The Ashley Park neighbourhood is a quaint Surrey area that sits nestled along the River Thames. Serviced by South Western Railways at the Walton-on- Thames station, many of the residents enjoy the easy ride into Central London. On their days off though, they enjoy taking advantage of the quiet tight knit community at home. Aside from the Heart Shopping Centre, that has many large retailers like Poundland and H&M, there are also plenty of other ways to stay occupied. Many residents love checking out the art at Haute Collage Gallery, while others can be found taking in the new films at Everyman Walton. Despite being a relatively quiet neighbourhood along the Thames, there are also some great places to grab a drink, like The Ashley Park and Mort’s Wine Bar. Between all of this, and the relatively affordable Tudor style and post-war semi-detached homes, it’s easy to see why commuting families are so attracted to the neighbourhood.

Walton-on-Thames began as a simple river crossing between Surrey and Middlesex. It’s believed that in 54 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the river here. In 1750, a toll crossing on a wooden bridge was established in the area. This led to a series of construction projects in the area, helping the village to develop. Once the railways arrived in the 19th century, the village grew even faster. Today, the area might still be a quiet village but its station serves almost three million passengers per year.

Famous actress and singer, Julie Andrews, grew up in the neighbourhood. She’s most well known for her roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins.

Unfortunately the area is a village that can feel a bit too small for some. Community members tend to be extremely involved in each others’ lives. For many residents, this is part of the area’s appeal though.

The former Birds Eye headquarters, which was grade II listed, will soon be demolished to make room for a new housing development. Once completed, the development will bring nearly 400 new homes to the area. The complex is being built in a joint effort by Crest Nicholson and A2Dominion. The upcoming Walton Court development will also bring at least 99 affordable units to the neighbourhood.

Like many comparable rural suburbs the rate of development in Ashley Park is slow. This is partially because of the area’s proximity to the greenbelt. Wealthy residents looking to keep their pristine neighbourhood exclusive also mean that developers can have a hard time getting planning permission. Despite this, Walton Court Gardens, a collection of 27 Shared Ownership 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments was recently completed where residents can enjoy beautifully landscaped gardens and a home finished to a superb specification.