Hello,


I'm moving back to the UK in 2014 with my wife and two young kids ( 4 and 2), and looking to live in Surrey. I'm looking mainly at Woking and Guildford at the moment. Does anyone have any ideas or experience of these two towns or similar towns?

We want to live in a town, easy walking to shops and facilities. Good schools a must. I looked at places within the M25 ( Kingston etc) but all too expensive. We need a 3 bed house, looking to rent initially for about 1500 pounds a month.

Any advice, suggestions welcome

Cheers,
Jon

We moved from Horley in Surrey, its a nice little town with good rail and road links everywhere. Reigate is also VERY nice with some good schools.
Guildford and the surrounding towns and villages are very expensive.

Good luck

Lived in Guildford for 10 years from 1985 to 1995. Enjoyed it very much. Even though I have been away for some time I don't think it will have changed that much.

Guildford is more attractive than Woking I think - the town centre is especially pleasant - and has some lovely countryside around it; the South Downs etc together with 'ye olde' English villages. Its also not too far to the coast and has got good road and rail communications to London if you need/want to visit there.

Housing in Guildford goes from moderate to expensive - don't believe there is anywhere you could call cheap.

I lived in Merrow - development of individual and town houses on the outskirts and then Abbotswood - older development of large homes and lots. Both were walkable into town - well for me anyway, but I don't mind a walk of a mile or two!

We're moving back to Dorking, which I think is very nice and some great primary schools, I have a 9 yr old and a 5 yr old.

We live in Godalming, it suits me for training and Mrs TB for being close to Guildford (and not too far from New Malden).

I think you'll struggle to get a 3 bed house for that money in Godalming, but probably would in Milford.

Have no idea about schools, but there seem to be breeders everywhere, so it can't be that bad

I use the health club gym at Chartehouse, that looks quite a nice school

Dorking is a lovely little town, I was born there and have lots of family there still. Guilford has great shops and great transport, but then everywhere has really, beautiful countryside too...

Guildford is great but very expensive.

If you were looking at the London end of Surrey (Kingston) have a look at some of the other London Surrey towns- New Malden, Motspur Park, Worcester Park, Tolworth etc.

Or leatherhead.

I used to live in Woking. Guildford is a bigger town. Our first house was on Goldsworth Park, Woking - the largest planned housing estate in Europe when it was built back in the 1970's.

There are villages around Woking i.e. St Johns, Knaphill. The main shopping centres in Woking are the Peacocks and Wolsey Place. There's a library in Woking. There's a public gym and a pool in Woking park. There is a cinema and plenty of restaurants in Woking. There's a market every week. It's 25 mins by non stop train to London Waterloo from Woking. The M25, junction 11 is fifteen minutes drive from Woking. London's west end is half an hour's drive from Junction 11 of the M25. Heathrow Airport is 30 minutes away by car, Gatwick Airport is 45 minutes drive away.

I once got laid on the Hogs Back near Guildford.

Jon,

We moved to Guildford from the US mid last-year. It isn't cheap. However it is very nice and has good schools. There are however some less nice bits and this is where you can find cheaper accomodation. Here is a link to a property search websites which will give you some idea of the cost of renting a 3 bed house. http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

best of luck!

Have you thought about moving closer to the Kent/Surrey border? Oxted, Godstone, Westerham, Edenbridge etc. Close to the M25, easy to get to London and still great schools! I think rent would be a little cheaper too.

Park Barn?

Hello,

Thanks for all the replies. The reason I'm looking at the Guildford/Woking area is that I have all my family in Southampton, so want to stay near the M3 side of the M25, but also want to get into London quickly.

After looking at prices, I think Woking is more likely than Guildford. We love to travel and don't want to spend all our money on rent and I'm an author so my income is up and down too.

With Woking in mind, does anyone know anything about Horsell village? It looks nice, only a mile or so from Woking town centre, but with a village feel. Any other area we should look at?

Cheers,
Jon

No specific knowledge, but I have a friend that lives in Old Woking which has a village feel and also Send looks nice. Close enough to the A3 as well.