A ramshackle Victorian rail carriage was renovated into the perfect seaside escape by one graphic designer featured in Homes & Property last year but, having relocated her main home from London to Cumbria, travel times have proved too tricky and it was listed for sale for 425,000. She loves Potters for interiors shopping, Positive Retail for pre-loved luxury fashion and Vinyl Head for records. It's perfect for those who want to live in a more rural area but still have access to all the amenities of city life. Arcade bars PimpShuei, Meltdown London and The Four Quarters serve up a headily hip cocktail of craft beer and Street Fighter II. The combination of long-standing ties to London, especially in its commuter routes, the towns strong infrastructure, and resources all make. This textured past has given St Albans a rich identity and can be seen as one of Englands most quintessential towns. Now and then the causeway floods during high tide and you are marooned romantically on the island sadly this splendid isolation only lasts about 90 minutes. The season ticket price is 2,316 and you are also only 6 miles away from Heathrow. Spend weekends paddleboarding without sacrificing on London comforts in these hipster-friendly commutable coastal towns with flats for about 200k Other notable aspects that make Watford one of the best commuter towns near London is the fact it is a stand-alone town with its own unique indenture and attributes. For all your shopping needs, Stevenage is home to a huge shopping center with the privilege of being extremely traffic free. Factor in the ever-rising property and rental prices in the capital and staying in London for your downtime zzzs may not even be an option. The famous shopping center, The Oracle, serves as one of the most popular shopping districts in the entire Thames Valley area and can provide you with everything you need while living in the town. Located right next to Greenwich on the Thames, Deptford is an ideal area if youre into all things new and on-trend. Hayling Island in Hampshire is about four miles from coast to coast, its beach a mix of sand and shingle. Taking just over fifty minutes to arrive at either Londons Paddington or Waterloo station, it is easy to see why Windsor is at the top of many peoples commuter town list. Dj vu! There arent many flats on the island but there are a few small purpose-built blocks, priced at circa 250,000 for two bedrooms. Youd never believe you are only 10 miles from Colchester. For the readers of Ilivehere, they voted on the worst places to live and these three commuter towns made the list as being some of the worst. Taking around forty-five minutes to arrive in the capital, Basingstoke commuters may have a longer journey to and from work than most commuter towns, but it is a welcoming trade-off for the quality of life this Hampshire town provides. Watfords nightlife has been famed for decades, so much so that it often attracts revelers from the capital for an evenings entertainment. Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking is a scenic spot for a weekend walk. This infrastructure is bolstered by Readings huge commercial center, especially for information technology and insurance. And let's begin with breakfast eats. The commute: Trains to Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street take about an hour. From there you can travel to Waterloo in around an hour and a half. We think that's still hip. Basingstoke is a large town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. At number one worst place to live came Aylesbury. 3- Staines-upon-Thames. The posh part of town is Meads, west of the town centre, close to the South Downs and the seafront. Margate got a lot more expensive in the past few years. St Albans is a twenty-minute train journey from Londons St Pancras Station and is perfectly placed to commute to the city center on a daily basis. It is located 30 miles (48 km) northeast of . Its celeb-strewn too: Dele Alli and Gino DAcampo both live here. ), you just want to sit back and relax among a dead zoo of taxidermy. For those who enjoy nature and the great outdoors, Chelmsford is home to Hylands Park and a local favorite, Hyde Hall. Upriver, at Richmond, life on the Thames has a distinctly tranquil, laid-back flavour, as evidenced by the White Cross pub. Stevenage consists of great transport links as well as great house prices, making it a worthy entrant onto the list. With a population of 22,076, Horley is a small town with beautiful historic buildings, plenty of local heritage, and a high street that is home to both your favourite retail chains and quirky . For coffee head to Union, a yoga shop and cafe. The fastest train into St Pancras takes 25 minutes and the average house price is 514,773. Whats to love? Having the streamlined connection to the center of London with the international airport of Heathrow on your doorstep, while also having such idyllic places such as Staines Moor close by, all make Staines-upon-Thames one of the best commuter towns near London. The latter's Peckham branch has a speakeasy which serves 'Father Ted' cocktails, and has been known to play Knight Rider on loop (inspiring you to drink a few Father Teds). The only city in the county of Essex, Chelmsford, has a strong identity and proud history that allows it to stand out of the shadow of the nearby European capital. They are often bought as holiday homes by buyers who have replaced ramshackle cabins and bungalows with landmark modern houses. