Savills Portugal

For a snapshot of what makes living in the Surrey countryside around Guildford so appealing to London buyers just hop on the fast train from Waterloo.

After a little over half an hour or so, take the short walk from the station to the town’s famous cobbled High Street, head up to the Guildhall clock then look back and take in the view.

Beyond the historic buildings lie the Mount and the fabulous green ridge of the Hog’s Back, a foretaste of the stunning, hilly scenery all around.

Pretty villages and beauty spots abound, offering the space and lifestyle that buyers are seeking, especially since the start of the pandemic. Our dealbook shows that in the 12 months to August 2021, 45 per cent of buyers in the local £2+ million housing market were upsizing and nearly 40 per cent came from Greater London. Meanwhile, Savills regional index (Q3) indicates annual price growth of 8.5 per cent for prime property in Guildford and the surrounding area.

Traditionally those swapping London for rural Surrey do so in stages, settling first in more suburban parts like Cobham, for example. However, increasingly, we are also seeing buyers head straight to the countryside south of Guildford and popular villages such as Chiddingfold, Shamley Green, Shere, Abinger Hammer, Albury, Bramley, Wonersh and Shackleford.

Some say Guildford, or Golden Ford, got its name from the yellow kingcups growing along the River Wey. Others that it’s from the sandy riverbed and bright banks. Whatever the origin, the country house market in this part of the county offers a golden opportunity for buyers in search of value for money compared to London, more space to work from home, and a taste of country life so close to the capital.

Here are just some examples of recently sold homes and properties currently available on the market: