Raynes Park/New Malden/Worcester Park - where to move?

[tabbycatcuddles]

Hi, we are looking to move to one of the above areas (forgot Motspur Park which could be a possibility) and I'd love to hear some positives/negatives from local residents. We absolutely have to be less than 15min walk to a train station, preferably less, as we both commute to London. Thank you!

I lived in Raynes Park for many years in my youth. Loved it. Question that will probably be asked is what is your budget? If you can afford north of a million for a house then you have options, though won’t get big or you’d need to go out towards new Malden and motspur park which aren’t bad options. What about surbiton? Not much cheaper than Raynes Park but you might get a little more bang for your buck.

Thank you. Surbiton isn't really an option as it is too far from schools we have in mind.

We have about 1.1-1.25m, but obviously don't have to use it all. It seems like you get bigger houses further away (naturally) but train links are worse. I guess i wonder more about the local "vibe"

So Raynes Park itself is very well healed middle classes around the small high street. There’s the apostles area which is nice but the houses are tiny for what you pay. And then towards the Wimbledon village direction the bigger houses of Durham Road and the surrounds. £1.25 might just about get you a small house here but likely a three bed flat. Worple Road is the main road up to Wimbledon and to be honest you could live anywhere along there and be within roughly 15 mins or either Raynes Park or Wimbledon stations. If it is more the size of the house you want to prioritise then you need to go to new Malden / motspur park. These are a little more some good areas some bad. There isn’t the villagey community feel of Raynes Park but you’ll get a large semi for the money. New malden I always thought had a feeling of trying too hard to be des res - lots of wanna be fine dining type venues and pubs. Sort of just felt a bit fake to me.

If you can get what you need in Raynes Park then that wins every time for me. If a large flat / small ish house will do it then you’ll have plenty of choice. If it has to be a large semi with garden etc then you might not have the cash.

Thank you, this is really interesting. I went to Raynes Park a few weeks ago and I didn't think it was particularly happening, though the connections were good (although nothing compares to a tube line!) and there were some nice coffee shops. I need to visit New Malden too. Worcester Park seems a bit more diverse, but also terribly connected, and with less exciting food options

Worcester Park is a pig to get to and get out of by public transport.

I'd go for Raynes Park especially if you need to get to central London.

Central Wimbledon ? Then you have northern and district lines as well

Thanks, I think that's just a bit too far from the school and too pricey. I don't think we could stretch to a 3-4 bed house there.

Which schools?
I’d look at flats on the roads that slope down from the Ridgeway to Worple Road. Close enough to Wimbledon Village but walkable to Wimbledon station.

New malden I always thought had a feeling of trying too hard to be des res - lots of wanna be fine dining type venues and pubs. Sort of just felt a bit fake to me.

Sorry but this is just not so. New Malden has no find dining type venues. It's full of Korean eateries.

My sister has lived in New Malden for many years. It has transformed in that time although I would not call it swanky. It’s got a good, solid high street, main line station and easy to get to places like Wimbledon, Kingston, Surbiton, Richmond. There is a great community feel and it’s very diverse

What about Kingston? Nearby to some top schools. It has a train station with slow trains while Surbiton is nearby and has fast trains to London. Or slightly further out like Esher and Walton on Thames - much bigger houses and fast-ish trains to London

Thanks, definitely want a house and wouldn't consider a flat.

Interesting thoughts about New Malden, definitely need yo get to knoe the area better. Love Korean food so that's a plus!

First thing are what are the schools you are targeting? private or state

One of my close friends moved to Worcester Park a few years ago simply for the schools she wanted. She really likes it, finds it very family friendly & we have had some nice Asian meals there but it’s not buzzy like Wimbledon.

Raynes Park is fine but not much going on but very close obviously to Wimbledon

I like New Malden, it’s changed quite a bit and has some beautiful properties, good food options but schools aren’t as good as Worcester Park. Colleague looked at both areas. Both NM & WP have benefited from an influx of Hong Kongers.

Mostpur park doesn’t have much of a high street from memory.

With your budget you definitely want a house

Which school(s) @tabbycatcuddles ?

4 bedrooms here, pretty much equidistant between Wimbledon mainline/District Line and South Wimbledon tube:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/71485128/?search_identifier=4b8e338d4604adcece3ed1734a9f0f2c5e977435af5d51730a83cff90894488e&featured=1&utm_content=featured_listing

£1.15m (offers over)

Sorry I was cagey on purpose. I just didn't want to disclose the school as it felt private. The school is private, and within reach from those areas. Kingston might work too, though my ex lives there which kind of puts me off!

Good point about Motspur Park and lack of high street

@tabbycatcuddles if it’s private school then obviously you are less restricted. Look around the areas as you should get a decent size house & garden for that.

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/72255695/?search_identifier=111f6375ed8ba67b8b95aa2f1b0bda321d7fe8eec37f391c0e9240cf342fff94

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/72054193/?search_identifier=111f6375ed8ba67b8b95aa2f1b0bda321d7fe8eec37f391c0e9240cf342fff94

There is nothing for sale in WP like what my friend bought style & road wise, I know it came under the Kingston borough.

This is a similar sold one

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/70690475/?search_identifier=359a607faaa020e4891840d6082c2798c945473e2a0cccd5a1972c0959170eea

I live in New Malden (having lived much more centrally in London for the rest of my life).

For a little over £1.25 million, I have a lovely house (4 bed, all of them doubles) with a large garden. It is a (quick) 15 minute walk from the station (just under a mile).

I like New Malden, it feels safe and spacious, and has a nice community atmosphere, but it is quite sleepy, and when I meet friends in London in the evening, it does feel like quite a long trek back.

(Although if I were closer to the station it would feel less far).

It is, though, close to the A3, so really easy to get out of town and into the countryside.

WP has a big problem, assuming you drive. The road from the A3 to there is virtually gridlocked for all the hours even close to the two rush hours.

And when there are roadworks on it (which seems to be quite often) the mile can easily take 30 mins or more.

I don’t find the traffic there any different to Wandsworth, Tooting, Mitcham, Streatham etc it’s all shit! 😆

I don’t really know New Malden but Raynes Park was where an ex colleague of mine lived, near the big Tesco. I actually think the high street isn’t bad, could be a lot worse. You can walk or get bus or train to Wimbledon and Kingston.

I lived in New Malden in the 'the groves' just north of the station and think it's got some nice 'period' properties (but can lack driveways & garages). New Malden is only a couple of miles from Richmond Park. The trains from New Malden are good - there are a number of train routes which go through it, (which can mean that if there a problems on one route, you've still got a chance of getting home if another route isn't affected) - there are about 10 trains an hour. The high street has a good mix of shops and plenty of eating options (especially if you like Korean). Easy access to the A3.

I like Worcester Park but it only has about 4 trains per hour and doesn't have as many train lines going through it, so if something goes wrong it could be more difficult to get home. Depending on how old your children are, being able to get home reliably for pick up can be really important.

Raynes Park has similar to New Malden re. trains. Personally, I felt the high street weren't a good as New Malden or Worcester Park but we had friends that lived there that loved it.

If it's private schools you're thinking of, most offer bus services.

RP is awful for parking. It won’t be a problem if you have a big enough house for a large drive. The houses in the area south of the train line are quite small.