Are you starting a family and looking to buy a property in Surrey? Perhaps you’ve been renting, and now you want to buy your first family home?
We understand that buying a family home is a very important decision and choosing the area to raise your children probably relies on a combination of great schools, low crime rates and access to activities.
Based on this, we’ve pulled together seven of the best family places to live in Surrey to kick start your property search. In no particular order:
1. Woking
Woking is one of Surrey’s largest towns, located in the northwest of the county. The town was recently ranked the 54 best place to raise a family in the whole of the UK, scoring particularly well for its NCT community.
Woking has also been recognised as one of the best places to live in Surrey for schools, with its St John the Baptist School ranking number one in the county for state secondary schools and number 23 across the whole of the UK.
Being one of Surrey’s largest towns, there is also a plethora of activities for children including a theatre, adventure play areas, horse riding and arts and crafts events.
2. Guildford
Guildford is a popular Surrey town. Its location, 27 miles southwest of London, makes it a popular commuter town while also being a great place to raise a family. The town was named as the 6 best place to raise a familyin and around the London area.
If schools are your priority, Guildford is a great choice; housing three or Surrey’s top ten state secondary schools. Its St Peter’s Catholic School ranks 6th in the county (151th nationwide), the Guildford County School ranks 9th in the county (316th nationwide), and the George Abbot School ranks 10th in the county (327thnationwide).
If living in the heart of a busy town doesn’t appeal, then nearby smaller towns of Bramley, Shamley Green, Blackheath, Wonersh, Hascombe, and Winterfold might be worth considering due to their low crime rate; with figures showing this area is the 2nd safest place to live in Surrey.
3. Farnham
Farnham is an old English rural market town to the west of the county. Although located 35 miles southwest of London, Farnham provides great commuter links into the city. The area is also particularly good for families, with the town housing All Hallows Catholic School – the 3rd best school in the county and 79th best school nationwide.
If busy town life doesn’t appeal, the suburbs of Tilford, Elstead, Thursley, Frensham, Peper Harow & Dockenfield are worth considering due to their low crime rates; with an average of just 24 crimes reported here per month.
4. Walton-on-Thames, Esher, and Chertsey
Walton-on-Thames has been voted the number one place to raise a family in and around the London area. It scores 96/100, with factors such as schools, health, job prospects and crime taken into account. Esher in Surrey was named number four in the same study.
Nearby Chertsey has also been recognised as a great place to raise a family in Surrey, being recognised as the 28th best place for families in the UK and noted for its particularly good childcare. Feltham ranked 52nd in the same report, commended for its good schools.
But it is, in fact, Chertsey and Sunbury with the best schools in this area of Surrey; with Salesian School in Chertsey being ranked 5 in the county and St Paul’s Catholic College in Sunbury ranked 7th.
The areas of South Walton & Ambleside are particularly suited to families; being named the 4th safest area to live in Surrey with just 27 crimes per month on average.
5. Warlingham
Warlingham is in the Tandridge district of Surrey, 14 miles south of London. It’s been voted the 19th best place in the whole of the country to raise a family, particularly commended for its great variety of activities.
Activities for families in Walingham include Zorbing, farm visits and plenty of countryside and woods to explore.
6. Leatherhead and Epsom
The Leatherhead and Epsom area is one of the best family places to live in Surrey if schools are a priority. Leatherhead has the 2nd best state school in the county (St Andrew’s Catholic School), and Epsom has the 8thbest (Rosebery School).
If travel to London is also an important part of your house search, these areas also offer good commuter links.
7. Chobham & Bagshot
Chobham and Bagshot are located in the northwest area of Surrey. They’ve been recognised as particularly good areas to raise a family, with Bagshot known for its range of family activities, and Chobham recognised for its great schools.
Bagshot has been named as the 30th best place in the UK to raise a family and Chobham the 86th.
Kick start your search
It’s important to know how much you can borrow before you start looking. You might have your heart set on a property you can’t afford, or you may be able to borrow more than you realise.
Before you begin your search, talk to a mortgage broker who will be able to advise how much you can borrow based on your personal circumstances. Then, once you’ve found your perfect family home, they’ll be able to find you the best mortgage deal on the market.
Want some advice today? Contact Richard Bousfield, The Surrey Mortgage Broker, who will be happy to offer an initial free mortgage consultation.
Alternatively, why not download our helpful Buyers Guide to Mortgages to help you navigate through the complex house buying and mortgage landscape?
