Are these nice areas in Guildford?

[philv]

Hi,

i really don't know the areas of Guildford, we are a long way away, and need to view some properties asap before we have nowhere to live.

My other half has sent me a list of properties on rightmove, and i have no idea if they are in acceptable areas, etc.

Can anyone please tell me if these are nice/decent areas or to be avoided.

Grantley Road, Stoughton, Guildford GU2
Cypress Road, Guildford GU1
Woodside Road, Westborough, Guildford GU2
Lynchmere Place, Guildford GU2
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Hillspur Road, Guildford GU2
Barrack Road, Guildford GU2
Stoughton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Oakfields, Guildford GU3
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Merrow, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Mangles Road, Guildford GU1
Manor Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2

Thanks for any help

[Uncle John]

Go & have a drive and look about surely.

[Simpo Two]

Google Streetview might be a start, and go for a 'virtual walk'.

[philv]

I live quite a way away and we have to ind somewhere sharpish.

Are there any drawback to Godalming?

We only have about 380k, so only looking at 2 bed end terrace etc.

Maybe concentrating on one small place with a good reputation is the way to go.

So...is Godalming ok?

[edc]

Nearly all of the towns and villages around Guildford and Woking will be fine. It really depends what you want. Convenience and access Vs more country rural etc. Park Barn and the areas around that side of Guildford are ex council estate. If you don't live here I'd really suggest spending some time to get a feel for the place. Granted it's a bit odd right now as a lot of things are closed and traffic football not at normal levels. Maybe you could rent first before committing to buying.

[philv]

edc said:

Nearly all of the towns and villages around Guildford and Woking will be fine. It really depends what you want. Convenience and access Vs more country rural etc. Park Barn and the areas around that side of Guildford are ex council estate. If you don't live here I'd really suggest spending some time to get a feel for the place. Granted it's a bit odd right now as a lot of things are closed and traffic football not at normal levels. Maybe you could rent first before committing to buying.

Unfortunately budget is tight, and every month in rented accom is both money down the drain and a shorter mortgage term/lower borrowing.

I thought a 6 min train ride from Godalming would be a great compromise.

Anywhere else at a budget of 380k for a 2 bed house isn't going to get us very close to the center in a decent area anyway is it?

[edc]

philv said:

Unfortunately budget is tight, and every month in rented accom is both money down the drain and a shorter mortgage term/lower borrowing.

I thought a 6 min train ride from Godalming would be a great compromise.

Anywhere else at a budget of 380k for a 2 bed house isn't going to get us very close to the center in a decent area anyway is it?

The other way to look at it is that it's a lot of money to commit to an area and something you don't know or an expensive mistake to make. Anyone who knows these areas has no idea what you like or prefer or what your reference points are.

Godalming is perfectly nice enough. If commuting to London whether by car or train are a big deal though it is just that bit further out and you may be standing a long time going home. Using a car you will get stuck at the usual A3 bottlenecks at Guildford and the M25 and there are few other road main road options.

[andharri]

Godalming is nice. My friend was looking to move there a few years ago and apparently there is a waiting list on the station car park. This might be BS, but worth checking.

The only are of Guildford I would shy away from is Park Barn.

Virtual drive by a good idea, can also try putting the postcode into here https://checkmypostcode.uk/

[Stephanie Plum]

Guildford is generally a nice place to live. Godalming likewise. However with your budget I’d look at somewhere like Dorking. 25 minute drive away and on a train line to Guildford. You’ll get more for your money. In Dorking avoid Goodwyns estate and Chart Downs estate and everywhere else is fine.

[cptsideways]

Beware of the traffic hot spots. Can be dreadful at times depending on where you need to be?

[parakitaMol.]

'Generally' speaking
Burpham/Merrow/Pewley Down and Warricks Bench are good and going out of Guildford on the old Farnham Road or Portsmouth road.

If you look at the A3 so it is running South -> North - I would not buy anything on the Left. I would not consider Woodbridge/Stoughton/Park Barn or Bellfields.

I am sure that some people will say they are OK but do your research - I would join Guildford FB groups and look at crime stats to get a better feel if you don't know the area.

