East Horsley or London Road/G’ford to Epsom

[Dittousername]

We will be relocating next year in time for secondary, and while simultaneously navigating schools plus commute to London, I wondered if there is anyone who can advise on East Horsley as a location to be? We may well have DC at different schools (secondary) and the trains seem quite handy going in varying directions, between Guildford-Epsom, with a possibility of needing Oxshott/Cobham route too.

I had hoped to be somewhere convenient and being able to walk to some amenities too. Is this realistic in this location? I appreciate driving will be needed to some degree, but can teens get around independently using the trains here? I see buses do not look great however.

Alternative options was to look at London Road area of Guildford or maybe Merrow? Would need one DC to get the train to Epsom however.

NC for this. I live in East Horsley. The trains are mostly great although that may change due to changes in ownership of national rail.
If you live close either Effingham Junction or Horsley station you can get to London in under an hour, Guildford in under 20, leatherhead in 15. If you don’t you’ll have to drop them all the time. There’s a parade of shops in Horsley.
There’s a coach service that seems to drop kids to local secondary school and I think the private ones do to.
Guildford is close by but a totally different living experience Horsley. We’ve been here a while now and it’s nice hearing the birds in the morning but being close enough to get into London etc without any hassle.

Many thanks! It sounds like it could be a well located area between lots of different key towns, but as you say, being close to the station is ideal. Yes, I noticed SW trains are under govt control now… who knows if that is a good or bad 😬 thing atm!