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!

The main point about Guildford @MentalLoadGuy is that if you have the choice then live South of the A3. This has the advantage of being close enough to the stations to mostly be walkable. Naturally North of the A3 is noticeably cheaper.

But I'll add that since the housing market went white hot, cooling now of course, the choice has been pretty much stripped away. That's true for most towns and cities that are nice to live in of course.

How close to these towns do you actually want to live? Within walking distance of the town centre or in a village outside the town centre a short car journey away?

This talk of Guildford being 'gritty' has reminded me of Jonathan Ross talking about Grant Bovey (in a boxing match) coming from the 'mean streets of Godalming'.

But I vote for Dorking (although nothing like Cheltenham).

I think guildford town centre is run down around the bus station and north street. The a3 is an issue too, cutting the north side from the south and crap air quality.

Salisbury is Wilts but might have the feel you want. Close to Hants.
However again it is in a grammar area so that's a positive or a negative dependent on your opinion.

Winchester - live in catchment for Kings or Westgate. You’ll easily get a 3 bed for £750k. If the house is not that big, then just think of the favour you’re doing by giving your daughter a fantastic state education in a beautiful and privileged part of the world.

@MentalLoadGuy
Guildford is big enough but a bit gritty IMO
I actually didn’t realise how cheap Guildford was compared to the surrounding suggestions!

Is there a different Guildford you're looking at....?! 😂

Thank you someone else who agrees about Guildford!! It used to be okay but defiently isn't great same as Reigate Looks nice but a bit rubbish! BUT isn't everywhere 😂

We live in Richmond, my inlaws live in Reigate and I'm not keen. Lots of keeping-up-with-the-Joneses-in-their-4x4 that just grates. The only way I can describe it is that it feels like the whole place has a weird insecurity complex.

Would you not go in a bit eg New Malden, Raynes Park, Worcester Park, Surbiton, Berrylands etc

In terms of guildford, what PP said about being south of the A3 is very true.

I believe getting anywhere in that area is nightmarish at the moment, particularly rush hour.

I liked Godalming and Haslemere but neither are what they used to be in terms of shopping.

Dorking was on my list. Wokingham was not. You’re just going to have to spend some time in these places to see what works for you.

In terms of guildford, what PP said about being south of the A3 is very true

It is like two different worlds.

Trying to keep on top of this is like a full time job 😂 Thank you for all the suggestions and comments!

I would say we have been slightly put off Reigate by the reviews, but might take a trip down there to decide.

It looks like the locations that have received fairly universal compliments are:

Surrey
Farnham
Godalming
Dorking

Berkshire
Wokingham

Hampshire
Winchester

I think Winchester might be a bit too far for some of the grandparents and great grandparents, but would like to visit. Sounds like it’s got a bit everything.

Will update the thread with where we decided on and why, in the near future.
House going on the market next week!

We must move in very different circles if you consider Guildford to be ‘gritty’.