Where to Live in Surrey / Hampshire / Maybe Bucks

[MentalLoadGuy]

We require a 3 bed with a decent garden and a drive - budget is 750K.

Struggling to find a decent town. Currently living just outside Weybridge which we like but you really do not get a lot for your money.

Need suggestions for areas; ideally I want somewhere like Cheltenham, so far the closest I have found is Reigate. Everywhere else is either too small or too rundown.

i.e. Farnham is lovely but very small. Guildford is big enough but a bit gritty IMO.

Evidently I am bit of snob but all suggestions welcome.

Thank you!

Do you have kids?

Bucks has a full grammar system.
Hants has a fully comp system.

Winchester might be too pricey?

Reigate is nothing like Cheltenham! What aspects are you focussing on and want?

@TeenDivided
Thanks. One daughter aged 2 - so schools are a consideration but can afford private if necessary. Will have a look at Winchester.

@LIZS I tend to agree. However; it is the closest I have come across. It has a town centre that is bigger than a high street, but still has an upmarket feel about it. I suppose it’s the independent bars and restaurants, and shopping that provides a bit more than a high street without just plonking a run-down shopping centre in the town.

If you ended up in Winchester you wouldn't need private schools.
Winchester is smaller than Cheltenham but has a lovely feel to it.

Thanks @TeenDivided - it certainly looks like the sort of town we are after.

Wokingham was another consideration - not sure if anyone has any opinions on the town?

Thame is just over the Bucks border into Oxon. But might answer...

@MentalLoadGuy why not cheltenham out of interest?

I am slightly perplexed by your description of Guildford as "gritty"...

It is a bit gritty up on the Downs as you look over the lovely countryside.

I suspect the OP means that the areas where £750K would get a 3 bed with a decent garden and a drive are not to her taste. They wouldn't be to mine either TBH.

I've always thought Sevenoaks was lovely. My grandad lived there half his life. It's Kent, but close to Surrey

It has a town centre that is bigger than a high street, but still has an upmarket feel about it.

It really doesn't and increasing chain cafes, bars etc are creeping in, Pret being the latest, at the expense of facilities like banks. Farnham, Godalming, Petersfield are all larger. Never thought of Guildford as gritty! That is more Leatherhead or Epsom. Plenty going on in Guildford and you can live in a nearby village, although 750k won't go far.

Wokingham ticks all of your boxes, and £750K is a very healthy budget compared to places like Winchester or Farnham.

You’d have lots of private school options, but the state schools are well regarded, eg The Holt secondary school for girls.

I'm very puzzled by your description of Guildford. It's a lovely town with a great high street, upmarket shops, good schools (or I believe). Housing seems to be ££.

Winchester is very nice with great schools but very expensive. Might as well then live in Cambridge or Oxford.

Thanks for the suggestions all!

I don’t mind Guildford and I actually quite like the suburban area but I don’t rate the town all that much. Just my opinion, I know plenty disagree.

I think the Godalming and Farnham might be worth looking at, if we decide to stay in Surrey.

@SummerSazz Grew up there and loved it. My OH family are all in Richmond / Wimbledon area and she doesn’t want to move too far away.

@LIZS You sound like you have a vendetta against Reigate 😂

Not at all, but it is not what it once was.

Petersfield is a nice town and a bit cheaper than Winchester or Farnham. Good schools in the area - both state and private.

Haslemere? Used to be a big twee, but very pretty and decent high street. Fast train line , used to be 45 mins into Waterloo. My knowledge of Haslemere is 25 years out of date though!

@MentalLoadGuy I was brought up in the areas you are looking and now live near cheltenham (much better here!!)

I like Dorking as a market town and has a station direct to London) reigate doesn't and a sports centre and theatre so a bit going on. Oh and a vineyard 🤣. Also close to countryside which is nice.

I do like Guildford though so my be off the mark with that one. It is closest to cheltenham in size where as none of the other suggestions are really. Horsham/Crawley would be but don't think they fit particularly well. Others such as Epsom are more London as within the m25 which isn't how cheltenham feels.

Winchester good as another larger town but expensive.

Oxted is nice as is Windsor

Surely if you are in Weybridge there are places locally / near you that will provide what you want: Surbiton, epsom, Esher, Kingston etc. don't come up very often but with careful searching, a few you will find.

Walton on Thames?

@nauticant I actually didn’t realise how cheap Guildford was compared to the surrounding suggestions! Not sure what you would avoid?

Thanks @SummerSazz! Glad you’re enjoying it, I hope to move back one day!
Dorking does look like a great shout and good for London!

@Oblomov23 My OH isn’t keen as that’s where she grew up so feels like it would be a step backwards. Esher was an option but would be quite small for 750K.

Reigate
Dorking
Sevenoaks
Winchester
Alresford near Winchester is lovely if you don't need a train line into London
Petersfield
Maybe Godalming

Lol at Guildford being gritty🤣🤣 Agree Reigate could be a good option. Although it probably isn't as niace as you think (DH used to work there in an emergency services role - plenty of 'gritty-ness')

Godalming, Haslemere and surrounding villages will probably work for you too, but they are 'small'. But you know what they say, size isn't everything! Nowhere that isn't a very large town or city is going go offer a buzzing cosmopolitan cultural scene, but they might offer a real sense of community.

East Molesey?