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Trains from either Broadstairs or Ramsgate to St Pancras International take just under an hour and a quarter. How to visit picturesque Clovelly village in Devon? Holiday Home' by Richard Woods, part of Folkestones public art scene. Next up on our list of best London commuter towns is Woking, which is just Thankfully, there are people in the know that do all the delicate weighing up of prices, green space and broadband coverage then release their best-ranked places to live and commute to London, complete with travel times. It holds a fantastic collection of contemporary art, has its own cinema, and stages inspiring exhibitions and workshops. With many of Stevenages modern neighborhoods and commercial districts having been designed on the Radburn principle, this traffic-free environment can be found all over the town. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Weve siphoned out some of the most sought-after commuter towns out there, shining a light on their best qualities, from their proximity to London and cost of living to their unique characteristics and local attractions. One for lovers of the random-stuff aisle. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Just to the south of the town is one of the most famous green spaces in all of England, Windsor Great Park. TheKent coast, while lovely, was just that bit too far for a daily commute. High Wycombe has made the top 10 London commuter towns (Image: BucksLive - Grahame Larter) The bustling town of High Wycombe ranked 7th in the list of the best towns to commute to London. Whether you prefer cool places in the East End or trendy areas south of the river, theres a perfect fit for you. This country town passes the kerb-appeal test with flying colours: it is set beside the River Wey, with narrow windy little town-centre streets, pretty, traditional shops and just-so hanging baskets. But be prepared for top prices. Employee Story Of The Month: Meet Chaythanya, Senior Backend Developer, 8 Home Renovations That Dont Add Value (and What to Do Instead), What The Short-Term Let Licencing Changes Mean For Scottish Landlords, A Landlords Guide To Renovating Your New Property Ready For Tenants To Move In, Expats in Barcelona: Everything You Need to Know About Setting Up a Bank Account, Employee Story Of The Month: Meet Salomi, Senior Product Owner, 13 of the Best Neighborhoods to Live in Barcelona, London neighborhoods: 15 Best Places/ Areas to Live in London. Pre-Covid, Hayling Island was one of those places considered just a bit too far for London commuters, but the pandemic has changed all that. Ive often gone for coffee with someone Ive got to know on Instagram. This commercial reputation is married perfectly with Basingstokes proud cultural institutions. This expansive area in the East End is home to places like Hoxton, Haggerston, and Dalston, all of which have solidly hip credentials. Privacy Policy. Regular bus services operate, although they do take around an hour and whether you bus it or go by car you will have to keep an eye on the tides because the Roman causeway that divides Mersea from the mainland floods at high tide. Its beach is a mix of sand and shingle. Hackney is packed with bars hidden under railway arches, on-the-pulse nightlife, cutting-edge restaurants, delicious bakeries, and cool coffee shops. In the town you will find plenty of good gastropubs and being in the Surrey Hills means access to lovely walking and cycling country. The rich culture of Chelmsford is bolstered by a number of local attractions. The best London commuter towns for 2023 have been ranked in Yopa's annual report, uncovering the most affordable alternatives to the capital's high house prices. Island life is quiet all long walks, sailing, and messing about on the beach but that doesnt mean theres nothing to do. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Whitbread Trophy Bitter will go up to 6 a pint, just you wait and see. In the town centre, the physic garden a 17th-century herb garden is a lovely little oasis. If the cheapest house price is what you're looking for then Stevenage would be your best choice. Some of our best friends are hipsters. Do you plump for ease of journey but a tiny flatshare in Kennington, or bags of room in Brentwood but playing dodgeball with transport strikes and engineering works? The average house price is 317,686 making it one of the cheapest on the list. Unlike a Breaking Bad cocktail, it's not an exact science, OK. To us, all tattoo parlours look hip (told you we aren't hipsters), so yeah go to one of those. This five-thousand-acre royal park is home to great expanses of green spaces, ponds, and its own population of deer. Despite Ashford being the main railway station in east Kent, it has been ranked 107th on the list.. Henley-On-Thames Where to live to commute to London? