Move to Surrey

[ThisNewAnt]

Looking to relocate to Warlingham or Woldingham areas. Advice needed on where’s best. Are these nice places to live? Have a dog that needs off lead walking. Also looking for somewhere with community vibe to meet neighbours so do not want to be isolated.

as my husband will be driving up to Catford and East Dulwich and Peckham Rye

I know someone who commutes daily from Catford to Caterham (via Warlingham!).

Caterham has a great community spirit and events are always really well supported. Warlingham is similar no doubt. Warlingham is certainly prettier and if I were in your position it would probably be my choice.

Oh thank you! We keep looking and coming back to Warlingham as it ticks so many boxes for us. Do you know how long it takes them to get to Catford? Our kids did it and it was about an hour and I suppose it depends what time of day too. Also do you hear of much crime in that village? it seemed fairly peaceful when we visited

The only crime I ever hear about in the whole E Surrey area (have formed all over) is luxury car theft (was a spate after covid but seems to have settled down) and occasional bored teenagers being a nuisance. In Warlingham they are obsessed with prete ding it is still a discrete village, which its not, theyre all small towns or suburban sprawl round here, and on the Facebook pages you will see lots of "its getting closer!!" doom and gloom posts everytime anyone hears a siren, meaning Croydon/London, but in 12y of living here (moving out of S Croydon) I have experienced zero crime and the only crime I have heard about is the usual car theft, teenagers throwing eggs and some shoplifting in the shops on the green/in the valley. I guess burglary and domestic things go on too but not to anybody I have heard about.

The police are fairly visible at the moment as are currently located in Caterham Valley, but not like it used to be and you rarely see any of them since community police etc disappeared. But thats all of home counties. They came round once to advise on car security measure a few years ago and thats the only time I've ever had any dealing with them.

Compared to London, where you have to watch your phone and wallet, it seems incredibly low crime to me, perhaps surprisingly so given how close it is to London. You do hear sirens a but vut that is mainly due to rescue services for the motorway I think.

https://www.police.uk/pu/your-area/?search=1

You can see crime stats by area above, Warlingham is likely lower than Caterham

Oh that’s informative thank you.

Warlingham is really pretty, I know 2 people who live in Sanderstead and though it’s nice enough I’d choose Warlingham over it. Westerham lovely but no train station. Don’t know Farleigh that well nor Woldingham but have driven through/been to pubs. Limpsfield is also very pretty and near Warlingham, no station but some village shops. Tatsfield, a friend of mine years ago lived there with her parents. Nice enough place but haven’t been there (driven near it) for years so could’ve changed. Driving to Catford I’d probably go for Warlingham, property there seems fairly decent value compared to eg Woldingham. As far as I know Warlingham village doesn’t have much crime, AI says it’s a relatively safe area. Chislehurst is great I know a few people living there, takes approx 20-38 mins even in rush hour.

That’s driving to Catford I meant from Chislehurst. Warlingham by car to Catford is 45-65 mins during rush hour.

We went to Tatsfield and stayed overnight - not enough shops and same with Limpsfield. Really pretty and love the look of the houses but ready to be somewhere a bit livelier as we currently live in a similar village - beautiful but not much going on. Thanks for the info - really think Warlingham is the furthest away from our kids we want to be and has lots we are looking for. Just need to find a nice property on a quiet road. 🤞🏻

Easy access to green space and views but you may find them lacking in local shops.

Timings for driving (now I've seen them to ask):

Catford to Caterham - leaves home 6am - 45 mins.

Caterham to Catford - mid afternoon - 60 to 75 mins depending on whether term time or not as there are schools en route.

Warlingham is probably 10/15 mins quicker.

@ThisNewAnt. There are a few houses for sale on the Farleigh Road and one on Sunnybank which backs onto fields although it fronts the mini roundabout. Certainly you can walk into Warlingham from Sunnybank.

if your budget is around 800k+ the private roads mentioned in Warlingham are great. Souless tho. A new private small estate being built in Warlingham near the green at the moment which will have a more community vibe for similar or less money as lots of people moving and befriending at once.

Leaving at 7am you will not be in East Dulwich by 8 its a horrible slow drag through the burbs of south london past numerous schools and driving with the all traffic 'leaving early' to miss the rush. Dont kid yourself and hour is a 'good' day not a normal day. I was working just past Peckham Rye and the drive was horrendous, was so glad when my time in that location ended

Do u know the house builders name near the green? I will check them out. We like those quiet roads as currently in a very rural area so hardly see anyone. I think we are going to be stuck in traffic wherever we go. If we move further out it’s going to be longer and we don’t want to be anywhere built up or busy. Here we can walk to the green shops if needed. I’ve told my hisband we are going to have to suck it up in regards to driving until our kids move further out. They are moving to Catford and Peckham Rye so think the travel will be as long to those places.

Farleigh Road looking like a busy road? I know it looks open space around and golf course which we will have a look at also as we are golfers.

Otford in Kent might suit you? Nice village pond with ducks.

oh well it’s going to have to be. Maybe some days we will leave 6am. We are going to have to put up with it as don’t want to live nearer as more built up.

@ThisNewAnt. I live further out and commute in so I live near to Gatwick. Warlingham seems built up to me so I think if you are used to a quiet village atm, you may find life a lot more trafficky and noisy. Old Farleigh Downs does have the loveliest group of red kites living there that swoop and glide. Tbh, Oxted really isn’t much further away.

Cala Homes

Thank you! We were avoiding Oxted as we thought it was further and more built up. Love the thought of kites! Will check out Old Farleigh. I will be having my grandchild sometimes and thought a walk around those private roads and into the green with the pram might be nice

Igtham might suit. Is it too far out or villagey?

Thanks we did go there and really quiet. My husband preferred Warlingham.

Yes went there too and too villagy. Really want something livelier.

We were recommended Shere and Haslemere as pretty centre but just too far a commute

Hi our budget is 1m - 1.25 hence looking on those private roads and our son is renovating a flat in Peckham Rye and my husband will be helping 2 times a week so will be doing this journey. He will have to set off at 6am and come back after 5. I don’t think there’s a way round it as he doesn’t want to live closer and doesn’t want to move to Kent area.

It’s already been mentioned but Westerham is lively. As I said before no train station but if you don’t need one that’s good.