Thoughts on Farnham

[DogAndWineLover]

Hi all,

Keen to get your thoughts on Farnham as an area to move to. My husband commutes into London 3 times a week and our baby is due in July.

We've visited a few times and it seems lovely (I know it has terrible traffic, but so does much of Surrey!). Other options on our shortlist are Guildford and Claygate.

I work remotely and my husband is happy to commute up to an hour into town, so it's more a move to a safe area with good schools and the chance to make local friends!

Thanks so much!

Lovely area, great schools. Used to live near by but now live up north. Miss Farnham. X

It's lovely but you do want to be South and near the station. The most expensive bit of Farnham! You already know about the traffic so that's no surprise. Lots of nice shops and little alleyways. A range of decent restaurants. Easy access to the countryside. I would think it's very easy to meet other Mums and form friendships.

Guildford is much bigger and much more "lively" at the weekend. Remember it's a university town as well. Nightclubs attract the young from far and wide.
Personally I much, much prefer Farnham. Easy to go shopping in Guildford from either Farnham or Claygate. Though if in Claygate you may opt for Kingston.

Claygate a completely different ballgame. Small with a very sweet but limited little High Street. Much closer to other Surrey towns, that I would classify as suburbia, and the A3 and London. Can't comment on commute from there though.

Kind of depends where you are coming from as well. It's a well travelled route that people leave SW London (zone 3) for instance and move a small distance to say Claygate, Bookham and the surrounding areas. Or drift into Farnham or Guildford if they want bigger.

Budget and what you want to achieve will also play a part as I would rank them in terms of property prices of Claygate the most expensive, then Farnham (south) then Guildford.

Have a look at Haslemere. Trains to London are more frequent I believe. Gorgeous town, great schools, lovely people. Traffic much more manageable than Farnham.

Lovely town, lots of great history. Sort of town that when you tell people where you live they'll comment on it being fancy.

As long as you know about the traffic there's not much to add, the traffic really is vile though. If traffic winds you up don't even bother looking there. The park is amazing, used to go there a lot. The high street is super busy especially at weekends and the pavements aren't that wide so it's a pita for a buggy sometimes. But it's all low levels gripes really. It's the sort of place I like to visit, but would hate to live in(because I can't cope with traffic, literally the only reason).

Guildford is definitely comparable, but bigger. Woking might be worth a look too. The area really has improved and when I last visited(five years ago mind) it was great.

Also I should mention Wokingham. I would say Wokingham had the same vibe as Farnham but getter traffic, transport links too. It's a great town to raise a family in and would be my pick in your shoes.