how deprived are Woking and Guildford? Looking to buy...

[ilovecandyy]

hi all, i've come on to mumsnet because I really hoped people from Woking and Guildford could help me understand the area better.

After doing some research and meeting a few locals in coffee shops and chatting, I've been told both towns have quite a lot of deprived areas, but there is also a lot of wealth on one end. There isn't much in the middle. In other words, there's quite a huge wealth disparity.

I have also visited both towns quite a few times now. In terms of living there, I like the more popular areas in both towns for families (Woking - Horsell area; Guildford - Pewley Hill area). School seems very good in both towns. People seem nice, although a bit reserved and not friendly upfront like in the North. Guildford has a prettier town centre, but Woking is perfectly adequate with a few good pockets of prettiness.

When in Woking town centre, I did smell cannabis every now and then, and there were a couple of people who looked... how do I put it... like they were looking for a fight. But it was literally once or twice. But generally, people seemed nice and normal. I also noticed it is quite ethnically diverse in Woking which I prefer and more used to from my upbringing (I also have a very mixed extended family).

When in Guildford, I noticed some homelessness, and a few groups of teenagers (probably aged around 14-15) vaping and smoking, which I find off-putting. It was not very diverse at all, I'd say 99% of people are white there, which makes me wonder about racism too.

I'm hoping people can advise me about the culture of both towns so I know the areas better. Safety and living somewhere nice and pleasant is really important to me and my mixed family.

Thank you for your help!

Guildford is a nice middle class town in general. All towns and cities have areas of deprivation. I think you’re looking for something that doesn’t exist. You want somewhere with no deprivation, no weed, no thuggish looking individuals , but you want it to be diverse and friendly? I don’t know that such a place exists. Everywhere has its problems. I wouldn’t say people were at all friendly in that area though. I don’t know Woking at all.

They don't seem deprived to me at all. I'm further down the line (in the scary coast) and they seem "posh as feck".

If you think Guildford & Woking are deprived, OP, then your idea of deprivation is somewhat different to mine.

That’s what I thought too.

Woking is shit in the centre

https://www.adt.co.uk/crime-in-my-area

Guilford? Deprived?? Wtaf

I think this is the only time I’ve seen Guildford described as deprived!

https://mapmaker.cdrc.ac.uk/#/index-of-multiple-deprivation?m=imdh19_dc&lon=-1.5438&lat=54.5177&zoom=15

Deprived ??

Have you recently visited the townships in parts of South Africa??

I suggest you stick to Mayfair/ Chelsea… sounds more like the areas what you’re looking for.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

I think this might be peak MN.

I grew up somewhere similar to what you’re describing and not that far away - I think a lot of the South East is very polarised, with a lot of posh people, mostly commuters, and then people who are either earning a lot less in service industry or unemployed. And not much in the middle. I don’t find it makes for a friendly environment. A lot of classism on one side and in the place I grew up resentments that led to quite widespread racism on the other. It’s not that it’s deprived it’s that it’s fragmented and very unequal. Personally would never want to live somewhere similar again.

Agree re the lack of diversity in Guildford, I lived there for a long time, and while I loved it in many ways, it was very white middle class.

Woking isn’t “deprived”. There are very wealthy areas, well off areas (Horsell etc) and more normal, and some poorer areas. A big range. It is also quite multicultural compared to other superficially similar places which is great. I’m around Horsell way and it’s friendly, and I would walk home no problem from the station / centre of town at night. Schools great. Lovely village high street. Main problem is that, along with increasing number of other councils, Woking borough council is bust and are investigating public service cuts. Still awaiting what that will mean.

I would agree lack of “middle” in either area. Housing is so expensive that you have to have money or renting in social housing (which is incredibly limited). If you want more mixed communities I think you will struggle to find that in the SE.

This.

Particularly when you know horsell has a Waitrose…..

Neither are deprived. Guildford has nicer shops

I read it as depraved 😆

Where are you moving from OP?

Guildford is a Uni town! I lived there! And my goodness it is anything but deprived!

It depends where you are moving from I guess. But Guildford is the definition of middle class to most. Utterly posh to someone like me from Medway. Woking is quite diverse I think. Very big Asian communities. Its commuter belt. If you want diversity you need to move closer to the London borders of Surrey.

Guildford has a famous bearded lady. You might not like that.

jFC both posh places

Guildford is a busy vibrant town with excellent train and transport links.
Close to countryside, easy access to London and the coast also.

Also has a university so you will see a lot of students. The shops and restaurants etc also pull in many from other areas.

It is definitely more upmarket than Woking. The high street is considerably more attractive but that you know.

There are very wealthy pockets, student areas, more affordable and other outlying areas. It definitely isn’t deprived. It’s very popular with south western Londoners moving further out for bigger properties once children arrive.

But quiet and quaint it ain’t. Diverse I’m not so sure. Busy and popular yes.