Whats Dorking like, considering moving

[Bathroom_Security]

Looking at moving to Dorking, price wise this seems our best bet in comparison to other places in the area without moving away from Surrey. Previously I've lived in Guildford then Woking, now Byfleet/West Byfeet area.

Train links into London seem OK and the links to other major towns (easy access to Guildford and London are a main requirement for work) seem good

Whats the place like? Are there any unsavory st holes around there to watch out for?

Edited by Bathroom_Security on Wednesday 17th June 12:06

[croyde]

I moved near there after being a Londoner for 50 odd years. I stayed for over 2 years. Had to move back to London due to family matters but would love to move back.

I was in Betchworth renting a big cottage for the price of a one bedroomed flat in London.

Had to drive the 4 miles to the station at Dorking when I used the train and back then the nearby roads were free to park in but all permit now. Those 4 miles would usually take 10 minutes including finding a space.

There's a big carpark at the station but it's full by 7am.

Trains to Victoria and Waterloo, both about 50 minutes but I was there when SWT were running the show and had little trouble. The summer SWR took over was a disaster and was a small part of my decision to move back to London. Hopefully it's better now.

Dorking is a lovely little town to shop in, quite a few independent shops in the High st but the east end is all closed up. Talking to the traders it's the usual problem of sky high rents and rates.

There's a Sainsbury's, Waitrose, M&S as well as a Lidl.

Great countryside plus the Surrey Hills. Possible to drive to the coast via B roads in 45 minutes even on a bank holiday.

I had a girlfriend in a village 20 miles away. Normally took 20 minutes to get there. Fantastic back roads driving in my Mustang GT. Who says they are too big for UK roads

Sadly the Mustang went before the move back to the city.

If that cottage ever comes available again, I'd seriously consider moving back.

[Hereward]

I live between Dorking and Reigate, have done so for 10 years.

If you're a London commuter consider using Redhill instead of Dorking - better train services. But factor in the drive time to the station.

Nice part of the world.

[croyde]

You must have been near me. I did use Reigate a couple of times as it was possible to park for free nearby. Traffic in the morning on the A25 could be a pain. There's a road that is really a rough track just as you get near to Reigate on the right, opposite the common.

I used that as a short cut but boy did I bang the bottom of my BMW saloon.

[p1stonhead]

I live between Reigate and Dorking. Both are nice. Reigate is a traffic nightmare a lot of the time. Dorking is a bit better.

Don’t bother with Redhill in terms of living there but it’s ok to drive to for a station. It has a good train link but is an ‘anywhere’ town with no charm whatsoever. It’s one of the unsavoury stholes. There aren’t many. It’s average value is something like half that of Reigate for good reason.

I used to live in Reigate until last year but Dorking is my preference now and as I said I’m in between actually close to where Croyde was. Lovely spot. We’re settled here long term now for the kids.

South of here is nice open roads almost all the way to the coast. Great for a nice drive.

[David_M]

I discovered this map some time ago:

https://maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019...

If it is set to show the "index of multiple deprivation" you basically want to live somewhere dark green and definitely not somewhere red. I found that this correlated very accurately (to the street) with the local areas that I know.

[Bathroom_Security]

Thanks

I used to work in Reigate too, well aware of the traffic (Jesus what a nightmare)

Also aware of Redhill. I've been a couple of times, reminds me of Woking prior to being developed.

Few friends have said Dorking is a nice place too so sounds like it might be a good choice

[p1stonhead]

David_M said:

I discovered this map some time ago:

https://maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019...

If it is set to show the "index of multiple deprivation" you basically want to live somewhere dark green and definitely not somewhere red. I found that this correlated very accurately (to the street) with the local areas that I know.

Wow if accurate (seems to be my way) that’s a great map.

[Mr Tidy]

David_M said:

I discovered this map some time ago:

https://maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019...

If it is set to show the "index of multiple deprivation" you basically want to live somewhere dark green and definitely not somewhere red. I found that this correlated very accurately (to the street) with the local areas that I know.

That map is brilliant - thanks.

I've no recent experience of the area but in the late 70s had a former school-mate who lived on Box Hill Road (almost opposite the Hand in Hand pub) and I used to meet up with him and his brother on Sunday mornings to go to the car park at Box Hill on our 250cc 2-strokes! Then we'd go for a ride around the area and Dorking always seemed quite pleasant. At the time I was working in Leatherhead and that had a similar feel.

I'd agree with a previous comment about Redhill though. When I worked there in the mid 90s it's only redeeming feature was fast trains to other places.

I actually preferred Woking when I lived there in the mid 80s! Although Reigate felt similar to Dorking.

