SE Relocating - advice wanted

[HairyArsedBloke]

Kingston is a 'no no' btw.

Yeah Mon, Jamaica is a long commute to London.

[rsingh]

I lived in Esher and commuted into Waterloo last year. It is slightly snoozevile but is by far the most pleasant place I have lived. For rental, you can get a flat neat the station for about 1250 per month. The same flat is available to buy for 330k. You can probably get it for less than that - I know, I lived there and it has been empty for 3 months

Train pass was £195pm and the journey was about 22-25 mins with a seat.

I used to live in Kingston, bit of a shed but it was ok. However Kingston Hospital was easy to get to from Esher as well. Parking can be a nightmare though.

[b0redom]

Lived in Richmond, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill (all nice) - Isleworth (not nice). Now living in Shepperton (best so far) - the commute from here is about 60 mins into Waterloo though.

Just over the bridge is Walton-on-Thames - that would probably be better for you - they've just done up the 'town' centre, and there are fast trains into Waterloo (25 mins IIRC).

[oracleslave]

Wimbledon village is OK, but is surrounded by nasty areas.

Which would those be?

[PRC1964]

Which would those be?

Maybe not very close, but Plough Lane is grotty.

[sasguru]

I'd appreciate any advice on relocating - we're currently living in Hampshire and we're thinking of relocating somewhere closer to London and were looking for a nice area in Surrey no more than 30 mins from Waterloo - does anyone have any suggestions where might be a good place to start looking? Money's not really that big an issue as we're downsizing and don't need or want a particularly large house. Finding somewhere with a quick commute into Waterloo and also somewhere my wife (who is ill) will feel safe during the day on her own are the top priorities.

I was thinking of Surbiton or Esher - anyone live/d there?

Guildford fulfils all your requirements. And it has the Royal Surrey Hospital.

[Malingering BA]

Maybe not very close, but Plough Lane is grotty.

Not very close is correct. Not remotely close is nearer the mark. The village and surrounds all the way to Putney Heath are nice but expensive. Wimbledon Village High Street is a nice assortment of independent shops, restaurants and smart (i.e. no yobs) pubs and bars. Wimbledon Common is there of course as well.

Down the hill in Wimbledon Town (where the train station is - 15 mins to Waterloo) is typical High Street land, i.e. an innoffensive but unremarkable collection of national chain shops and an indoor shopping centre, although a lot of school kids hang around outside at school chucking out time as lots of bus services converge there. They're generally well behaved though. Closest hospital is the St Georges complex in Tooting or the Nelson Hospital (for outpatients) in Wimbledon Chase.

[expat]

Originally Posted by PRC1964
Wimbledon village is OK, but is surrounded by nasty areas.

Which would those be?

SE England

[Lockhouse]

Guildford fulfils all your requirements. And it has the Royal Surrey Hospital.

Guildford is 40 mins out which is a little too far - I was really looking for 30 mins max.

[Mustang]

Walton on Thames

Walton is not bad. I used to live there and still kept my flat. It's about 30 mins from Waterloo and so it more depends where you are relative to the station.

They have redevloped the town centre so there are a lot of nice restaurants and shops without going to Kingston or further.