Actually it's an incredibly accessible place yet somehow separated from the bustle and confrontation of outer London's centres of population. Surbiton was made by the new railway station in the 1830's, only located in here because the people of Kingston did not want the roaring beast in their back yard, thank you. So, with a turn up and go service to London Waterloo (19 minutes ) the rest is history.
It represents the perfect compromise between accessibility and environmental quality - 20 minutes to London yet within walking distance of the Thames and Kingston shopping centre, and minutes from the countryside. Guess that's why I came back here. But, as you would expect, property is not cheap.