Newark Lane, Woking, GU23

Newark Lane in Ripley has a settled, quietly confident feel to it – wide verges, mature trees and a rhythm of life that revolves around the village green rather than traffic lights. GU23 6BS places you within easy reach of Ripley’s historic High Street, where Georgian façades, a cricket green and a proper sense of community still shape everyday life. It’s a village where you recognise faces, where the pub backs onto the green, and where weekend plans rarely require leaving the postcode.

Stansfield Court itself carries a genuine piece of Ripley’s past. The development takes its name from the former Stansfield Brothers mineral-water works that once operated here. An official notice in The London Gazette dated 18 April 1873 records “Stansfield Brothers” trading in Ripley as mineral water manufacturers, evidencing the family’s presence in the village from at least the early 1870s. Later recollections published in the Woking News & Mail place “Stansfield’s mineral water firm” specifically on Newark Lane during the 1940s and 1950s. In other words, this was once part of Ripley’s small-scale industrial story – a soft-drinks works supplying aerated waters long before global brands dominated the market. Today, that history is quietly acknowledged in the building’s name and its sensitive conversion into a small residential scheme.

Positioned on the ground floor, the apartment benefits from a rare private rear garden – enclosed by walls and mature hedging, with both patio and lawned areas accessed via French-style doors from the main living space. Inside, the layout is simple and modern, with a contemporary bathroom, a bright dual-aspect bedroom and an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area designed for easy, everyday living. The property is offered with no onward chain.

Mornings here might start at Ripley Village Coffee on the High Street, known locally for strong flat whites and generous slices of banana loaf, with pavement tables that catch the sun. For something more substantial, The Talbot Inn serves a reliably good breakfast – smoked salmon and scrambled eggs done properly, or a full English that’s become a quiet favourite with cyclists passing through. Sunday lunch is practically a ritual at The Anchor on the Green, overlooking the cricket pitch. Their roast sirloin with Yorkshire pudding and a proper gravy is the one regulars book ahead for, and in summer the terrace tables fill quickly.

Ripley’s reputation for food extends well beyond its size. The Clock House, just off the High Street, holds a Michelin star and offers tasting menus that draw diners from across Surrey and into London – refined, seasonal cooking in an intimate setting. It’s the sort of place you keep for birthdays and celebrations. For something relaxed midweek, The Anchor or The Talbot both offer seasonal British menus and a good pint without fuss. It’s not hype – the village genuinely punches above its weight.

Day-to-day shopping feels refreshingly human rather than corporate. There’s a long-standing butcher on the High Street, a fishmonger that still displays the morning’s catch on ice, and small independents selling gifts and homeware. For larger shops, a short drive takes you to Sainsbury’s in Burpham or Morrisons in Woking, while Guildford’s High Street offers brands such as Space NK, Mint Velvet and Jo Malone alongside independent jewellers and coffee houses. It’s a practical setup without losing character.

For commuting, Woking station is around a 10-minute drive and provides fast services to London Waterloo in approximately 24 minutes, as well as direct trains to Guildford, Basingstoke and Portsmouth in the opposite direction. West Byfleet station is another straightforward option. The A3 is moments away, linking quickly to the M25 for Heathrow, Gatwick and the south coast. Cyclists often head out along the quieter lanes towards Wisley or follow stretches of the River Wey Navigation towpath, which offers miles of scenic, traffic-light riding and walking.

Leisure here is part of everyday life rather than a special trip. The village green hosts summer cricket matches and community events, while walks along the River Wey or across Wisley Common start almost from your doorstep. RHS Garden Wisley is just a short drive away for year-round horticultural interest. Golfers have Woking Golf Club and Clandon Regis Golf Club nearby, both highly regarded, and those wanting a gym environment often join David Lloyd in Woking, which offers indoor and outdoor tennis courts, swimming pools and spa facilities.

Overall, GU23 6BS offers a lifestyle that feels grounded and genuinely lived-in rather than curated. You have Michelin-star dining and proper Sunday roasts within walking distance, fast trains into London when needed, countryside that frames daily life, and the added character of living within a thoughtfully converted former mineral-water works that has been part of Ripley’s story for over a century. It is village life with substance – and history – behind it.