Dominated by vast heathland and cut through by tributries to Surrey’s River Wey - South West Woking’s landscape and local culture is distinctive, special, and unique. Sitting just underneath the urban centre of Woking, and surrounded to the south by 39 hectares of protected heathland, South West Woking’s distinctive character is thoroughly pastoral and quintessentially British. Due to its proximity to Woking and its abundance of greenery, house prices are usually quite high in this region, with detached homes offering land selling for over £2 million!

South West Woking is made up of heathland, separated into three areas. Hook Heath, which is the residential portion of the area, and then Smart’s and Prey’s Heath to the south. Whilst it is not known how long the heathland has been a feature of the landscape (although an 1895 Ordinance map shows that by this time it was heathland), the neighbourhood of Hook Heath has an unusual genesis. Hook Heath’s first estate was developed in the mid-1800s as a result of the London Necropolis & Mausoleum Company (LNC). As London was becoming ever-increasingly populated due to the vestiges of industrialism, London was running out of cemetery space. In 1852, a private bill was passed, and the LNC acquired 2600 acres of the heath land in South West Woking, and developed a cemetery on Woking Common! From there, the company began to develop the local area’s infrastructure, and from there, Hook Heath was born!

Whilst a curious start to the development of Hook Heath as a residential area, it only further blossomed with curiosities. W.G Tarrant, the famous Arts and Crafts architect known for his distinctive style, designed and built homes in the Hook Heath area. In fact, a W.G Tarrant property went on the market in 2023!

Much of the area is heavily protected, with the heathlands being a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the residential character of Hook Heath being stringently maintained through Woking Borough’s Council. There is no undeveloped land that is not on protected territory in the area. Due to this, chances of development are slim, but house prices have stagnated and there are plenty on offer!