Where to live in Surrey?

[Sarah409]

Really appreciate any help, we are currently living in Buckinghamshire and love it but need to move to Surrey to be closer to family who are based further south. The problem is we really don’t know the area very well at all.

we currently live near Beaconsfield, Marlow, Amersham and are hoping to find somewhere with a similar feel in Surrey.

We’re looking for somewhere with large family houses, a decent Trainline within a 15min drive, and good schools for boys. Two areas that have been recommended are Cobham and Godalming, are there any others we should go and explore? Happy to live in a smaller village if not too far from a town with restaurants/shops etc

What is your budget? Do you need state or private schools? Primary or secondary. Surrey is large and diverse from busy towns to very rural.

ideally want state primary schools but would consider private if needed. Generous budget looking for 5 bed detached house with medium/large garden. Ideal would be semi-rural but close to town, don’t want totally isolated or rural

What is your budget? It is a very expensive county, one persons good budget for Surrey might be £800k and another might be thinking £2 million!
Around Godalming is nice. Not many houses for less than £1 million.

Dorking is lovely :)

5 bedroom houses just outside Guildford or Godalming of the size you are describe you are looking at least £1.25m probably closer to £1.5m. If you want Cobham thats probably another £250k more. They all do get snapped up very quickly. Very little supply.

Banstead
Cobham
Dorking
Reigate
Godalming
Farnham
Haslemere

in order the first being closest to London. Anywhere from £1.5 to £3 or £4 million depending on budget. Especially Cobham and Haslemere.

It's difficult to know what 'generous' means, but it seems likely that what you've described is probably at least £1.5m, going towards £2m. Interestingly I would have Cobham to be similar price or slightly cheaper than Guildford/Godalming, but there's probably not much in it.

To my mind, Marlow/Amersha/Beaconsfield are surrounded by more rural countryside than Cobham so the equivalents for me would be Haslemere,Cranleigh or possibly Dorking.

Fleet in Hampshire or Farnham.

I'm not sure there is anywhere quite as pretty.

Chiddingfold - not quite sure of its with 15 mins of a teain station, ditto Elstead. I like Hindhead/grayshott which is close to Haslemere Station

Dorking/ Reigate (fastest trains from Redhill) - you'll get a bit more for your money than Cobham or Godalming with the Surrey Hills on the doorstep. And some of the surrounding villages are nice - Brockham, Betchworth etc.
Reigate/ Redhill trains to Victoria/ London Bridge whereas Dorking/ Farnham etc to Waterloo.
Where are the family based in the South? Do you need A3 or A23/ A24 etc to get there?

Pyrford
Cobham
Horsell
Guildford
Godalming
Leatherhead
West Byfleet (although it's a bit of a work in progress at the moment with some big village centre developments going on)

Without a budget it's a bit tricky to know what would suit you best but I know Amersham/Marlow and I know these areas in Surrey and I think they might suit your needs.

Chobham or Hersham could also be a possibility.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, you’ve all been so helpful, will check them all out and spend some time exploring these areas. Budget wise looking up to £3m

Chiddingfold is a ten minute drive from Witley station, I think it's under an hour to London but it's skipped by fast trains. I think elstead would be closer to godalming or Milford stations? Neither are in the middle of nowhere! Chiddingfold wins for prettiness imo.

Budget 3million?! Only on Mumsnet 😂

Godalming is a good choice - small town but close to Guildford and plenty going on. Surrounding villages all good options too eg Witley, Milford, Bramley, Shalford, Elstead all a short drive (Witley and Milford on Waterloo train line). The majority of schools a have good reputation in the area. Or slightly further out Farnham is nice, or Haslemere - all similar sized towns.

Oxshott or, Esher - might not be rural enough but lovely places and great schools

You won’t go wrong with Godalming / Guildford. Pretty areas and a lot going on in Guildford.

With your budget, definitely look in Cobham and Weybridge - you will be well served for schools too

With a £3 million budget I'd add Weybridge on to the list too.

Kingswood, Chipstead

Check out train times and frequencies. Weybridge and Esher line more frequent than Cobham. Guildford gives you two different lines into London so more frequent, but further out. Oxshott might suit, or West End part of Esher for heathland/common. Not rural though. For rural try Dorking and villages. Trainline a bugger though!

Farnham is lovely and South Farnham Primary School is very well thought of.

It came 11th in the Times 'Parent Power' list of top state primary schools in the UK (December 2021)

I'd go to Weybridge for £3m, you'd get a lovely house there for that.

This needs a lot of work, but I'm sure they'd do you a deal, given how long it's been on the market for:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122138735#/?channel=RES_BUY

I much prefer this one though, again there should be room to negotiate:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119515328#/?channel=RES_BUY

I'd be happy to accompany you on your viewings, these houses look amazing!