[Bathroom_Security]

Also looking at Fetcham (mainly looking at Leatherhead), supposed to be nice? I know it wont have the Dorking feel to it. May struggle with Dorking, one house we really like has 50 people interested in it so thats out the window. Also quite small for what it is.

All green on the poverty map so looks good there. Streets look OK, no nasty looking st holes

[p1stonhead]

Fetcham is nice but the road that runs through it can get very busy. It’s a pretty big cut through to Guildford from Leatherhead side.

Things get much quieter if you can get south of the A25 in general. Not sure if you can manage that though with commuting.

[croyde]

I was going to say, unless you wish to walk to the station, there are some great little villages south of the A25 from halfway out to Guildford through to just before Reigate.

Also nice places south of Guildford down to Cranleigh.

[p1stonhead]

croyde said:

I was going to say, unless you wish to walk to the station, there are some great little villages south of the A25 from halfway out to Guildford through to just before Reigate.

Also nice places south of Guildford down to Cranleigh.

Yep.

Some of my favourites;

Peaslake, Holmbury St Mary, Forest Green, Ockley, Newdigate, Brockham, Leigh, Betchworth

All fairly stunning little villages within say 10 mins of a station and with quiet roads too around for nice drives.

Personally since moving out this way from Kingston way, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being on the coast within 45 mins. We do it often. Didn’t even occur to me prior to moving how good it would be to be that close.

Edited by p1stonhead on Monday 22 June 14:00

[Bathroom_Security]

Yeah those are all on the list actually, just nothing takes our fancy at the moment. Must be walk-able from the station (say max 30 mins, I'd actually get a brompton bike or something to speed things up.

Whats the busy road you mention? between guildford and leatherhead?

[p1stonhead]

Bathroom_Security said:

Yeah those are all on the list actually, just nothing takes our fancy at the moment. Must be walk-able from the station (say max 30 mins, I'd actually get a brompton bike or something to speed things up.

Whats the busy road you mention? between guildford and leatherhead?

The A246 is the busy one which isn’t actually through it but adjacent.

Lower Road is the one through fetchham itself and not so busy but it’s kind of surrounded by trafficy roads. If you’re walking to the station or biking though it’s no issue.

Funnily enough at the moment everywhere is still dead traffic wise but not sure how long it’s going to last of course. It’s certainly nowhere near where it was. You can at the moment leave the house after 7am and just drive places - this was utterly impossible before Covid. For me it was either go at 6am or wait till 10am. Just ridiculous.

My office is gone forever in favour of permanent WFH so that may affect things if a lot of companies do it.

If you could make your station Bookham I’d suggest you’d have a better time of it thank trying to get a seat etc at Leatherhead. Effingham/East Horsley is also nice and Effingham Junction has a station too.

Edited by p1stonhead on Monday 22 June 14:53

[Smollet]

I’ve lived in nearby Cobham since the early 80s and Dorking has always struck me as an antique shop centre with some nice local pubs. Now Surrey Hills brewery have relocated to Denbie’s vineyard and with Dorking Brewery also situated very close by its rapidly becoming a bit of a wino’s haven. What’s not to like?

[Thankyou4calling]

I wouldn’t say Cobham is near Dorking at all.

Both very nice places to live though albeit different.

[Smollet]

Thankyou4calling said:

I wouldn’t say Cobham is near Dorking at all.

Both very nice places to live though albeit different.

Depends on how you define near. It’s about 10 miles away. Not exactly a long way off.

[fatboy18]

Thankyou4calling said:

I wouldn’t say Cobham is near Dorking at all.

Both very nice places to live though albeit different.

I agree Cobham is not close to Dorking at all! Is that 10 miles as the crow flies?

Dorking has gone down hill like most towns in recent years, the High St, as others have mentioned is on a downward spiral due to greedy landlords and Council business rates, it does have a few more independent shops but they too are up against it at the moment. Traffic in rush hours gets busy particularly at the Cock roundabout A25 Reigate to Dorking and up from Dorking Station.

Of course there are some nice bits to the area also, If you like course fishing there is Old Bury Hill lake, (Very nice) and also a nice fishery at Newegate. There is also of course a lot of Cycling (if that's your thing)?
Tourism to the area (Box hill, Denbys, Ranmore Common etc) is also a big thing so plan for that on weekends.
Getting from Dorking to reigate / redhill to commute to London would best be done by motorcycle or even push bike rather than a car, traffic entering the towns is gridlocked in the mornings.
But all that aside its not a bad area to live.

[Smollet]

fatboy18 said:

Thankyou4calling said:

I wouldn’t say Cobham is near Dorking at all.

Both very nice places to live though albeit different.

I agree Cobham is not close to Dorking at all! Is that 10 miles as the crow flies?

About 7miles as the crow flies.