A guide to living in Surrey

Surrey is a county in the south of England. It has an area of 1,663 square kilometres and a population of 1.2 million people. Surrey borders London to the North West and Hampshire to the East. The county has many beautiful parks which are great for families, as well as areas with wild landscapes ideal for outdoor pursuits such as cycling or walking. There are so many things to do in Surrey - find out more about this wonderful place!

Excellent

74.2%

Very Good

20.1%

Average

4.1%

Disappointing

0.6%

Very poor

1.0%

Best places to live in Surrey

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 53

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

The Marches, GU21

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.68

(114 reviews)

The Marches offers studios, one and two bedroom apartments to rent in the heart of Woking. In addition, there a lots of resident amenities with a 24/7 onsite team and co-working spaces, terrace gardens as well as inclusive Wi-Fi and resident events. Likewise, it is pet-friendly!

1st

Ranked 1st out of 30 in Surrey

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Kooky Staines-Upon-Thames, TW18

By Kooky

4.64

(34 reviews)

Kooky Staines-Upon-Thames provide 70 rental units of a wider London Square development. The 70 units comprise of one and two bedroom apartments and 35 parking spaces. Residents benefit from a combination of public transport links to Central London, close proximity to Heathrow Airport.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 30 in Surrey

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Award Winner 2025

Kooky Redhill, RH1

By Kooky

Award winner 2025

4.45

(35 reviews)

Kooky Redhill is a collection of brand-new boutique apartments in the heart of town, just a 2-minute walk from Redhill station for a quick 35-minute journey to central London. Gatwick Airport is only an 8-minute ride away – great for work or a much needed holiday. Stylishly furnished with private balconies, the apartments are pet friendly, have super-fast broadband included and private parking available. Residents’ gym, coworking space, and communal garden – all included.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 30 in Surrey

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Momento Staines-Upon-Thames, TW18

By Greystar

4.99

(11 reviews)

Discover Momento Staines-upon-Thames, where riverside living meets unbeatable connections. Choose from stylish studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes with exclusive resident amenities including a gym, co-working spaces, resident lounge, and pet-friendly features.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 30 in Surrey

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Award Winner 2025

The Mint, GU1

By Grainger

Award winner 2025

4.78

(19 reviews)

Ideally located next to Guildford train station and only moments from Guildford’s famous cobbled high street with renowned brands and independent boutiques. The Mint has light and spacious, beautifully designed apartments with sophisticated indoor and outdoor social spaces, perfect for entertaining friends or family. Choose from a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes to rent with a variety of lay-out options.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 30 in Surrey

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Page 1 of 11

Featured developments in Surrey

Latest Reviews in Surrey

681 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 672

Pavlos M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Great Living at The Mint with Outstanding Reception Support

Pavlos M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

The design is modern and well-executed, with a nice balance of private space and communal areas. Facilities are good and well-maintained, contributing to a comfortable living environment. Building management has been responsive and professional. Specifically, encountering Rosa Caires and Carolynn Weedon at the front door has always been a great pleasure as they have been a great support throughout the tenancy.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living at The Mint in Guildford has been very positive overall. The area has a good range of local shops, restaurants, bars and open spaces, with Guildford town centre and nearby green spaces making it easy to get what I need and enjoy time outside. Transport links are generally okay, with good access to the station, though peak-time travel can be busy.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Encountering Rosa Caires and Carolynn Weedon at the front door has always been a great pleasure as they have been a great support throughout the tenancy.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Parking issues, didn't receive a parking spot immediately but had to wait a couple of months instead.

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HomeViews

Jiayu H (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Momento Staines-Upon-Thames, TW18

Jun 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Convenient Living, great space and layout

Jiayu H (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Momento Staines-Upon-Thames, TW18

Jun 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

It is really convenient. I can buy anything I need within a 10-minute walk. The shopping centre and food court are just around the corner, so it’s great.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I was having some difficulty locking the balcony door, so I raised the issue with the building management team. The matter was addressed very quickly and resolved efficiently.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I haven’t experienced any major issues so far, and the overall experience has been very positive.

