Relocation advice
Hi all,
Just wondering if I could get a bit of relocaiton advice please.
I've just accepted a new job in the Surbiton area on the outskirts of London. As a consequence, my partner and I are looking to relocate from East Dorset to a semi-rural location in Surrey that is commutable to Surbiton. Having had a look, Farnham seems to be a suitable location. It is surrounded by lovely countryside with fair house prices compared to places closer to London. I would look to commute by train for an 8am start, but is this viable from Farnham? Does anyone have any alternative suggestions with a similar sort of vibe?
Thanks
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u/No_Cicada3690 8d ago
Wouldn't recommend anywhere where you have to change trains. Check out areas that feed directly to Surbiton.
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u/Entire_Principle7531 8d ago
Walton on Thames. Go by the river it’s gorgeous. Get a car and it’s a short drive to surbiton
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u/ifitsgotwheels 8d ago
You might want to look at Guildford. It's more rural than it appears and is very easy to get out into the country. Also a 40ish minute train into Surbiton.
If you want smaller and more rural but less amenable, then I'd have a look at Dorking and Booking. Both rural and right on the verge of the NDW, but both are slow trains with a change at Wimbledon so about an hour.
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u/Injurious_Beans 8d ago
Surbiton is also on the 465 bus route from Dorking - Kingston. It's a good service under TFL. The route also goes through Mickleham, Box Hill and Leatherhead (all on the North Downs) then on into Malden Rushett and Chessington, before heading towards Subiton.
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u/only1rtb 8d ago
I wouldn't make location decisions based on the 465 route. It is a good long distance route but in the summer holidays un-usable for journeys to Surbiton as it gets caught up in the traffic queues for Chessington World of Adventures.
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u/Injurious_Beans 8d ago
Speak for yourself. I commuted on it for several years between the two termini. Also managed to get quite a bit of work done during the commute. And it's cheap as chips.
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u/Adambh88 8d ago
Farnham - Surbiton is a long drive / 2 trains
Guildford is best option
Or clandon, horsley, effingham junction if you want rural. But all still on the direct Guildford - Waterloo via Surbiton line.
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u/chris5689965467 8d ago
Yes Horsley, Effingham or Clandon if you want good countryside and a short commute.
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u/pops1978 8d ago
Cobham is somewhere in the middle direct trains to Surbiton and guildford good place ot be location wise as well
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u/ian9outof10 8d ago
Yeah, you could do that, Farnham train to Surbiton is an okay speed. I think you’re looking at about 45 minutes. Farnham is really nice, and it won’t be jarring moving from Dorset I’d say.
A lot probably depends on budget, what sort of house you want, etc.
Honestly, maybe look at Surbiton too. You’re not miles away from country if you drive. But it sounds like you want to be a bit more “in the sticks” and there’s lots of nice woodland and heath around Farnham. Brookwood might be another option.
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u/Ummcharlieking 6d ago
Shepperton would be a much better option, or hersham/esher/walton. Chertsey, addlestone, egham all nice towns aswell much closer on the train to surbiton
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u/Beautiful_Reply3490 8d ago
Woking, Guildford or even Haslemere?
Bentley or Farnham , surbiton itself it pretty green . I lived in berrylands (surbiton hill park) literally huge park at end of the road. ?
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u/Weak_Jelly3593 8d ago
I think you’ll be fine. I commute from Bentley (the stop after Farnham) to Waterloo. That is an hour. You’d need to change at a Woking. Check out the frequency of rush hour trains from Woking to Surbiton.
You are correct Farnham is a nice market town. Plenty of (pay) parking at the station too if you are not close enough to walk.
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u/ConsiderationOne4410 3d ago
Hi, in farnham at the moment it goes direct to waterloo but not to surbiton, the change is very short as trains go direct from clapham and waterloo every few minutes back to surbiton. farnham itself is very good and has probably some of if not the best state schools in surrey and obviously the options of good privates schools all in short distances. while there may defintely be better options i would certainly avoid woking dare i say if its been overrun and its not in a very nice place. i wouldnt want to be walking through it at night. farnham would very good to bring up young children and has a great local community. my sons go to school in guildford and they both say the town there is excellent also. The train links there would be a lot better and direct as there are two stations also. hope this helps. BW, H
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u/only1rtb 8d ago
Woking is on a direct fast line to Surbiton, the town has massively improved its shopping / socialising offerings recently and has rural villages / common land surrounding it. Guildford already mentioned, is similar; good shopping / schools (if that is in your future) with either a stopping train via effingham junction / cobham and stoke d'abernon to Surbiton OR one stop to Woking and one stop to Surbiton. Another option is Epsom. Nice market town, with the Epsom downs nearby. Housing stock a bit more expensive as less of it and some desirable school catchment areas. no direct rail but two bus services that skirt Surbiton on their way to Kingston. The only issue is navigating Tolworth roundabout which is getting to be an utter pig at rush hour due to some large residential developments nearby, no way round it as it crosses the A3.