Let's move to Ashtead, Surrey

What's going for it? I wonder how many lives Ashtead has had. Now it's a commuter burb, quieter neighbour to Epsom and Leatherhead. Avenue after avenue of chestnut trees and proper stockbroker piles; good Indian takeaway; decent gastropub; fast train to Waterloo, and the M25 on its tail. All the usual downtime necessities required by exhausted desk jockeys. Turn a corner, though, and, between the 20s semis, you spy a medieval cottage straight out of the Hobbit; over there's the old church; and houses called Old Rectory or Forge Cottage. Yes, there was life – or lives – before the bowler hats arrived. The tiny town's old enough to have a bit part in Pepys' Diary (Sam was stuck there one time when the inn at Epsom was full), old enough to be in the Domesday Book (16 ploughs) and even to have the remains of a Roman villa on the common. Outer London's full of these ancient places we mistake for new, gobbled up in the city's obese girth before the green belt was invented to corset the capital.

The case against A tad identikit. Rather pricey. If I was being fussy (at this price, I'm fussy), the station's a bit of a trek from the centre.

Well connected? Trains: six an hour to London Waterloo or Victoria (41-43 minutes), Leatherhead (three minutes) and Epsom (five); half-hourly to Guildford (32 minutes), four an hour to Dorking (nine to 11) and Wimbledon (24). Driving: right on the M25; half an hour to Kingston, Croydon, Heathrow and Gatwick; the rural lanes of Surrey are 10 minutes away.

Hang out at… The improbably named Leg of Mutton and Cauliflower does a fine Sunday roast.

Schools Primaries: Greville and St Peter's Catholic are "good", says Ofsted, with Barnett Wood Infant and St Giles' CofE Infant "outstanding". Secondaries: St Andrew's Catholic is "outstanding"; Rosebery (girls) in Epsom and Therfield in Leatherhead are both "good".

Where to buy Lower Ashtead, by the station, is more humdrum and denser with semis. South to the Village is the old heart, girdled by often huge houses. Lovely Edwardians and more affordable cottages. Fans of mid-century style will head for the Span estate, off The Marld.

Market values Huge detacheds, £800,000-£2.5m. Detacheds, £400,000-£800,000. Semis, £325,000-£475,000. Terraces, £300,000-£375,000. Flats £190,000-£300,000. Rentals: one-bed flats, £700-£800pcm; three-bed houses, £1,200-£1,700pcm.

Bargain of the week Four-bed chalet on the south side, £469,950 with Patrick Gardner.

From the streets

Susan Gandar "We're surrounded by green belt countryside – particularly Ashtead Common which is great for riding and cycling. Lots of good independent shops. Best thing: you can walk through the village and know almost everyone."

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