Moving from Sutton to Banstead

[HelloSun18]

Hello all,
I’d really appreciate some opinions.

We currently live in a flat in Sutton and our children (7 and 12) walk to school. We’ve seen a lovely house in Banstead that we really like.

Secondary school would be fine (direct bus), but it would mean driving the youngest for a couple of years and commuting to work in Sutton. All doable, but my concern is longer term.

For those with teens: does Banstead feel limiting compared to Sutton? Will I end up being a taxi driver, or are the transport links good enough once they’re older? I’m not entirely sure how teenagers operate — I wouldn’t want them to be out all day because it’s a hassle for friends to come over, or a pain for them to pop home.

We could also buy in Sutton, but it would be a much smaller house.

WWYD — space in Banstead or location in Sutton?

Banstead has lots of shops. I don’t know Sutton that well but what would your kids be doing in Sutton? Shops? Cinema etc, or at friend’s houses. If they are staying at school in Sutton (and don’t think the secondary in Banstead is that great) and your dc is social and likes to spend time with friends, then you’re likely to spend a lot of time back and forth over the years. I’d definitely bear that in mind.

as a teenager who grew up in a Surrey village I'd say Banstead has that less well provided facilities feel to it and is certainly a "dormitory" compared to Sutton. My father worked in Sutton and it always had a "big town" feel when visiting there.
BUT for a modern teenager it is probably more to do with social circle depends on the school they go to rather than what "clubs" are on the doorstep to meet new people at.

I think the problem with Banstead is that the train station is so far from the centre. Buses can take much longer. As they get older your DCs will want to spend time with their mates - their friends are unlikely to want to come out to Banstead, so it will always be yours having to get somewhere. As they get older, they are probably needing to get into Sutton to get the train into London etc.
I would stay in Sutton.

Depends where they go to school. I grew up there as a teen and I didn’t enjoy it that much - I went to school in cheam and I just found public transport crap in Banstead. That said I think there are more buses now as it was a long time ago 😂I had to plan so much more than my friends in Sutton / carshalton who had many more bus options. I remember many Sundays spent walking down the mad mile to pic up a bus from Belmont.

Also less trains from Banstead - only one every half hour due to the single line. it’s also a fair walk from the centre to the station.

im not sure my teen would want to hag around there if we lived there - she would go to Epsom or Sutton.

We lived in Sutton and aspired to Banstead.

I'd make the move.

BUT if I were a teenager I'd think Sutton was the preferable option. Banstead's public transport links are not good at all.

Thanks everyone, lots of really helpful points and it has definitely confirmed some of my thinking.

I know they will likely spend a lot of time in Sutton and that I will probably be doing more driving, which I do not actually mind. School is in Sutton on a very good direct bus route, around 15 minutes door to door, so that part feels manageable.

I know it is not walkable into Sutton, but the bus links do seem reasonable. I am just trying to understand whether in practice that still feels limiting once they are older.

That said, I may be overthinking it, and the kids will probably adapt just fine. 🙂

Being near the action is great for impromptu meet ups etc, but on the other hand if you get a significantly bigger house in Banstread it's much easier to have friends over for a sleepover, movie night etc. You just have to be happy to ferry around/drive friends home, which it sounds like you are.

I know these areas well and a colleague did similar about 6 years ago.

She has an older teen, younger teen & an tween and is still a taxi driver, it annoys her no end & she somewhat regrets it but had budget constraints.

Banstead has a great high street but definitely caters for older people (imo) and relies on people driving. The station isn’t particularly close to the high street and is not a nice walk, particularly in the winter.

I would always chose a smaller house in a better location.

Banstead is cheaper because of its awful transport links.

What are the buses like on Saturday and Sunday?
Later in the evening?
I think it's hard making older kids dependent on parents driving them for their social lives.
What about after school activities/evening activities - sports, guides/scouts etc