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The ability to be within a reasonable distance of the capital without crazy high prices became too appealing for many to ignore. . Although Surrey is the most expensive of the home counties, buyers who are willing to look beyond the classic dormitories like Guildford can find value on a (comparative) budget. A combination of expertly run transport connections to London and a lack of the traditional commuter town feel, as can be found in many other locations, makes Stevenage an ideal location for commuting to the capital. For everything else a trip to Sittingbourne, just on the other side of The Swale, or beautiful Faversham, is quick and painless. If you want to learn more about this part of the city, my east London neighborhoods guide has additional areas for you to explore. As shopping opportunities go, Watford is the proud owner of the Atria Centre, a huge shopping mall that has everything you could need under one roof. Its a good choice for outdoorsy types: you could relax at the lovely beaches at Leysdown-On-Sea or Minster, explore the Elmley Marshes, and its tourist trade means there is a good choice of pubs and cafes. Picturesque country and seaside locations for house-hunters who still want to live within reach of the capital. It is perfect for walking, running or letting a horse do the hard work. Georgie, 43, runs a local community centre while her husband, Lee, 45, is an electrician. They have more information about each area. This multicultural neighborhood is known for colorful south London markets like Pop Brixton, Brixton Village, and Brixton Market. Levels Wine offers wines on tap including local options, theres craft beer at Bottle Grove, small plates at Cru, and hotel Ports restaurant is another top haunt for local produce. There are new restaurants, bars, and pop-ups opening here all the time, making Spitalfields one of the hippest neighborhoods in London. If you want to stay in this part of London, you can book accommodation in Deptford here. Its proximity means that you are able to take the train into the capital within 25 minutes or within an hour and a half drive. Its main town is Sheerness, once used by the Royal Navy as a dockyard and now a slightly dispirited commercial port. Commuting to London takes 25 minutes and your terminus is Paddington, but house prices there are still close to 550k. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. Average house prices come in at 547,339 making it one of the more expensive commuter towns, but still cheaper than London. Its isolation, close to the rolling farmlands of the North Wessex Downs, means that the town is surrounded by the idyllic English countryside and fresh air. Another popular option for those not quite ready to dive into village life is the petite town of Manningtree, which is set on the estuary of the River Stour and is handy for the Suffolk coast. From Colchester you can get to Liverpool Street in just under an hour. Peckham also has big green swathes like Peckham Rye Park, independent boutiques and restaurants on Bellenden Road, and creative spaces in behemoths like the Bussey Building. tend to be expensive and youd often have to settle for small apartments that dont meet your requirements. Godalming in Surrey, where there are pockets of value if you look beyond the traditional commuter-belt locations. On looks alone, the two loveliest villages have to be Dedham and Nayland. This speedy commute, combined with the far more affordable house prices, has often seen Stevenage praised as one of the best commuter towns near London. What stands out as Guildfords most favorable aspect is the surrounding countryside and villages. Around thirty-five miles west of London, Camberley is far closer than many towns on our list, yet the commute isnt always the smoothest of journeys. Thomas Ruschke: Free WiFi, great shops and a cool hipster vibe. Be ahead of the game: the hippest set of stacked boxes right now is The Artworks Elephant, hidden away behind Elephant and Castle station. We came down to have a look and I was blown away with the sea, and the feeling of community, and what they were trying to do with the regeneration, she said. Research shows that Hertfordshire is one of the best counties to live if you're commuting into London. This swift journey only adds to the appeal of a town that was once considered too far away to be a commuter town. All material on this site is the property of Londonist Ltd. 15 Charming Day Trips From London: May 2023, The Top 11 Exhibitions To See In London: May 2023, The Best Places To Find Bluebells In And Near London This Spring. Ill start my hipster London guide in the south. Coastal towns are still very mixed communities, so get to know your neighbours, whoever they are. One person wrote: "As you enter Aylesbury, you find yourself in a traffic jam. Notting Hill Put on the map by its namesake film, Notting Hill has retained its fame throughout the years. Stevenage as a town has all the amenities and resources you would expect from a modern town. The variation in properties and neighborhoods mean that Stevenage is somewhere that attracts commuters with many different incomes. