Gate expectations: Surrey’s private estates

Pass through the gates of the Wentworth Estate or St George’s Hill in north Surrey and you’re immediately immersed in a world of stylish homes and manicured lawns. These internationally renowned private estates are some of the UK’s most desirable addresses, and the elegant surroundings are just part of the reason why.

“Wentworth and St George’s Hill offer security, a community of like-minded residents and superb properties in large gardens, all 25 miles from central London,” says Simon Ashwell, head of Savills Weybridge. “The combination of swift access to town and a protected environment helps to explain why capital values have proved so resilient.”

That resilience is shown by the Surrey’s Private Estates 2024 report from Savills, which reveals that while these estates have not proved immune to the pressures of the past year, they easily outperformed the wider local prime market. Values have fallen by only 3.9% since the market highs of September 2022, compared with a drop of more than 7% in Ascot, Elmbridge, Sunningdale and Virginia Water.

The world-famous tennis and golf facilities at Wentworth and St George’s Hill help those two estates set the pace for property prices. Average values are £800 per square foot at Wentworth and both estates reach £1,200 per square foot for best-in-class homes. Others close behind include Oxshott Way, Esher Place, Clare Hill and Fairmile.

“Each estate has its own unique atmosphere, with properties that have changed over the years, adapting to cutting-edge technology and modern life,” says Ashwell. “At Esher Place, for example, the original homes were mostly retirement cottages that have now been upgraded into expansive houses. The original Arts & Crafts style that once predominated in Wentworth and St George’s Hill has been replaced by sophisticated neoclassical designs with open-plan living spaces, home offices and gyms.”

Living in north Surrey offers convenience as well as contemporary comforts. The schooling options are excellent, and well-developed road and rail connections link efficiently not just to London, but also to the M25, Gatwick, Heathrow and Farnborough airports. The estates are popular with families, entrepreneurs and sportspeople. Around one-third of sales and half of rentals are to clients from overseas, yet domestic demand is such that 94% of buyers consider their properties to be their main residence.

“These stylish estate homes are hugely attractive to high-net-worth individuals, both buyers and tenants, who are seeking a luxury lifestyle,” says Ashwell. “Despite the premiums these estates carry, our latest research shows the good value that homes offer compared to central and southwest London.”

Pictures from top: Woodlawn from above; the outdoor pool and manicured lawn at Princes Drive; an elevated view of Wychwood; and the secluded driveway at Meadow Lake