The attraction of London wages makes it a desirable place to work, but house prices and the bustle of the big city aren’t for everyone. When this is the case, many families, young professionals, and people looking for their forever home will find their money goes a lot further in the best commuter towns for London.
Let’s take a look at some of the most desirable, to see how a change of scenery can be a positive thing in the following London commuter towns:
Beaconsfield
Surrounded by the stunning Chiltern countryside, Beaconsfield is a popular London commuter town. With trains that regularly reach London Paddington in 23 minutes and easy access to the M25 and M40 – it is ideally connected for the city worker.
For families, there is a wide range of schools in and around Beaconsfield, with many of them rated as outstanding. Plus, the average house prices of a semi-detached property are £715,172 which is competitive for its proximity to the big city.
It can be described as a town of two halves, with the old town and the new town offering an array of characterful properties and it is easy to see why it is often named one of Britain’s prettiest market towns. Combine this with its reputation as one of the best places to live in the UK, and it is easy to see why it is so sought after for London commuters.
Borehamwood
With a season ticket price of around £2,700 and a 25-minute train, Borehamwood appeals to London commuters.
Sought after schools include Yavneh College which was recently rated outstanding and Summerwood Primary which also boasts an excellent reputation.
Popular with young professionals, this up and coming area is only 12 miles away from Charing Cross. House prices average £537,629 and there is a wide range available to suit families, first-time buyers, and professionals alike.
Eastbourne
The pull of seaside views and excellent transport links makes Eastbourne an attractive prospect for London commuters.
The Little Chelsea area is home to a variety of independent retailers and was named one of the UK’s coolest neighbourhoods by the Sunday Times. Surrounded by green areas, there is plenty of countryside for outdoors types to enjoy including the South Downs Way with incredible views of Beachy Head Lighthouse.
One of the UK’s happiest towns, a season ticket costs around £3,600 although it takes 86 minutes to reach London Victoria. For many locals, the average house price of £312,094 more than makes up for it.
Epping
A historic market with shops and restaurants galore – what’s not to like? The leafy town of Epping offers a balance of high quality of life and prime location as it is close to central London for the commuter. It’s on the Central Line and a train to Bank Station takes close to 38 minutes.
As it sits in Zone 6 close to the end of the central Line, a season ticket for the residents of Epping will cost close to £2,000, making it an even more attractive prospect.
It is home to or close to 38 state primary schools and six independent primary schools, plus six secondary schools, two of which have sixth forms, meaning there are plenty of options for families. Average house prices for Epping are a reasonable £649,746 considering its ease of access to London.
Guildford
This Surrey town has plenty of history and character, and a charming cobbled High Street to boot. There are all the leading brands as well as several independent shops to keep you from having to shop in the city.
Schools in Guildford are often on the Sunday Times Best Schools List, and there are plenty of green spaces meaning it has a balance between rural and city life. The capital is easy to access via train and road, with the green countryside of Surrey making it a pleasant commute.
Housing options are plentiful with luxe town centre apartments and grand suburban homes on offer, plus surrounding villages with cottages.
Guildford to London Waterloo takes around 35 minutes on the train and a return ticket can be purchased for around £17 if bought in advance.
Hatfield
With a popular old town area that boasts plenty of character for home buyers, Hatfield offers good value for money considering its proximity to the capital.
The Hertfordshire town is home to an array of educational facilities and plenty of leisure activities and it sits just 20 miles from central London. This means Kings Cross is within 24 minutes, and an annual train ticket costs around £2,600.
The average house price is £371,604, adding to the appeal for commuters.
Henley-on-Thames
Henley is a much sought after market town in Oxfordshire found 37 miles west of London. It is famous for the Royal Regatta that takes place every June but does not have a direct train route into London. It is possible to catch a train to nearby Twyford, where trains can reach London Paddington in 20 minutes but many commute via car.
A charming area, the property is pricier (averaging £737,375) but the excellent schools in the area and quality of life make this stunning town an attractive prospect for commuters.
Hitchin
Hitchin is a picturesque town that regularly features the best place to live lists. It boasts an array of boutique shops and high-end restaurants, and numerous outstanding schools to make it popular with families.
Expect tree-lined streets and handsome properties and an easy to reach train station for commuting. Average house prices are £434,539, making them more affordable than many of the other areas on our list. Combine this with the fact that the train to St Pancras takes a little over 30 minutes and it is easy to see why Hitchin is one of the best commuter towns for London.
Horley
Horley is found in Surrey and home to around 22,000 people meaning it offers a mix of the quiet life, but London is commutable. Popular with anyone who works in the city but wants their money to go further. Also, rural life is a major appeal.
There are plenty of leisure activities in and around this small town which is found between Brighton and the capital with excellent links to Gatwick airport.
House prices average £400,948 with flats available for an average of £206,658 making Horley, with its 28-minute train commute to London, highly desirable.
Reading
Reading is around 40 minutes from the capital and has a lot to offer in terms of shopping and leisure activities. There are plenty of surrounding villages and suburbs to explore if the town itself doesn’t appeal, and trains can reach London Paddington in just 25 minutes.
Reading has a vibrant nightlife, a strong community feel, and a wide array of houses to choose from.
Average house prices are £382,493 which makes the train season ticket cost of close to £5,000 less of a burden.
Royal Tunbridge Wells
One of the most desirable places to live in the UK. Royal Tunbridge Wells is a historic town with a vibrant shopping culture full of upscale boutiques and galleries, plus plenty of excellent places to eat and be seen.
It also offers two stations – getting the commuter to London in under an hour and a sought after grammar school system making it popular with families.
Average property prices are in the region of £517,726.
Sevenoaks
Often named one of the best places to live in Kent, Sevenoaks has an abundance of green spaces, excellent schools, and brilliant rail and road connections to the capital.
This leafy town has been named as one of the best places to live in the South East of England by the Sunday Times and is famed for its community feel.
Commuting to London takes around 25 minutes via train and property is highly sought after, making the average price £725,898.
St Albans
One of the most sought after towns outside of London, affluent St Albans boasts a stunning cathedral and the gorgeous Hertfordshire countryside.
Houses are varied, from cosy cottages to grand Georgian homes on offer. The town has a vibrant centre with plenty of activities and restaurants a stone’s throw away.
Combine this with green parks, London St Pancras being a 20-minute journey and a £3,700 season ticket price and it is easy to see why it commands average house prices of £613,609.
Twyford
A Berkshire village with plenty of charm but not lacking in excellent schools. The centre is a hive of activity with a range of restaurants and bars allowing locals to enjoy the best that village life has to offer.
Twyford station will soon be served by CrossRail meaning a train will run every 5 minutes to London. The existing route can get commuters to London Paddington in just 20 minutes with a season ticket costing £3,856.
Average house prices in this tranquil area are £536,09.
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