Oxshott is a suburban village in the borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, situated between the larger towns of Esher and Leatherhead. The A244 runs through its middle, briefly forming the high street, centred two miles from the A3 Portsmouth Road and the M25 motorway.

The village’s name derives from the Old English personal name Ocga and “sceat” (meaning corner of land) – despite popular belief, it has nothing to do with oxen. The name was recorded in 1179 as “Occesete”, with the spelling “Ockshot” commonly used until 1913.

Until 1912, Oxshott was part of Stoke D’Abernon parish – essentially a hamlet of pig farmers. Everything changed in 1885 when Oxshott railway station opened on the new Guildford Line. The railway transformed the village into a popular destination for London commuters, who occupied newly constructed mock Tudor mansions on land released by the Crown Estate. St. Andrew’s Church was consecrated in 1912 to meet the religious needs of the growing population, and Oxshott became a parish in its own right in 1913.

Oxshott offers excellent transportation links for both London commuters and those travelling further afield, making it a well-connected Surrey village.

• Car & Road: Oxshott’s location is highly strategic. The A244 runs through the village centre, forming a brief high street. Just two miles away, the A3 Portsmouth Road provides swift connections to London and the south coast. The M25 London Orbital motorway is equally close, sitting between junctions 9 and 10, offering routes to Heathrow (20 mins), Gatwick  (35 mins), and beyond.
• Train: Oxshott railway station provides an excellent service to London Waterloo, with trains departing hourly. Journey times are typically 35 mins, calling at Vauxhall for the Victoria line. Services also run to Guildford via Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon, offering connections to this historic cathedral city.

Property styles in Oxshott: The village is defined by its substantial detached family homes, many built on generous plots within private gated estates. The prestigious Crown Estate, situated east of the high street, was developed on ancient hunting land released by the Crown in the late 19th century. Whilst some original mock Tudor mansions remain, today’s Crown Estate properties tend to be strictly 21st-century designs with modern luxury specifications.

Beyond the Crown Estate, you’ll find a range of property types including impressive Victorian and Edwardian homes, contemporary new builds, and some smaller semi-detached properties and flats. The village’s woodland setting means many homes back onto Oxshott Heath or Prince’s Coverts.

The most sought-after properties: these can be found on the private gated roads within the Crown Estate, particularly on Leys Road and surrounding streets. These roads feature substantial modern mansions, often exceeding 5,000 square feet, set within landscaped grounds. Steels Lane and Fairoak Lane also offer impressive family homes. The areas closest to the station tend to have a greater proportion of flats and smaller houses.

Oxshott offers leafy surroundings and outdoor pursuits rather than tourist attractions, reflecting its status as a tranquil residential village.

• Prince’s Coverts: This ancient woodland remains part of the Crown Estate and forms a key part of Oxshott’s natural landscape. The woods offer excellent walking routes through mature trees and provide a habitat for various wildlife. Many local people know it simply as “Oxshott Woods”. The area offers peaceful woodland walks with well-maintained paths suitable for families and dog walkers.
• Oxshott Heath: Spanning over 200 acres, this hilly acidic heath is partly wooded and offers expansive green space for outdoor recreation. The heath is geologically interesting, with an escarpment where London clay and sand strata emerge. Popular for walking, cycling, and nature observation, it provides a welcome escape into the countryside.
• St. Andrew’s Church: Consecrated in 1912, this Church of England parish church marked Oxshott’s establishment as a village in its own right. The church sits at the heart of the local community and represents an important part of the village’s history, having served parishioners for over a century.
• Heathfield Pond: This deep pond, around 100 feet deep, sits on the site of the old brickworks pit and was previously called Brick Pond. The location offers a reminder of Oxshott’s industrial past and provides a focal point for walks around the area.

Oxshott itself is primarily residential, with limited direct employment within the village. However, its strategic location makes it ideal for commuters working in London and surrounding business centres.

The village’s proximity to London, with 35-minute train connections to Waterloo, means many professionals working in financial services, legal sectors, technology, and corporate management choose to live here. The wider Surrey area hosts several major employers and business sectors. Nearby towns like Leatherhead are home to engineering and technology firms, whilst Cobham and Esher offer professional services and retail employment.

Surrey County contributes over £50 billion annually to the UK economy. Key growth sectors include professional services, technology, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. The county benefits from its position within the London commuter belt and its connections to international airports and motorway networks.

For those seeking local employment, opportunities exist in education (with numerous schools requiring staff), healthcare facilities, hospitality, and property services catering to the affluent local population.

Oxshott is a small village with a compact centre, though its proximity to larger towns provides additional shopping and leisure options.

Shopping: The high street along the A244 offers essential local shops and services, though on a modest scale compared to nearby towns. For more extensive shopping, Cobham is just a few minutes away and provides both Waitrose and Sainsbury’s supermarkets, The Ivy restaurant, and numerous boutiques. The historic towns of Guildford and Kingston upon Thames are both within 20 minutes, offering substantial shopping centres, department stores, and major retailers.

Leisure: The village benefits from extensive outdoor space, with Oxshott Heath and Prince’s Coverts providing natural areas for walking, cycling, and outdoor activities. Oxshott Sports Club, which evolved from the village cricket club founded in 1896, remains active and offers various sporting opportunities. Nearby leisure facilities include several golf courses and equestrian centres catering to the local population.

Danes Hill School

(Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG, Ages 3-13, mixed gender)

Danes Hill is widely recognised as one of the country’s leading co-educational day preparatory schools. Situated in 55 acres of grounds in Oxshott, the school provides boys and girls aged 3 to 13 with an unusually broad curriculum. The school achieves excellent results, with 48 senior school scholarships and exhibitions awarded to pupils last year across academic, sport, art, DT, drama and music disciplines.

Pupils progress to 26 different senior schools, with top destinations including Epsom College, St John’s Leatherhead and Cranleigh School. The facilities rival top senior schools, featuring 24-acre paddock for Forest School, two swimming pools, 14 sports pitches, five science labs, three art studios, and a 10-metre climbing wall. The school was founded in 1947 and has developed a reputation for excellent pastoral care and a diverse co-curricular programme.

The Royal Kent Church of England Primary School

(Oakshade Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0LE, Ages 4-11, mixed gender)

The Royal Kent is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary school with one class per year and average class sizes of 30 pupils. The school ranks in the top 17% nationally by attainment based on Year 6 SATs results. Reception places are usually oversubscribed every year on first preference. The school was rated as Good by Ofsted in its 2024 inspection.

The school’s predecessor was founded by the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother, in 1820. The Royal Kent offers strong academic foundations and benefits from its location in the heart of Oxshott village. The school maintains close links with St. Andrew’s Church and promotes Christian values throughout its curriculum and daily life.

St John’s School, Leatherhead

(Epsom Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8SP, Ages 11-18, mixed gender)

St John’s is a leading independent co-educational day and boarding school set in 50 acres. Founded in 1851 to educate the sons of the clergy, the school moved from St John’s Wood, London to its current Surrey site in 1872. Today it offers day, weekly and flexible boarding options for approximately 800 pupils. The school is renowned for outstanding pastoral care and operates a unique house system that underpins every aspect of school life. Small class sizes and outstanding teaching create a positive learning environment.

Recent academic results have been impressive, surpassing some neighbouring Surrey schools. The school offers extensive co-curricular activities including Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, and strong programmes in music, drama and sport. The school lent its name to Southern Railway’s V Class locomotive no. 939, part of the famous Schools Class.