Owning your own home

What do you want to know? Good access to the parks (Richmond and Bushey), relatively quick ride into Surrey (but, urgh, Surrey), good Waitrose/John Lewis. Other shopping somewhat focused around it being a University town.

Edit: Somehow I forgot the River, which is nice, but also gets heaving on a summers evening.

I grew up just outside Kingston, so this is my teenage self speaking.

It's a useful place to live, 25 min train to Waterloo, near Richmond Park, nice houses, good schools or whatever, but it's Ted Baker country. The entire town centre basically smells like Lynx Africa and chicken wings after 8pm and there is always a shitty air aggression. It's simultaneously bland and garish.

I've had too many atrocious nights out there it will always have a special place of hate in my heart.

I like it down here. Great spot to be as an all types of cycling cyclist who (pre covid) had to work in London. It's a good cycle commute too and while the train is crap, I think that's by the by for suburban commuting.

I agree with others who say the town is bland, but the Riverside adds a certain character. Yeah it's busy in the summer, but just don't go then. The night life is student/crap style, but I can count on one hand the times I've been in town later than 9pm. Its handy having every shop imagineable on our doorstep, but we rarely go 'into town' for anything other than running an errand.

As a young family it is ideal. I don't think there is a better corner of the world to teach kids to ride bikes. So many car free routes on my doorstep - near Canbury Park. Even a local dirt jump spot with a sort of pump track. The yoof have been hard at work over lockdown so it's looking real good ATM.

The area is a little boring/plain, but we've made some decent friends through the kid's school. Schools are generally really good, which means its not an all out bun fight to get them into a good primary. Think the secondary schools are pretty good too.

Some ok pubs about, pretty much something for every mood. Independent restruants is where it falls down a bit. Some nice places in Surbiton though. There is a bit of live music going on and the Theatre gets good stuff in, if you're into that (my misses appreciates more than me).

I generally really like it, but then I'm a bit boring, so fit right in.

Talking of location -

Kingston. IIRC @Scrabble lives down that way. Anyone else? Is it any good?

Mega late to the party here, am next door in Surbiton. We're a little out of place here in not having kids but the 18minute train to waterloo for my partner who doesn't cycle and nice cycle for me was a real pull. It's a nice place, great pubs, close to the river and well located for riding (be the roads a bit busy).

Best of both, get to central London quicker than most people in zone4/5 but still leafy. However I presume a house near Surbiton station is going to cost more than the equivalent in Kingston.