West Molesey is a family friendly London suburb located in the leafy county of Surrey. While the neighbourhood isn’t home to as many beautiful Georgian homes as its nearby East Molesey, there are still wonderful housing options available. Most locals live in one of the many affordable post-war terraced houses, all with their own private gardens. Even with their own gardens though, most residents like getting out and enjoying the many recreational spaces in the community. On a typical weekend day, locals can be found jogging along the scenic River Mole, while families are often exploring the Molesey Heath. During those few warm months, residents take part in the popular Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club. Many parents in the area commute into London for work, but when they’re at home enjoying this nature filled community, they could not be further away from the chaos of the city. For anyone in search of a peaceful London suburb, West Molesey is a great pick!

Molesey began as a small village in the Kingston district of Surrey. The village had formed mainly around the manor that existed there. With the Inclosure Act in 1773, the vast open land was enclosed and converted into more public oriented spaces. Around this time, the area became quite influenced by the charities forming in the neighbourhood. Local resident and churchgoer, Joseph Palmer, donated money in the 19th century for a gallery to be built in the local church. Additionally, he gave money to the poor so that they could purchase potatoes, coals, and bread. These early charities helped grow the area into the tightly knit thriving village that it is today.

Molesey is one of few villages outside of London that boasts its own mascot. If you attend any big events in the neighbourhood, you’ll surely see the Molesey Mole dancing around.

In recent years, there’s been greater attention to the danger of the grazing horses that roam through Molesey Heath. Some of the horses have been escaping their fenced off area, posing a danger to the strolling residents and dogs. The council has been taking steps to protect the community and restrict these escapes though.

Planning permission to build a hotel and apartments on the site of the old Jolly Boatman pub was approved in 2009. However, the scheme - which consists of a number of new four-storey buildings by the river as well as the renovation of the historic Hampton Court Station - has since been the subject of a lengthy opposition campaign, including two High Court cases and a Court of Appeal judgement. The latest legal judgement was won by developers meaning locals are fearful that the project will go ahead in the next couple of years. As a part of the Thames Landscape Strategy, there has also been ongoing work on the beloved Hurst Park. This includes maintaining ferry service from the park, working on new landscaping, as well as the planting of new trees.