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HomeViews

Julia B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent accommodation

Julia B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Right in the heart of Guildford, at the station, so with excellent transport links to London, the south coast and both Heathrow (RailAir coach service) and Gatwick airports. Convenient for schools, supermarkets and the town centre with its wide range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They have been helpful and responsive. Repairs have been dealt with in a timely and efficient manner.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Everything you could need is on your doorstep, and easily walkable. Because of the multi step entry system the block feels safe and secure. Well soundproofed. The triple glazing means it’s warm in the winter, however could benefit from air conditioning (or built in ceiling fans) for the warmer weather.

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HomeViews

Chris McC (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Great place to live

Chris McC (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Mint, GU1

Jun 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The Mint is in an incredible location. It's 5 mins from the town centre, 3 mins from the station. You would think that being this close to everything noise is an issue - but it really isn't. The place is so well built, its quiet and peaceful in the centre of everything.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The management team are ace - really fast to resolve any issues. There is a greta community in the Mint also.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The main thing for me is now quitet it is - it's so unusual not to hear neighbour noise.

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HomeViews

Happy customer (Shared Owner)

Verified Resident

Willowbrook, GU6

May 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Satisfied customer! Great development

Happy customer (Shared Owner)

Verified Resident

Willowbrook, GU6

May 2026

To provide a balanced perspective in response to some earlier reviews: This development, at 2026 now several years old, is a private community comprising 54 properties, which include a mix of privately owned homes, shared ownership units, and rental properties managed by Clarion Housing Association. The overall management of the development is overseen by the Directors of the Management Company, while Clarion is responsible for the upkeep of their specific properties. Both parties collaborate closely, as all properties financially contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the entire development. In the early stages, there was some confusion among residents about the division of responsibilities, which led to challenges when the Directors attempted to manage Clarion properties beyond their remit. These issues have since been resolved through clearer boundaries and communication. Communication for Clarion residents has significantly improved thanks to new protocols introduced by the Housing Association. Residents now have access to an easy-to-use online portal for queries and repair requests, along with a designated officer who handles other concerns in the area. Overall, the development is peaceful, has a spacious feel about it (not cramped like some new build developments), and well-maintained, with residents who take pride in the appearance and upkeep of their homes. There is also a pleasant and well-maintained spacious green area to the rear of the development for residential use only. The area has always been private property, but some dog walkers who were permitted to use the area in the past continued, and have since made uncomplimentary and unfounded criticisms of the new development, out of spite, since being denied access. The Clarion owned shared ownership flats are well built, spacious, with good storage, and high levels of insulation for both noise and temperature regulation. They are also easy and efficient to run, and include private and numbered car parking spaces. As with any new build, there have been some snagging issues, but these are typical and were addressed over time. In general, the properties are well constructed by a reputable builder. In general any negative comments were made by first-time buyers unfamiliar with what is customary with new build developments, and the general settling in processes.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Cranleigh is a great place to live for all age groups. It has a village vibe, but all the facilities you would expect from a small town - a variety of good food and other stores, a sports centre, an arts centre, library, a great GP medical centre next to a village hospital, good schools, an active community centre catering to all age groups, and if you want more than the shops locally provide, Guildford is only 25 mins away by bus. Buses are not as frequent as in a city, but there is also a Surrey Connect service running locally. Nearby Shalford is great for trains to Waterloo. The countryside surrounding speaks for itself, and the south coast is easily accessible making for great days out to the seaside.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Initially communication with Clarion was difficult, but since new protocols were introduced this is no longer a problem. There is an easy to use on-line portal covering all aspects of home ownership and rentals, and a designated officer for anything else.

What is the best feature of your home:

Well built, practical and visually pleasing design and layout. Situated in peaceful and pleasant development as a whole, and well maintained.

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HomeViews

Page 1 of 135

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

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