Woking

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
Whats it like?

I've realised that to progress in the industry I'm currently employed in I need to be able to commute to London, and if not London, most other jobs seem to be Surrey based (Guildford/Woking, etc). So its looking increasingly likely I will have to move up that way.

Woking seems ideal. Its on the main Waterloo line, and central to all the other potential opportunities in that area. Whats it like to live there? What are good places live and where should be avoided? The other option for trains is Guildford really. Is that a better or worse bet?
 
Guildford all the way over Woking, but you'll pay for it. Woking is alright I guess, but it's like every other town, it's dull and the only redeeming feature for me is the town's heritage related to War of the Worlds.

Friday/Saturday nights in town are your usual run of the mill affairs, drunk idiots and kebabs. There's lots of nice areas surrounding Woking, Mayford for example is very quaint.

If you want to be on the mainline, you could also consider Brookwood or Fleet. Even parts of Farnborough are very nice. You tend to get a lot of older houses, nice red brick solid builds in Brookwood/F'bo.
 
Haslemere is also on the main line, fast trains into London. But yeah, you'll pay for it, moreso than Guildford.
 
Yeah I'm expecting it to cost a fair bit (renting first, buying if we decide to settle there), but I need to know the best places to look.

I'm not really into night life, but I would like to be within walking distance of something, be it a town centre, or event just a decent pub. Living in a suburb where going anywhere means driving is annoying.
 
All depends on your budget really. I lived in Haslemere for a couple of years, lovely, but small. A few decent pubs too.
 
The budget depends on any new job :). Monthly rent would need to be under a grand ideally, which is quite restrictive for the area.
 
Skeeter said:
The budget depends on any new job :). Monthly rent would need to be under a grand ideally, which is quite restrictive for the area.
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What are your circumstances? Wife/kids etc? For example, my 2 bedroom flat across the road from Haslemere station was £750pcm.
 
Just me and the GF. We want a house as we miss having a garden and she wants a cat.

Although 750 for a 2 bed flat sounds good, and cheaper than most stuff I have found.

So you would recommended Haslemere or Guildford over Woking?
 
Yeah I know. I work in Winchester and get the Portsmouth to Waterloo line into work and take it up to London if needed and it can be a right mare at times.

Is the Haslemere line quieter? Is it a direct line or do you have to change at Woking anyway?
 
randal said:
Guildford all the way over Woking, but you'll pay for it. Woking is alright I guess, but it's like every other town, it's dull and the only redeeming feature for me is the town's heritage related to War of the Worlds.

Friday/Saturday nights in town are your usual run of the mill affairs, drunk idiots and kebabs. There's lots of nice areas surrounding Woking, Mayford for example is very quaint.

If you want to be on the mainline, you could also consider Brookwood or Fleet. Even parts of Farnborough are very nice. You tend to get a lot of older houses, nice red brick solid builds in Brookwood/F'bo.
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This +1
 
I work in Woking and have lived in both Guildford and Woking. I live in Woking now, because it's cheaper. Guildford is a nicer town and as a university town it has a different feel to it. Woking's not all bad and they've been spending on improving the town centre, although i's still ugly in places. Horsell is a nice area of Woking (we rented a 1 bed flat there for a few months @ 700pcm) and much of it is walking distance to town. Woking is more multicultural being the home to the first mosque in the country. Maybury for example doesn't have an overall majority of any one ethnic group..
 
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AGD said:
Worth noting that Woking to Waterloo is the second most overcrowded train route in the country!
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Totally agree with this, the Aldershot - Waterloo line via Ash Vale (Frimley, Camberley, Bagshot, Sunningdale etc.) is a much more sedate trip in. It is the stopping service, but time it right and you'll more than likely get a seat.

Zogger said:
I work in Woking and have lived in both Guildford and Woking. I live in Woking now, because it's cheaper. Guildford is a nicer town and as a university town it has a different feel to it. Woking's not all bad and they've been spending on improving the town centre, although i's still ugly in places. Horsell is a nice area of Woking (we rented a 1 bed flat there for a few months @ 700pcm) and much of it is walking distance to town. Woking is more multicultural being the home to the first mosque in the country. Maybury for example doesn't have an overall majority of any one ethnic group..
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Same with a lot of places around here tbh. Farnborough is now home to a massive Nepalese community, which actually isn't a bad thing at all. They're a courteous, polite and thoughtful people which is a stark contrast to some of Farnborough's native population...!

If you're looking to get a 2 bed place with a garden, you really are going to have to stay in Hampshire I'd say. The Surrey tax is ridiculous, and you tend to get a lot more for your money by staying over the border. I'd seriously consider F'bo, or Fleet tbh.

Do you have any interests or hobbies that might sway a decision? Fleet for example has loads of wooded area around it, lakes and that sort of stuff. So you've got a great place to walk a dog, or go for a ride etc.
 
Thanks guys!

randal said:
Do you have any interests or hobbies that might sway a decision? Fleet for example has loads of wooded area around it, lakes and that sort of stuff. So you've got a great place to walk a dog, or go for a ride etc.
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Yeah, not so much hobbies, but being able to somewhere nice for a walk would be good.
 
Woking is OK, live there and have grown up here, Guildford is just Woking on a hill.
Did not realize there where so many OCUKers round here!
 
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