Just rented a house in Esher! Anyone else live in area?

We just got back from our house hunting trip yesterday where we were able to rent a home in Esher.  Great location, within walking distance of town and near ACS Cobham for my daughter.

Anyone know the area well and can give us advice?

Next step deciding what to ship!  It is getting real now!!

Hello all,

Can anyone give me recommendations for:

Doctor
Dentist
Vet for our dog
Dog sitter or kennel for when we travel
Cell phone
TV service
Groceries
Nearest shopping "mall"
Restaurants

Any other advice on living in the area would be greatly appreciated.
I know Sandown racecourse is there

Thanks

Congrats on finding a place to call home, it is a very pretty area 
I am in Putney, so can't help you too much locally, but here is my 2 cents for you!


Can anyone give me recommendations for:

Doctor

I went on the NHS website and found the GPS surgeries closest to me and narrowed it down to two by using google, then went to each and got the paperwork to fill out.
After my visit's I knew which one I was happiest with.


Dentist

Still going to my dentist in America for the time being, as I seem to be back there just when a cleaning is due 

Vet for our dog

Lot's of googling until I found my perfect vet   

Dog sitter or kennel for when we travel

We use MIL or a lady that our groomer recommended, but she charges 30 pounds a day  the lady the groomer recommended, not MIL!  So we only use her in extreme circumstances, but she is literally right around the corner, so that is a plus!
Once you find a vet they could refer you to a kennel/sitter or they sometimes board pets, depends on the practice.... failing that, there is good old google 

Cell phone

I use Three Mobile, I am happy with it, unlimited data, love that!
Can use the unlimited data in the USA also, love that too!
Can text/call the UK when I am in the USA, but can't make USA calls as that is not included, but I still have a USA phone so it is not a big deal.
Also can use the plan in "most" of Europe, if and when we ever get to Europe again

TV service

We have Sky, really, really happy that they have almost all the American show's that I watch! 

Groceries

That would be whichever supermarket you prefer, as there is Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Morrison's.....
I like Tesco, I like getting the points/coupons, going there today for my weekly grocery shop actually!
I also have used the home delivery service too, which is super convenient.


Nearest shopping "mall"

Westfield's, it is huge!


Restaurants

There seems to be no limit to restaurant's/pubs in London, there are places to eat everywhere 

Thank you for your response, so many things to think about and find out about.

How do you find the NHS system?

I too got all my dentistry done and hope to continue seeing her on my return visits.

 

Oh yes, tons of stuff to figure out to make this place feel like home 
It can sometimes feel like two steps forward and one step back when trying to figure out everything just to feel settled in, it seemed that way for me at times and still does! 

So far, so good with the NHS, I went for my first visit over the winter, for a "check up" blood work, pressure, etc... and to basically get established with my doctor and give her my records from the US.
I have had to go a couple of times since then and am able to get appointments either that day if needed or in a reasonable amount of time, which is a good thing as some surgeries can be very difficult to get an appointment with, so that is something to check when looking at surgeries.
If you haven't found it already, use this link http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4  to narrow down your search for your GPS 

As to the dentist, I am back in the US enough times that it makes sense for me to keep seeing my same dentist, it isn't much more $$$ for a cleaning then I would pay here. Though I do keep meaning to register with DH's dentist just in case I do get a cavity or something over here that can't wait until I am back in the US.