Move out of London to Surrey
It’s reported that around 40% of Londoners consider a move away from the city each year seeking bigger homes, access to beautiful countryside and all within under an hours commute into London.
Surrey offers a great quality of life and fast commutes can be found in most locations across the county with excellent rail connections. Homes can be much more spacious than those in London and often come with friendlier price tag. The county is home to some of the very best schooling options in the UK and also boasts some of the lowest crime rates in the country.
Property in Surrey
The property market in Surrey can be highly competitive as buyers vie for the best homes. In terms of property for sale in Surrey, the type and age of homes vary widely, from Victorian terraces in the pretty towns to large Manor houses in rural settings. Surrey’s history dates back to the Romans so there is no shortage of period homes.
Towns such as Farnham are known to have a wealth of historic properties; large Georgian homes sit beside Edwardian and Victorian homes. There are also many characterful villages such as Shere which is a pretty village with many Tudor built properties and a Norman church.
Where to live in Surrey?
Surrey is a relatively large, landlocked county that borders with Greater London and for those moving out of London who still wish to commute back into the city, there are a variety of routes by rail or road that make it possible in a relatively short amount of time.
Surrey has the greatest proportion of woodland of all the counties in the UK and is well known for its beauty spots such as Box Hill which is a very old untouched woodland that offers far-reaching views over Surrey. Box Hill is a small part of the Surrey Hills. which are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and cover around a quarter of the county.
Wherever you live in Surrey it is likely that you’ll be near to beautiful countryside.
Surrey commuter towns
Across Surrey, there are numerous popular commuter towns offering fast connections into London. Towns might be more appealing to those hoping to live nearer to amenities, it also often the case that Surrey’s top schools are located within or near to the towns which might make them more appealing to families. With Surrey being such a green county overall, even those who reside in one of the towns have ready access to the beautiful countryside.
The Surrey town of Godalming, for example, is well known for its schooling which includes the famous Charterhouse independent school and offers direct train services from Godalming station into Waterloo in around 45 minutes.
The market town of Reigate is a popular place to live, with a pretty high street filled with boutique shops and cafes, lots of green spaces nearby and North Downs not too far away. Reigate station offers a 46-minute commute into London Victoria, and for those who need to reach the City choose to live on the east side of the town for easy access to nearby Redhill station which offers direct trains into London Bridge.
The quaint town of Dorking is a little further out, surrounded by the Surrey Hills and has excellent schools along with a wide range of amenities. From Dorking you can reach several London stations in just under an hour.
Surrey commuter villages
Throughout Surrey there are several villages that offer ideal commute times into London via rail or road. For those looking to move out of London seeking a rural property it might be that a Surrey village is a good option.
For those who plan on commuting by car, the village of Ripley might be incredibly appealing. Ripley is just 40 minutes’ drive from London, has a regular award-winning farmer’s market, several popular pubs and a large village green where community events and sports are run year-round.
The village of Chobham is located just beyond the M25 and 3.5 miles from Woking which is where commuters will find the nearest fast train options – trains from Woking into London Waterloo take just 25 minutes. Chobham is a pretty rural village where house hunters can find large detached homes and a strong community spirit.
Lingfield is an idyllic, historic village filled with beautiful homes centred around a picturesque pond. There are several excellent schools in the area and a good variety of local shops and village pubs. For commuters, Lingfield mainline offers direct services into both London Victoria and London Bridge. The M25 motorway is only a short drive away and Gatwick airport is also within easy reach.
Move to Surrey
A move to Surrey, a vast rural county, after being accustomed to London life for some time can be extremely daunting.
The prospect of perhaps not having immediate neighbours can be hugely appealing as many move to the countryside seeking seclusion and peace but for a successful move, those leaving London need to consider the reality of potentially being some distance from amenities.
Top priorities for our clients usually include commute time, schools and amenities – these are all factors that can incredibly difficult to decipher if you’re not familiar with an area.
Surrey property finders
Our team of Surrey property finders have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the county, the towns, villages and hamlets and what they have to offer residents.
Commute times and destinations vary across the county; your location options will depend on where you need to travel to and how long you’re willing to sit on a train. For families, it is often the case that schooling is equally important so finding a location that offers the right balance is key.
A professional property finder assists private clients in finding not only the perfect location but also the ideal home. Talk to Garrington about your search for a property in Surrey and how our services can facilitate your move out of London.
