RGS Guildford commuting

[Mybrainisjelly]

Dear Mumsnetters, After several months of stalking this site, I have now taken the plunge and joined today. My DS will be joining RGS Guildford this September. I'll do my 11plusmum bit in a separate thread :) The past few days I've been tearing my hair trying to narrow down locations/towns/villages from where he can commute into school. IMO a max of 45 mts journey one way is reasonable. Access to M25 is primary and train station secondary. Can anyone recommend good place to live? Safety is key as DH tends to travel and I wouldnt want to live in a remote place. Although, the more I think of the move somewhere remote sounds attractive! Any pointers welcome. Thanks in advance.

Guildford?

Budget?

I suggest looking in the area around junction 10 of the m25. This includes Cobham and east Horsley where the train line goes straight to Guildford (and London Road Guildford).

This will depend on budget as property on this area is £££.

Y Guilford or places within easy commute

Best to look along the train line - any of the stations along the Guildford to Waterloo line between say Guildford and Claygate? Depends entirely on how much you want to spend?

I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question but still fwiw how much will a 4 bed detached cost? I can c people missing their heads but I'm desperate

I'm moving from Plymouth if that helps

There will be variations from area to area- but as a rough guide you'd need around £700k to £1million plus for a decent four bed detached in Guildford or surrounding areas, OP. It's a lovely area but not cheap unfortunately!

Sorry that should read £600k not £700. But still you are looking at upwards of half a million for a 4 bed detached.

...I'll need to work longer hours and hope I win the lottery

Thanks for ur input dietcoke. Can u recommend any areas in Guildford? Maybe we will rent to start with... Get the feel of the area. Easier to get out of a rented house than sell a house - if I don't like the area - me thinks

As others have said anywhere on the Guildford to surbie on line that goes through London Road (so Guildford via Cobham branch) will be an easy commute for your son, and close to the M25. None of the areas near those stations are at all remote, apart from Effingham Junction which is a little bit away from shops.

House prices - look at Rightmove. 3 bed ex council semi start at £400k. 4 bed detached can be several million.

Great bookham is lovely

it would be easier if you said what your budget was, then people could make informed suggestions. There is no point in us making suggestions of nice areas with good transport etc if your budget falls £300k short of the average house price there. There are some extremely expensive areas in and around Guildford.

Great Bookham is indeed lovely but here is the cheapest 4 bed detached I can find on Rightmove
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52565695.html and at the other end of the scale is this
www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-57966425.html

If you are moving I'd get as close to the school as you can .My two commuted from Godalming and quite a few do this mostly by train and sometimes by car/ lift share .

I think you need to come up and do some looking round...... Then adjust your expectations to Surrey prices. £500k is far more likely to buy you a terraced/semi 3 bedroom house. Loads of train options that work to get to RGS..... Really depends if you want to be village-y in places around Guildford and Godalming or more town-y (and easier M25) in Cobham, Walton, Claygate etc

We lived in Farnborough when my DS was at RGS, quite a few boys commute from Reading area as there is a direct train from Reading to Guildford. Gives you lots of options as it stops quite a bit.

There's a nice 2 bed flat for sale in Claygate for 500k

Seriously, you've applied to RGS from Plymouth? That's got to be a bit of a record. Admirable dedication, but do you have a backup plan if you don't manage to move in time? Hopefully you don't have a house to sell? I take it there are no siblings to further complicate the situation? And you don't have to worry about jobs etc?

All I can say is wow. The education system in this county is bonkers - and I say this as someone who has wholeheartedly joined in the mad race here in London - but if we were based elsewhere I don't think we would!

@firstlawofholes - we r moving for work reasons. I've to worry only about this one. So no other child to complicate. TBH this one is pretty expensive

Thnx all for ur suggestions. I've arranged for some viewings this weekend in Woodham and Mayford. I'll keep u posted in how it goes. Budget upto 1.5m but being a Yorkshire gal I'd rather not spend all that money :)

@lifeisontheup2 I'll explore the farnboro option. @stillunexpected thanks for the train options.

Y'all rock. I dont know how i'll get thru this move. But i may just manage with ur help :)