over Guildford as you can get into central London much more quickly and close to Bushy Park/Richmond Park.

I live in the outer edges of Oxford. As PP have said loads going on including arty things and loads with an international focus so it's a great (but expensive ) city.

However you say Brighton now feels too city to raise children. Oxford is definitely way more city-like than Brighton.

In summary, loads to do, fun but expensive place to live but very much a proper city with a city feel.

Some of the alternative cities listed above sound like they'd suit you more.

I can only advise about Oxford, which is going to be the best of the three for meeting your need for culture. The University is a very big cultural draw, and the large science facilities in Culham and Chilton mean the surrounding villages are more cosmopolitan/European than they would otherwise be

Commuting to London from Oxfordshire has got loads better since Oxford Parkway opened but is still regarded as pretty hellish by the people who do it.

It depends on how much you can afford for a house and whether you want state or independent for schooling. There is a lot of pressure on schooling in Oxford and surrounding areas and house prices are sky high. Look at Summertown and Headington for a villagey vibe in the city and excellent schools. Out near Oxford Parkway is easier for commuting but less exciting. Nearby towns like Abingdon and even Didcot probably have a more community feel than Surbiton, but you probably wouldn't consider them that exciting and there's loads of snobbery about both places. You can get to Paddington in less than 45 minutes from Didcot though.

I've lived in all three and if budget allowed I'd choose Oxford every time. I loved my time there, although I wasn't commuting to London. I've done the Winchester commute and like a PP says, you're paying £££ to stand in a vestibule for an hour because all the seats have usually gone. I was just outside Guildford on the slow line so can't comment on the fast line. Oxford is the only lefty place of the three - Labour MPs but surrounded by Tory countryside. Traffic can be awful but I really miss being able to cycle everywhere relatively safely. Shops etc are good and there are lots of interesting events because of the universities. Houses are £££ though and parking is a pain in the arse.

I'm honestly not at all sure that I would swap Surbiton (which I like) for Guildford unless you can make the figures work and get a much bigger property that suits you better

Exactly, there's no massive difference in vibe between Surbiton and Guildford (or Winchester and Oxford for that matter). Also, no significant price differential to benefit from.

If you look at Abingdon, check the flood maps!

It's so true what Cam says above!

Unless I really wanted immediate access into the countryside, which Guildford does offer, I would prefer to live in Surbiton than Guildford because of its access into Central London and the surrounding areas.

Yes Guildford High Street and the little lanes off it etc are far prettier than Kingston, but it still has pretty much the same style of shops perhaps with a few independents thrown in and a better selection of independent restaurants together with all the usual suspects.

Weekend nights it can be quite lairy with the young out, as can Kingston.

I too know them both well.

Of your three, Oxford by a mile.

Winchester is really, really, really cliquey. Think being blanked in the street if you don't go to the right school cliquey. I have friends who have moved away from there because of it.

Wow thank you so much everyone for your feedback, so helpful. Budget around £650-700 thanks to some inheritance so are fortunate.

I grew up in cirencester so am well accustomed to living in Tory ville and understand these places arnt going to be anywhere near similar to living In Brighton! 😬 I think it sounds oxford might have the most to offer from everyones feedback. Are there particular areas which are good for bringing up kids that arnt so city centre based?

If I had it my way and DH didn't have to commute two days a week to london we would move to Frome/Bristol but alas! Are there any other vibrant towns/cities anyone can recommend in communicating distance? I guess living in Surbiton I feel like I'm not in the city or the countryside so feels heavily suburban. X

I don't think you'll get much for £650-700 in Winchester. I'm sure the other two places are just as pricey.

Yeah you can get houses under £700k in Winchester! Like anywhere you can get a houses for £350k small 3 beds upwards but the bigger/ pr period properties/ or more central ones go for more. The further out you go, the more parking/ land you get. Anywhere here's one for £635k right in the centre of the city!! You could walk to train station in minutes from this house :-

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113046647#/?channel=RES_BUY

There are beautiful walks at edge of city, as it is on the South Downs. Old Winchester hill, at Catherine's hill, the water meadows to explore.
It's not a hugely lively city though, I used to live there- has a couple festivals each year, it's quite relaxed, and not as Bohemian as Oxford of Brighton are. (And parking like any old historic city is tough!) Great hospitals, schools and colleges though - most of the state schools are super- including Kings (secondary) school in Winchester - but look them up before you choose your house. Southampton is a short drive/train/bus ride away which has a lot going on. And you're in New Forest within 20 mins driving.

I have friends in Oxford - seems to have more cultural & Ents stuff available there. Winchester city centre itself is quite small compared to Oxford city centre.

Just some more Winchester properties in OPs budget as pottering on Rightmove :-

£630k another city centre period terraced
10 mins walk from train station
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119807855#/?channel=RES_BUY

£550k new build with balcony great views over city, 5 mins from city centre and 1 mile (20 mins) walk from train station but is through picturesque Winchester city centre and has allocated private parking

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120507236#/?channel=RES_NEW

Bog standard 3 bed semi but close to ofsted outstanding Kings school in south of the city £550k with garage and driveway . 1.3 mile walk to train station (city Center is just before then) however is along busy sleepers hill (has hospital on that road), frequent buses though
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120167060#/?channel=RES_BUY

New builds 3 bed with garage and parking detached £630k Winchester
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/83997069#/?channel=RES_NEW

£530k 3 bed terraced new build short walk to train station with garage and parking
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/83659638#/?channel=RES_NEW

It's an hour by train Winchester to Waterloo.

I looked up some of the Oxford city areas I know from friends living there in Rightmove, as OP said this is becoming the city she prefers

Friends said primary (state) schools usually very good. But state secondary school places are harder to get, lots of independent fee paying secondary schools in Oxford. There's some good state secondary schools over East side of Oxford which is a more Boho lively area

On east side (near good state secondary schools) in a lively part of Oxford- lovely period terraced house with garden £675k. 1.8 miles to train station
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84011019#/?channel=RES_BUY

£650k big 7 bed house (boring inside but could be done up nicer) on East side of city with driveway parking. 2 miles to train station
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85727704#/?channel=RES_BUY

£695k period 3 bed (small bedrooms) very central and near train station
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111824273

£650k huge 6 bed period properly south side of Oxford city- good secondary state school 1.5 miles away and train station 1 mile.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85727704#/?channel=RES_BUY

£650k Big 4 bed semi near schools, driveway and garage, Less than a mile to train station, large garden, by ring road, Hinksey meadows and Hinksey village
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120205325#/?channel=RES_BUY

2 miles out of Oxford city to the West near good schools huge 5 bed £625k with driveway garage and large garden - just off main a34 .1.1 miles to train station (but I don't think you'd walk it )
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89386093#/?channel=RES_BUY

I don't really know enough about Oxford though

Oxford to Paddington is 1 hour

Oxford by a country mile.

Depends on what kind of house you're after, though. Oxford prices are extremely high.

I live right on the edge of the Berkshire/Oxfordshire border, on the edges of Reading (bear with me!). Stunning countryside literally a stone's throw away, but 25 min trains into Oxford and London within walking distance. For your budget you could get a decent 4 bed detached with a nice garden.