Moving to Redhill/Surrey?

[CHGri]

Hello lovely people,

I'm looking for some advice about Redhill/commuting to London from Surrey. We're desperate to escape noisy neighbours in otherwise gorgeous South Ealing and would like more space - this means buying a house outside London! We've seen a lovely house just north of Redhill station which would make zipping into London great and is close to countryside etc.

However, we've seen lots of comments that Redhill isn't a pleasant place to be - we've heard Godalming, Dorking etc are lovely but there's nowhere currently on the market that ticks our boxes (semi-detached, if not detached, 3 beds, max £650k, commutable to Waterloo or Victoria). Also some of then icer places mean a lot less space for our budget e.g. Guildford.

We like being able to walk to a good pub and have green spaces nearby but are aware we need to compromise if we want a proper house walking distance to a station! And Redhill is actually quite handy re Thameslink rather than just relying on SWR. Wondering if a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush (ie just go for the house in Redhill) or wait for something in our budget/nice to come up in Dorking/Godalming?

More general advice about commuting in Surrey v welcome - thank you!

I live in Horley, near Redhill which could be another option! I’ve lived here 4 years and love it here, I live in a quiet area and close to the countryside, and 15 minute walk to the station.

I think Redhill itself always looks a really busy place, so much traffic. The countryside around there can be very nice though. Also Gatwick may expand further, it's very near and already a hugely busy airport.

Redhill is awful, there is an established issue with court lines drugs gangs and it has a lot of associated problems. The station area is a particular hot spot as is a well known fast food restaurant.

Area literally around Redhill station is busy with traffic, youths etc but most people don’t spend much time there it is just somewhere to pass through. I think from your north Redhill comment that you will be near Gatton Park which is a lovely place for walks. Reigate isn’t far and is very nice with a selection of shops, restaurants and amazing huge park and Reigate Heath. South of Redhill is Earlswood which had lots of young families and Earlswood lakes is another nice spot for walks and in the summer you can take a pedalo out on the lake.

Many good primary schools. If you are practising Christian then St Bedes in Redhill is open to you for secondary and very good. If not do look at catchment areas. Carrington school is improving though. Many children go to Reigate College for sixth form.

maybe join the local Facebook group “We Love Redhill” and see what you think? Good luck.

Edited to add: on commute you could do a lot worse than Redhill as you say Thameslink and Southern serve it and lots of trains. Dorking we ruled out due to trains being very slow. Godalming is much further out in that direction I would look at Haslemere. As pp said Horley is a good value option and is near enough to Gatwick that if there are train issues or you are back very late you can go there and get a taxi. But watch out for flight paths.

Redhill too close to London ,come to Godalming !!!

OP look at Fleet, you’ll get what you want in your budget and it’s a little longer to Waterloo but not much. Bigger shops available in farnborough and Basingstoke.

Looked at moving to Redhill myself so know it a bit, particularly didn’t like the town centre or area around the station…it’s much calmer/quieter in Fleet and imo the countryside is better; it’s surrounded by it here.

I would also look at Oxted which has a good train line.

Grew up in London and accepted there was a lot of crime about too but hadn't realised it was so prominent in Redhill? Do you notice it visibly/have had any issues walking around?

Thanks for this! We're looking around Lynnwood road - is that north enough of the station to be clear of the busier area?

I worked in criminal justice in the area and the amount of work from Redhill was significant!

Goldstone, Oxted, Reigate etc are very nice surrounding areas. Surprisingly good walking for so close to M25 and pubs etc nearby.

I grew up in the vicinity (my parents still live there and I go back to visit) but that was over 40 years ago! Can't comment on County Lines.

I'm in Dorking currently, quality of life is very good, even if the tiny M&S has stock levels the like of which I haven't seen since the 1980s!

quite like the train to London - its just over an hour to Victoria but I've found transport in generally very good. Reigate is really nice as well, personally I like Epsom area too. I wouldn't choose Redhill but as you say, budget restrictions may dictate (I cant talk I am just renting here temporarily and can't afford to buy so I'll be leaving soon and will miss it).

Redhill is more affordable for good reason. It’s not awful but the high street is rather depressed. There are some nice properties though. Maybe get an AirBnB for a long weekend and properly spend some time there before you commit?

That’s a quiet back road. It obviously is close to the centre. Go the other way from there and you can get in to the beautiful nature reserve - check out Inn on the Pond a short cycle or countryside walk to there and a lovely spot for a drink or meal.

The centre of Redhill gets a bad press and I wouldn’t want a teen hanging around there but the surrounding area is decent with lovely countryside for cycling or walking and the nicer town centre of Reigate nearby. Oxted has some restaurants too.

There are good farm shops at Priory Farm and Flower Farm if you like that sort of thing, and kids activities at Godstone Farm, Bocketts and Priory Farm.

I often commute on that line and it is pretty efficient for getting into London.

Come to Horley! Redhill is a bit of a dump in the town centre. Horley you have horley station and can also walk to Gatwick. You can get a nice three to four bedroom detached on my road opposite a field, 15 mins walk to station 25 mins walk to Gatwick. Horley isn’t centre of the universe but we have Waitrose, a lovely library and a thriving theatre group. Loads of local villages with very nice pubs. You can go for walks in fields from houses on The Acres or Langshott. Or what about Horsham. Bigger town centre with nice housing.

For your budget - you’d get a decent detached house.

Maybe look just up the road in one of the villages. These two are for sale a few minutes from the station easily cyclable and there’s lots of green space and pubs look to be within walking distance.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161335250#/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/160211963#/

Redhill is a quite depressing place. I had relatives there. They were glad to leave.

There's no station at Bletchingley. The nearest is at South Nutfield which is not on a main line. I lived in South Nutfield for a number of years and it's lovely but almost always had to change trains at Redhill.

And if the planes from Gatwick are taking off in an easterly direction the aircraft noise is loud.

Looks like a bus is 10 mins or bike 15, I think it would be worth considering to not be in Redhill itself!

How long is your commute currently. Will you be commuting every day? From Redhill To which station. Won't that wear you down?

What about Ewell?

I don't know much about living in Redhill but each time I've been to the town centre it's bloody awful. Gangs of kids everywhere.
Horley is ok but nothing there really. Dorking is nicer but again a very small town. I'm in Crawley (I'm enjoying being nosey at where everyones from 🤣) there are a few nice places here but also a lot of rough areas too.
I guess you'll find that where ever you go. Some people will say how lovely it is and some will say how awful it is.
I would join some local FB groups and just sit and watch the post's.
Hope you find the right place ☺️