Staines vs. Ashford

Well, I can only answer about Staines as it is wher my sister lives. There's good shopping and certainly the area where she is, is really lovely. It's towards Laleham and is right on the river. There's some really nice older houses around too. Ashford always strikes me as bieng a bit dull, but I've not been there.

Thanks Mrs Winkle. I've been thinking about it overnight and I think we'll stick to the original plan of Ashford, but we will squash in a visit to Staines to see what we think.

I work at Heathrow and Staines would get my vote if I had to choose out of these two. Please don't write it off. It has great links to heathrow and will also have a rail link but I do not know when.

The town has been done up and it has a lovely river area. I was born in Ashford and was back in the area to take my mum for a drive recently to look at our old road.

Her main comments were how run down it had got.

There are however nice areas as in every town. I would also say you may get more for your money in Ashford.

Hi KatT

I've lived in Ashford for 5 years, and we looked at quite a few places here and in Staines. Staines definitely has the better shops (and Cheekee's Night Club!), but we felt we got better value in Ashford, it seemed less crowded to us, and more relaxed - we even know our neighbours!

We live not far from Spelthorne School and the children all seem very well behaved and they have lots of activities there, although I don't know about the standard of education, not being a parent

We're very happy here - we were looking for a detached secluded bungalow with plenty of parking and found there was far more choice in Ashford than in Staines

Transport links are good, with buses to Heathrow (although they do go the scenic route), and Ashford station, although I tend to use Feltham station more as it's London Zone 6 so in the travelcard area (and I work in Feltham). There's a direct line to Waterloo via Clapham Junction from both stations, and into Windsor from Ashford and Windsor or Reading from Feltham

If you want to know anything about specific areas or roads in Ashford, I'm sure catwoman and I can help you out. Or if you need any other info at all, feel free to PM me

Good luck with the house search

Thank you to both of you ?.

Smint - you've reasurred me. The area we want to be in is around Spelthorne, so it's good to read what you've said.

Thank you x

Not sure about Spelthorne but Echelford Primary is really v good.

Re Staines vs. Ashford, I prefer Ashford as it's a bit quieter. It's so easy to get into Staines by car/bus/train so it's not a problem. I like Ashford High Street, I like the fact that the greengrocer says hello & chats away to me, knows my mum really well, chats away to S etc. There's a couple nice restaurants in walking distance & there's quite a community spirit. I now live in Richmond (and hate it!) and still go back home for the annual singing round the Christmas Tree thing that the Rotary Club do in the middle of the town. There's a brilliant butcher too, a good cobbler as well as Tesco, Boots etc. Few parks in walking distance & you can walk along the River Ash too. As others have said, Staines has a bustling shopping centre with lots of high street stores, pubs, restuarants, cafes etc but doesn't have the community feel to it.

If you email me at ********@*****.*** I can tell you if the roads you are looking at are in a 'nice' or 'not nice' part of town. There are rough parts to both Staines & Ashford but in general, it's ok. I'm scared of my own shadow but I feel quite safe wandering around, even fairly late at night.

HTH

Thank you - YHM.

I think this hits the nail on the head exactly...Staines has lots of restaurants, cinema, nice riverside pubs etc...for the single/child-free couple, it'd definitely be the better option IMO. However, Ashford, whilst definitely quieter and probably dull, has lots of good takeaways, small shops (bakers, greengrocers etc) and a great library with a fantastic children's section. I guess, really it depends what you're after. Anyway, the two aren't mutually exclusive...Staines is really only 10 minutes from the Ashford Common end of Ashford and only 5 minutes from my side of town! ?

Crikey, not only have I learnt that Ashford's dull, but that there are a few of us hitchers actually existing living here!

I vote for an Ashford Dullards meet! Or a welcome party for KatT at any rate

I'm with Cat; they're xo close they're practically the same town. I would look at both, tbh. If I had to choose I'd go for the Laleham end of Staines, or the riverside, but that's because I have expensive taste and Laleham CofE primary is nice. Re secondary schools, the Magna Carta got a good OFSTED recently. Most of the schools in Spelthorne are only up to 16 though - anyone know where they go on to 6h form?

A lot go to Strodes in Egham...or Brooklands College (ashford campus) which is on Ashford High Street (the old fashioned, ivy-covered building) or the original Brooklands college in Weybridge.

PS I would definitely consider renting first. Buying a house under such time pressure seems terrifying. Also, house prices are falling, so you might get more house for your money by waiting 6 months and deciding which area you like best.

I was just doing a bit of rechecking over the information I got from this thread in September and I've noticed there were more posts that I didn't see - we went trotting off to Surrey and I didn't read the extra messages.

Thank you to everyone who replied, I appreciate your opinions.

Update is that we saw lots of houses, including one we really liked in Ashford - we had an offer accepted on it at the end of September and are hoping to exchange contracts soon. It's in a little quiet cul de sac on the Ashford Common side of town ?.

x

I was born in Ashford and my parents lived in Feltham... Not been back since I was about 2 though so cant help on that front...

Glad you got somewhere sorted and fingers crossed it goes through ok

Glad you've found somewhere - you won't be far from me if you're the Ashford Common side - and not far from the big Tesco and the shops at Sunbury

Hope the house move goes OK and I'll treat you to a coffee when you've settled in!

Thanks ?

Ahh the big Tesco. Never has a supermarket scared me so much. ?

It is a bit daunting, isn't it? I do like the trolley ramp - the voice at the end says "Please stand clear, please stand clear" which always gets me singing "Please stand up, please stand up" Slim Shady stylee. I tend to use the one in Feltham which is on my way home from work, or the one by Ashford Hospital where I can find everything!

I only go in when i'm at my team meeting just up the road. I can never get everything I need (even with a list) but they do good coffee!

I don't know if this makes any difference to you but I lived in Windsor as a kid and there were loads of children who travelled to school from Staines to Windsor, where the school were good.