I really like Godalming but I do not know it in detail - I lived in Guildford for 12 years and my son went to school there. I do have friends on Cypress Road. You definitely need to 'drive' it via Google Street View!

Traffic is an absolute f*c*ing nightmare due to the fact that the 3 junctions for Guildford you cannot go North AND South from any of them so if you are going the 'wrong' way for the nearest junction you are forced to go through the town. (Designed by a yoghurt knitting cyclist).

Edited by parakitaMol. on Saturday 27th February 17:29

[David_M]

I always recommend looking at this map, the index of multiple deprivation seems to correlate very closely in places I know to where I want to live (green) and wouldn't want to live (red).

Map

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

philv said:

Grantley Road, Stoughton, Guildford GU2
Cypress Road, Guildford GU1
Woodside Road, Westborough, Guildford GU2
Lynchmere Place, Guildford GU2
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Hillspur Road, Guildford GU2
Barrack Road, Guildford GU2
Stoughton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Oakfields, Guildford GU3
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Merrow, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Mangles Road, Guildford GU1
Manor Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2

I’m familiar with most of those roads, working as I do as a parcel delivery driver for Royal Mail. I could give you my opinion of them, but it would be utterly pointless because what I think isn’t relevant. One man’s lovely area is another man’s st-hole. We all have different baselines, different needs and different desires.

I hope I don’t come across as unhelpful, but I’m afraid there is no shortcut to going and looking yourself. Asking opinions on a forum isn’t really going to help you.

One thing I can tell you is that the area to the north of Stoughton Road and west of the A320 (Woking Road) is called “Bellfields”. There are parts of Bellfields where I wouldn’t mind living (although wouldn’t be my top choice), and there are parts of Bellfields that seem slightly run down - but not horrendously so.

Manor Road is tight and congested with parked cars. Getting up and down there would irritate me if I lived there (or any of the branches off it like Manor Crescent, Manor Gardens, Ardmore Ave) - in fact, delivering along there is tricky because wherever I stop I’m causing a blockage. Stoughton Road is similar, to a slightly lesser extent.

You could consider the Burpham area, e.g. Woodruff Ave, Coltsfoot Dr, Burnet Ave, Charlock Way - all quite nice, but I’ve no idea if they’re in your budget.

[philv]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

philv said:

Grantley Road, Stoughton, Guildford GU2
Cypress Road, Guildford GU1
Woodside Road, Westborough, Guildford GU2
Lynchmere Place, Guildford GU2
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Hillspur Road, Guildford GU2
Barrack Road, Guildford GU2
Stoughton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Oakfields, Guildford GU3
Deerbarn Road, Guildford GU2
Merrow, Guildford, Surrey GU1
Mangles Road, Guildford GU1
Manor Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2

I’m familiar with most of those roads, working as I do as a parcel delivery driver for Royal Mail. I could give you my opinion of them, but it would be utterly pointless because what I think isn’t relevant. One man’s lovely area is another man’s st-hole. We all have different baselines, different needs and different desires.

I hope I don’t come across as unhelpful, but I’m afraid there is no shortcut to going and looking yourself. Asking opinions on a forum isn’t really going to help you.

One thing I can tell you is that the area to the north of Stoughton Road and west of the A320 (Woking Road) is called “Bellfields”. There are parts of Bellfields where I wouldn’t mind living (although wouldn’t be my top choice), and there are parts of Bellfields that seem slightly run down - but not horrendously so.

Manor Road is tight and congested with parked cars. Getting up and down there would irritate me if I lived there (or any of the branches off it like Manor Crescent, Manor Gardens, Ardmore Ave) - in fact, delivering along there is tricky because wherever I stop I’m causing a blockage. Stoughton Road is similar, to a slightly lesser extent.

You could consider the Burpham area, e.g. Woodruff Ave, Coltsfoot Dr, Burnet Ave, Charlock Way - all quite nice, but I’ve no idea if they’re in your budget.

Thanks.

[HTP99]

Merrow here (GU1), also spent alot of my life in Burpham which is next door.

