Surrey or Bath??

[HappyLime]

Hello! We are looking to move out of SW London and looking at Surrey or Bath. We have found schools we like in both areas (we have three young children nursery to prep school age) but finding it hard to get a feel for what it’s really like to live in either area. Can anybody share unvarnished views on what the vibe/people are like - maybe even someone who has lived in both areas and can compare? We’re looking for a slower pace of life than in London, lovely down to earth people and just generally a bit gentler/kinder for us and our children. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Which part of Surrey?

I live in Surrey and really enjoy it. Im not sure its that different from living in the suburbs of London though in terms of people, activities, vibe.

It is much greener closer to nature in most parts, or at least easily accessible from the towns.

I dont know Bath very well but that might be a bit more sedate and closer to what you are looking for?

What about work ? I always assumed people live in Surrey because they commute in to London. I'm not a Surrey fan myself ,( grew up there), it's full of stables instead of proper countryside, busy and very much 'keeping up with the Joneses' types.

Just seen the bit about a slower pace of life and down to earth people. Not Surrey then. 😀

Like the PP said, it's not much different to SW London in people and vibe.

Bath is nice I suppose. It’s very white and tourists will drive you mad. But you’re not far from Bristol or London via train. I’d live in Bath if given the chance, it’s cheaper than Surrey too.

Bath is a city in miniature. You have great cafes, restaurants, theatres, gyms, walks (countryside nearby) all accessible on foot. But if you don't live in walking distance from the city centre, driving and parking is a nightmare and public transport is dire compared to London (except the mainline train to London!). You get out what you put in when it comes to building your community. Feels more distinctive than Surrey.

I prefer Bath. But the city centre traffic is awful.

Surrey is busy and bits of it aren’t very pleasant. I don’t think you’ll find a slower pace of life there. A bit further down, in Sussex, you will.

This is fairly key, are you thinking Walton-on-Thames, or Haslemere?

I have actually lived in both places.

Bath is a lovey city but it is very small. I found you couldn’t do anything without bumping into people you know … lovely for a time but a little claustrophobic after a few years. There are also a lot of tourists and it is a univeristy city too. I went to uni there and whilst it was fun, I’m not sure how fun it was for residents. Traffic isn’t great either but it is close to Bristol.

Surrey is lovely, very green yet close to London. Great for kids. The traffic is an absolute nightmare though so definitely check this wherever it is you want to live.

I live in Surrey now but have been back to Bath for weekend breaks.

The A3 / M25 works are almost over and it has improved the junction which is great.

If you can share where about you are considering perhaps we can give more direct help.

I live in Bath (Widcombe, so about 5 minutes' walk from the city centre/train station etc). We get our groceries delivered and hardly bother to use a car unless we are going a long distance (DH typically had to get to Bristol/London so just use the train). It is a great place to bring up children, but probably not so lovely if you are on a low income.

With two universities, there are quite a few foreigners (typically White or East Asian) - about 30,00 students and associated academics/support staff. A lot of students stay post graduation. In the past decade a lot of families have relocated from London.

I'd say it is cliquey, but there are a large number of cliques.

Christmas Market aside, which is fairly easy to avoid if you don't need to drive into/around town, the tourists aren't overly annoying. I am pleased they are there to support all the pubs/cafes/restaurants/theatre.

I'm not sure what schools you were looking at, but be aware that Royal High has just closed their schooling for nursery/preprep and KES are planning to relocate their nursery and pre-prep to their main site (not sure how that is going to work, but presumably the Junior is likely to get a smaller intakes).

They're quite different. Bath as pp have pointed out is very touristy.
It depends on where in Surrey.

Surrey is filled with cold, rich, awful people

I like Bath but driving and parking is difficult and it is full of London relocaters, tourists and pretentious types, far from down to earth locals living a slower paced life!

And this is, of course, absolute bollocks. There are of course people like that, as there are in London (and Bath, I'm sure) but there are some lovely, genuine, friendly, down to earth people as well, of course, and its not 'full of' any stereotype of people, just as London (Bath) isnt.

Large county, lots of different types of places and areas and lots of different people. I live in East Surrey and experienced a devastating shock bereavement last year and I can't tell you how kind and supportive the people in my community have been.

I live in Keynsham (in the same local authority as Bath but located between Bristol and Bath). I echo what others are saying about traffic, students and transport. I almost always get the park and ride or the train to go into the city centre.

The tourists don't drive you mad in Bath because as a local you're generally not queuing to go to the Roman Baths etc and in any case you know that the reason there are loads of tourists is because it's gorgeous!
Agree traffic bad and that really you want to live sufficiently far in that you can walk everywhere (Widcombe, Bathwick, Oldfield Park, lower Lansdown, Camden) or right out.
I think Bath is great as it has everything. I was brought up in Surrey and do visit and it's very different. Surrey feels more spacious, people driving everywhere etc v Bath where you do walk everywhere and bump into people you know wherever you go like a big village in some ways.
Property prices high in both places and housing stock less family friendly in Bath if you want garden, off street parking etc.
Bath more eclectic. It's a fab city in Somerset.

All of Surrey is exactly like that. Absolutely all of it.
Guildford, Woking, Leatherhead, Staines, Esher, Egham, Camberley, Reigate, Caterham, Virginia Water, Weybridge, Oxted...

There's no proper countryside in Surrey. Surrey Hills National Landscape

It's beautiful.

People do sometimes come up with some absolute bollocks.

I live near Bath so I have the best of both worlds - beautiful countryside, more affordable housing, 12 minutes away from Bath by train and 35 minutes to Bristol. Close to the M4 for transport hubs north and south. Lots of lovely villages and good state schools.

I'd rather be where I am than in Bath central.