Dorking or Godalming - your views?

[PandaSam]

DH and I currently live in a 2 bed garden-less 4th floor flat in London and are about to start TTC.

We want to move out to Surrey and are thinking either Dorking or Godalming; does anyone have any views?

DH will still be commuting to London (via Waterloo) and I am likely to be working from London.

I want to move somewhere where I can walk to the shops, so don't want to be too isolated, but don't really want to live in a soul-less commuter town.

Also, I'm anxious that I will be on my own with a baby where I don't know anyone. Does anyone have any views about which place would be better for mother & baby groups or somewhere I will easily make new friends?

Help!

They're both lovely - I envy you.

I particularly like Godalming, but can't really justify that. Have you considered a bit further into town - Twickenham, Teddington, Kingston? Good high streets, great schools, easy commute to Waterloo?

Weybridge and Guildford if you can afford to live near the train station/centres are fab too.

godalming - busbridge area or else haselmere (sp?)

We were deciding between Farnham and Godalming and went for Farnham. Absolutely superb for babies and great schools. The train is much better as it is third stop on the line so always plenty of seats unlike Godalming which is quite far into the line.

Can you manage to rent in the area you want to move to before committing to buy? I think it's really difficult to get a sense of an area before you live there, and there often seems to be no rhyme or reason for why some places have a great sense of community and some are, as you say "soul-less commuter towns".

Thanks everyone for your views; its been really helpful.

I think ultimately we will try and rent somewhere for six months first to get a feel of the place.

tigerlion thanks for the tip - might have to look into Farnham. I know Dorking is the first stop on its line but didn't know that about Godalming

hester would have loved to live in Teddington but just can't afford it...yet!

Ah well, if you're looking at Farnham, then come and see Alton . First stop on the line, great sense of community, good schools . . . (am I selling it?!)

Do these places have good secondary schools as well as good primaries?

Both Godalming and Dorking are lovely towns so I doubt you could go wrong with either.

Dorking is a very good place for state schools at primary and secondary level. There are 3 very popular church primary schools. Both secondaries (Ashcombe and Priory) are very good. Ashcombe has a more academic reputation (used to be the grammar school).

The NCT organises lots of social events for new mums and there are loads of activities for babies/toddlers - swimming, music, gym, socatots etc. There are two new and very good daycare nurseries near the station.

Commuting time a negative for Dorking but the advantage is always getting a seat on outward journey and choice of ways to London (victoria, waterloo, or city via redhill)

Hi there
Did you move to Godalming in the end? I'm also thinking of moving there and wondered what you thought of it? We have an 18 month old and hopefully next year another one!
Would be great to know what you thought of it.
Ta!