Personally I'd try and stick to either of those areas, a) for access to the A3/M25 and b) just a nicer part of Guildford in general, both have a large council estate but many of the houses are now private and the council ones are generally fine.

Merrow Park, Weybrook Park and Weylea Farm (both Burpham, many a happy memory as a kid playing in the houses before they were fully built) are a bit typical 80's private estates but fine in general, but some parts you are on top of each other and crammed in.

Good thing with Merrow and Burpham also is, one side is the town, do an about turn and you are a stones throw away from lovely countryside, which I frequently take advantage of with my dogs

[parakitaMol.]

HTP99 said:

Merrow here (GU1), also spent alot of my life in Burpham which is next door.

Personally I'd try and stick to either of those areas, a) for access to the A3/M25 and b) just a nicer part of Guildford in general, both have a large council estate but many of the houses are now private and the council ones are generally fine.

Merrow Park, Weybrook Park and Weylea Farm (both Burpham, many a happy memory as a kid playing in the houses before they were fully built) are a bit typical 80's private estates but fine in general, but some parts you are on top of each other and crammed in.

Good thing with Merrow and Burpham also is, one side is the town, do an about turn and you are a stones throw away from lovely countryside, which I frequently take advantage of with my dogs

I'd agree with that - my old house was on Weylea Farm and my son went to George Abbot. I used to commute into Kingston to work via the A3 and London Rd station. On 'bad traffic' days you can always go via Jacobswell. Burpham has it's own parade of shops, Lidl & Sainsbury's - plus you can get up to Newlands Corner //Shere/ Dorking really easily.

I don't know if it is still the same now but certainly when I was there, houses that came on the market were snapped up immediately. I frequently had notes through the door offering to buy and when I did sell, it was sold at full asking before actually hitting the market.

[HTP99]

parakitaMol. said:

HTP99 said:

Merrow here (GU1), also spent alot of my life in Burpham which is next door.

Personally I'd try and stick to either of those areas, a) for access to the A3/M25 and b) just a nicer part of Guildford in general, both have a large council estate but many of the houses are now private and the council ones are generally fine.

Merrow Park, Weybrook Park and Weylea Farm (both Burpham, many a happy memory as a kid playing in the houses before they were fully built) are a bit typical 80's private estates but fine in general, but some parts you are on top of each other and crammed in.

Good thing with Merrow and Burpham also is, one side is the town, do an about turn and you are a stones throw away from lovely countryside, which I frequently take advantage of with my dogs

I'd agree with that - my old house was on Weylea Farm and my son went to George Abbot. I used to commute into Kingston to work via the A3 and London Rd station. On 'bad traffic' days you can always go via Jacobswell. Burpham has it's own parade of shops, Lidl & Sainsbury's - plus you can get up to Newlands Corner //Shere/ Dorking really easily.

I don't know if it is still the same now but certainly when I was there, houses that came on the market were snapped up immediately. I frequently had notes through the door offering to buy and when I did sell, it was sold at full asking before actually hitting the market.

I went to George Abbot too, as did both of my daughters!!

Yes houses get snapped up very quickly, also £380k (OP's budget) won't get a loads; 2 bed semi on Bushy Hill for example, maybe with a drive, maybe not and most definitely without a garage. No chance away from any of the estates as the houses tend to be 3/4/5 bed detached.

[Mr Dendrite]

Avoid Park Barn area, a bit scabby, between the hospital and the A323, otherwise generally pretty good. Traffic a pain as others have said.

[PhilboSE]

Stephanie Plum said:

Guildford is generally a nice place to live. Godalming likewise. However with your budget I’d look at somewhere like Dorking. 25 minute drive away and on a train line to Guildford. You’ll get more for your money. In Dorking avoid Goodwyns estate and Chart Downs estate and everywhere else is fine.

£380k in Dorking doesn’t go very far.

[LocoBlade]

If you rely on a car for transport avoid anywhere that requires you to regularly use the A25 between Dennis Roundabout A3 junction and Stoke/Woking Road unless you enjoy sitting in traffic jams.

If you can cope with being an hour from London and not in a big town you'll get more for your money further down the line towards Portsmouth in places like Haslemere and Liphook

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 27th February 19:04