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Coming in at number 9 on the top 50 worst places to live, came Slough. St Albans, Hertfordshire - 21 mins Hatfield, Hertfordshire - 23 mins Reading, Berkshire - 23 mins Borehamwood, Hertfordshire - 22 mins Iver, Buckinghamshire - 23 mins Stevenage, Hertfordshire - 22 mins High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - 43 mins Horley, Surrey - 34 mins Reading has the highest season ticket prices so that is definitely something to consider when deciding, but the average house price is 371,3578 so maybe the money saved on buying a house here could justify the high season ticket price? Twice the size of Londons Hyde Park, Cassiobury Park is a popular spot with dog walkers, runners,s and summer days sun-seekers. A lot of Londons hottest neighborhoods are located here. As much as hipsters loathe to be put in boxes, they spend a lot of their time in actual boxes. For more bang for your buck look east towards Redoubt, where you could pick up a two-bedroom flat for 180,000 to 200,000, or a two-bedroom Victorian cottage for 250,000 to 280,000. A house will set you back about 350k and theres a theatre, a contemporary art gallery, and lots of Tudor and Jacobean history courtesy of Hatfield House. Sitting so far out of Greater London while still being within a short train journey means that living in St Albans gives the feel of living within the counties of England and not in an overwhelming urban environment. Theres even a place that makes mead here. At number three was the iconic Luton. Where should you categorically avoid even if the house prices are very affordable? St Albans. Whats to love? These five towns, all within a decent commute of London for the office bound, are where you should be looking for sea with a side order of culture and coffee shops. However, the opening of the Elizabeth line in 2023 will make the journey far more streamlined, connecting you directly to Bond Street, Canary Wharf, and Stratford perfect for those who are working within the heart of the city. In mid-winter the seasides a different place. The fastest train to London only takes 21 minutes to Kings Cross and season ticket prices are considerably cheaper than St Albans, at 2,888. ABQ, meanwhile is a Breaking Bad-themed bar, where you spend two hours in the back of an RV, 'cooking up' cocktails. So there we are, these are your top five dormitory commuting options. Not only is it possible to take the train straight into London, but Watford is connected to the city by both the underground and overground transport networks. Agood option if you need an excuse to parade around in a ruff. Although Staines-upon-Thames is close to London, the busy Heathrow Airport, and M25 Motorway, it still retains its small-town feel. This growth in population and popularity has brought about stiff competition for housing and employment. The area has a fun nightlife scene as well. Being situated a decent distance from London clearly isn't the most important thing if the actual area isn't nice. Guildford, as a town in itself, is a pleasant place to live; with cobble-stoned streets, historic medieval architecture, and a castle to boot, Guildford has all the charms of a small English town. Old Leigh is a pretty enclave of weatherboarded cottages, cobbled streets, bars and restaurants. Excellent transport links into the city mean that you can make the journey from Guildford to London in around half an hour, perfect for the speedy early morning commute to work. This up-and-coming part of south London is known throughout the city for its cool coffee shops, great local market, tattoo studios, and independent stores. Here you can shop for your fave hipster brands such as Comme des Garcons, Jonathan Saunders and JW Anderson, plus plenty of other more or less known designers. There are plenty of green spaces to explore, as well as a variety of high streetshops and restaurants. Now you have got The Folkestone Wine Company, which I love, a little tapas place called Pick Up Pintxos, and the Harbour Arm is amazing in summer because it has live music and lots of street food stalls.. Often seen as the quintessential commuter town near London, the small market town of Watford has dodged all the negative connotations of being so close to the Greater London area while retaining many of the independent benefits. 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In addition. By ferry: no regular commuter services but Jetstream Tours does regular day trips to Southend.
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