Reigate, Leatherhead or Epsom to move to?

[ArKla]

Hello!

Based on budget, schools and transport links to London, we are considering Reigate, Leatherhead and Epsom to move to.

Could you please share your thoughts on these areas? What you like and don’t like about them?

We’d like the area to have a few cafes, pubs and maybe a few shops too. Which one has more things to do with kids and friends? Are they all similarly safe? We’d like a place that’s relatively calm, but still has things to offer.

Regarding schools they all seem to have great state and private ones, so perhaps not a decisive factor.

From a quick visit, Reigate seemed lovely although the Main Street on the town centre was quite busy / noisy. Epsom seems bigger and more spread out? Leatherhead we are about to visit.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks all for your comments so far! Our budget is around £600k-700k at the moment, but we will see what we can find an re-evaluate (ideally looking for a 3bed house). We are thinking of renting for 1-2 years to get a better feel from the area, before we make a final decision.

I'm afraid you're not going to get a lot of options for that money if you want walking distance to Epsom.

Nor in Reigate. Maybe look further towards Redhill, like St Johns or Earlswood.

You can get 3 bed houses walking distance to the town centre! Example below, in the College Area.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128334785?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I said you won't get a lot of options....

There's the odd thing, yes, but I suspect v small or needing work or similar. Not impossible, but difficult.

There’s options in both areas at the moment with that budget. But in any case we could re-evaluate if we have to, we’re not planning to buy yet (our budget is rather indicative from the options we see now, not restrictive).

We will have a look at the recommended areas and take it from there!

You do need to watch out for rowdy, thuggish behavior in places like Reigate, Epsom and Redhill. Surrey police have been having to issue dispersal orders on a regular basis. There is a new one for February 2023.
www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/dispersal-order-put-place-around-25554296

I’d look at Dorking. I’d not rent for two years, the market will get away from you. Max 6 months rent and avoid totally if possible

Lived in Epsom 25+ years, prefer Reigate but we chose Epsom for the commute and would make the same decision again. It has changed but is still a good place to live and bring up a family. I would also suggest you look at Ashtead. Both lovely so you can’t go wrong really. I would agree you should discount Leatherhead.

Thanks for your messages!

We have removed Reigate from our options, as we found it very noisy due to the traffic.

Epsom/ Ewell are one of our preferred options taking into account commute, facilities and value for money.

We are considering Woking too, as it has good commute, good schools and seems good value for money. If we chose Woking, we would perhaps choose one of the surrounding villages, so it’s quiet where the house would be but still have access to the city centre for the facilities. Any views on Woking? Which areas would you recommend if we were to choose Woking?

many thanks again!

What about Dorking? Good direct trains to London and a bit more market town near countryside than Epsom which is much busier/built up. I'd personally prefer to be outside the m25 than inside

Epsom is lovely- Family member lives there.
Nice walks, feels safe.

Yes, I was wondering why you’ve not looked at Dorking, it sounds just right for you.

We would like to have the option of private schools so we are not limited by catchment and have more options. I don’t think I saw any private schools in Dorking if I remember well.

There is box hill or at Teresa's in effingham. Also downsend in leatherhead. None of those options are a long distance away. Nor is Reigate if you had your eye on a school there

Ashcombe state school in Dorking is pretty good!

*St Teresa's

And Manor House in Bookham, it’s a through school with a good reputation. Freemen’s is also good and commutable.

Thanks, I’ll take a better looking at Dorking too.

Do you have any opinion on Woking at all? If so, which areas would you recommend looking at?

many thanks again!

I'd pick Ashtead or Ewell area as I prefer the feel. I don't really like Epsom high st area to be honest. It's not super pedestrian friendly for having a wander especially with a buggy.
I live on the Ewell side and I go into Surbiton or Kingston for shops/pubs/cafes/walking I don't ever bother with Epsom.
It also means that my local station is in a london travelcard zone unlike epsom. We're right by A3 so can reach lots of greek spaces but also near Epsom Common, Horton Park, Nonsuch park and 15 min from Bushy Park.

There was a thread on woking a couple of days ago - worth checking out. I like woming and surrounding areas and schools good. Don't know about private.