10 Of The Best Villages For Living Near Godalming

Godalming is a historic market town located 30 miles from London in one of the most sought-after areas in the Home Counties, appealing to discerning house-hunters with its numerous top-quality amenities, delightful countryside and some of the best schools in the South of England.

Lockdown has meant people’s top priorities in looking for their best new home have changed, with many relying less on commuting and seeing that the countryside can mean swapping an urban property for one with more space inside and out for the same budget.

To find their very best choice of home in and around Godalming, buyers should should weigh up the options, with some tough competition for what will come top of their list.

Milford

Milford is just two miles south-west of Godalming, at the junction of the A283 and A268. Milford School for four- to seven-year-olds is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted and the village has shops and facilities of its own, including a post office and a railway station which provides regular services to London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour.

Bramley

Nestling in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the picturesque village of Bramley. With a population of 4,000 people, Bramley's quaint High Street contains a range of village shops including a general store, post office and pharmacy. Two pubs, The Jolly Farmer and The Wheatsheaf, sit at the heart of this vibrant community.

Peasmarsh

Peasmarsh is a small hamlet on the River Wey, a couple miles north-east of Godalming. The hamlet is home to a number of business parks and various listed heritage properties. The Church of St Michael is the focal point for residents, and the village is surrounded by rolling countryside.

Shalford

Anothrt top option, Shalford sits on the Tillingbourne and Wey rivers, and is popular with visiting pleasure boats and walkers. Shalford Mill and the Sea Horse pub are also popular with visitors to the area. This tranquil little village is on the railway line through the Surrey Hills and just one stop from Guildford.

Wonersh

Wonersh is located within the Surrey Hills and greenbelt commuter area of Surrey. The village store sits in its red-brick splendour on the High Street, among a range of mid-16th century timber-framed properties. The local church boasts a 1,200-year-old holly tree in its grounds and there is also a primary school and doctor’s surgery in the village.

Chilworth

With a population of less than 2,000 people, this village boasts infant (‘Outstanding’) and junior (‘Good’) schools, a youth club and a church. The Percy Arms is a busy gastro pub (a finalist in the Great British Pub Awards 2021), and with rail times from Chilford station of around 50 minutes to central London and less than ten minutes to Guildford, Chilworth is a popular village for commuters.

Blackheath

St Martin’s Church and the Village Hall lie at the heart of the busy social life here, and locals can also enjoy the cricket club, the Villagers Inn and the annual May Fair. The main street through the village lies in a gently sloping valley, lined by trees and well-kept houses.

Compton

The 31 listed buildings here include a 10th-century church and the 1,000 residents have the choice of two pubs, The Harrow and The Withies, a tea shop at the Compton Village Club and a range of small shops. With a busy village hall, allotments society, Little Theatre and art gallery, there is always plenty to do in this delightful village. Guildford, Farnham and Aldershot are all about 15 minutes away.

Shackleford

Shackleford is a small village of 800 people, three miles west of Godalming. Its distinctive Church of St Mary and 17th-century post office are just part of the charm of this typical greenbelt commuter village, which consists mostly of large detached properties. St Mary’s Infant School is ‘Outstanding’, says Ofsted.

Elstead

Situated on the River Wey, Elstead has grown since the first bridge was built across the river in 1300. Pot Common and Elstead Common offer a range of walking routes, while either end of the village are two pubs, The Woolpack to the east and The Mill, once occupied by Cromwell's Roundhead Army, to the west. There’s a road direct from the village to Farnham, taking just 12 minutes. 

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