Advice on areas to live? Leatherhead, Epsom, Chessington, Lightwater, Bagshott?

zagubov

As mentioned above there's no easy way to drive to Kingston. Trains travelling outward from Norbiton/new Malden would be a doddle taking 3 and 6 minutes respectively.

Surbiton/Berryland's not well-connected by train to Kingston oddly enough.

All trains travelling inward (towards London) from Twickenham etc. would likely be packed solid.

Remember to check the schools via friendsreunited, houses via streetview/google maps/earth, transport via the tfl website etc., crime stats, house prices.

If your house is your biggest expense, you need to check as much as you can about it.

if you decide on New Malden, there's also a healthy room-to-let market for the foreign language students that flock there if you have spare space and need more dosh.

If you ever moved away for a time, you can always let your property via the university or one of the Korean letting agencies that are always leafleting to find accommodation.
On the downside, some patches are packed terraced housing but easy to avoid. Not much nightlife (few pubs, no cinema there but kingston/Wimbledon/London easy by trains running to the small hours)
:beer: