Anyone from Godalming?

[Addison123]

Hello

I was wondering if anyone here lives in Godalming? We are considering it as our next move. Visited and seemed lovely, has a Waitrose, a Gails, a few nice cafs and restaurants and yoga places. I am looking for a nice chilled middle class area.

Are people friendly, does it have a good community feel to it? Any areas to avoid?

Is it safe? Ideally I would love to walk the dog in the evening without having to worry.

Thank you in advance 🙂

Hi I moved to Godalming 22 years ago. It’s very safe (walk from station without fear) and nice and friendly.
I don’t like the Farncombe side because of troublesome youths in the past (personal - lots of people think it’s ok). I’d also avoid Aaron’s Hill and Ockford Ridge although things are changing in those areas with all the new housing estates going in.
Poshest and (most expensive area) is Busbridge. We moved out of Busbrdge and down to the town 8 years ago because our children reached senior school age and we like the cafes, restaurants, Waitrose, markets, riverside walks, station access etc
We also lived on the Eashing Lane/Ockford Ridge side of town for the first 3 years after moving from London but I didn’t like that too much.
good luck with your search!

Me! I echo what @Jacquel666 says - even though there is a new development by Cava at the back of Ockford Ridge/Aarons hill I'd be slightly wary of that area for a few years yet. Farncombe has come up a lot in the 15 years since I've been here and there are some lovely houses at slightly better prices than the more Godalming end.

Access to lots of good walking; I find it very safe and lots of community stuff. Come on down!

Thank you! What do you think of the Cateshall Lane area? We saw some newly built flats there but not sure about the area.

Hi! Catteshall is a bit mixed as it’s still being developed. Lots of new homes. It was a lot of semi-industrial buildings and businesses when I moved here over 20 years ago.
the new estate by the river is quite nice. Do look at flood maps as it has flooded down to Blackburn way in the past.
easy 15-20 min walk into town depending which end you live at. Convenient for Sainsbury’s, GP medical centre.
Ive never heard of any trouble there apart from the usual moans about people parking on the road.
great for walking and running by the river.
hth!

Thank you, that’s really helpful! We need to explore the area in more detail but so far we both (me and my partner) loved the vibes in Godalming around the town centre.

What the area around Grove Road like? I find Guildford has changed a lot, and though it would be easier to stay in Guildford as my son is due to go to RGS, I feel Godalming is much friendler...?

Getting overcrowded with bloody DFLs.

In Godalming? Do you recommend it as a nice place to give if coming from Guildford, would it be just the same...

@Addison123 did you move to Godalming?

Not yet, we are trying to sell in London atm but the market is not great 😐

Godalming/ Haslemere has been a destination from London once you have kids for decades. Nothing new about that. Like everywhere now in the SE since the rent cap. It doesn't feel in anyway like London, unlike Kent which are turning into little London like suburbs ( without the joy of London a tube line away). If you looked up middle class in the dictionary it would be Godalming as the description 😉

I lived there for several years.I found it very unfriendly.

You mentioned Aaron’s hill to be avoided (I heard this from others too) - what do you think about the lower part of Eashing Lane? Looking at a property there but not sure about the area. Any insights would be appreciated!

Hi @Addison123 the lower end of Eashing Lane that leads onto the road into town is OK imo. The only negatives I've heard is the construction traffic/heavy trucks that was going through during the big development phase were sometimes causing traffic issues. But I guess that won't go on forever.
There are some lovely 3-story bargate stone houses there.

@Jacquel666 thank you so much for your reply, I’ll check it out. Not many properties are for sale at the moment (in our price range) and we are very keen to move but I also don’t want to move to the wrong area.

A community is what you make it. If you're willing to get involved in the local community you will find your place. There are lots of friendly organisations crying out for volunteers in Godalming, but not enough people willing to pitch in and unfortunately some are closing as a result.
Godalming has always felt safe to me. There are some beautiful properties in Farncombe. Catteshall is also good, but it's dependent on the development you are looking at. I've heard some not so good things about the properties on one of the new developments.