Best commuter towns to London

With the massive swing to remote and flexible working and increased access to advanced technology and superfast broadband, you could safely argue that moving to anywhere in the UK is acceptable when your HQ is in London!

However, as London is such a massive powerhouse in certain sectors of industry and commerce, there are always going to be workers who have to travel there regularly, if not daily. So, if you're thinking of moving home, which are the best London commuter towns for 2021?

The map shows some recommended locations, coloured by their commute times.

Commuting from London’s 'burbs

If you don't want to put down roots in the middle of England's biggest (and most expensive) city, there are plenty of great places to live on the outskirts.

London suburbs have everything you need for family life, as well as amenities and leisure activities for singles and couples to enjoy. All with the added benefit of more affordable properties, including everything from smart apartments to multi-bedroom houses.

As you would expect from areas that have been popular with commuters for decades, the local transport system along the boundaries of London is excellent. Fast trains can get you to the city centre within a 30-minute

Examples of popular London boroughs

The City of London is surrounded by 32 districts or boroughs. Though they are all within easy commuting distance, some are more popular than others due to property prices, the local infrastructure or simply their community and ambience!

Among the most affordable commuter towns to London (and most popular) are Bexley and Croydon. Camden may be a familiar name, as it has a famous market, but it's also a colourful and attractive place to live when you work in the capital.

Family-friendly commuter towns include Richmond, with its wonderful expanse of green space, and Dulwich, which has a 'village community' feel to it, as well as everything modern families need.

If you crave outdoor space and peace in your leisure time, Lewisham and Putney are well worth considering. However, if you love eating out and buying the best ingredients for your own cooking, then take a look around Shoreditch. A commuter property here puts you close to such foodie havens as Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Boxpark!

Going further afield

Commuter towns don't have to be within Greater London's large footprint. There are plenty of options slightly further out, especially in the ever-popular counties of Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire- not forgetting Hertfordshire, of course!

Cities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Winchester are massive magnets for commuters. They are steeped in history and packed with the sort of cultural, leisure and retail opportunities that keep the whole family happy—the mix of properties available to buy covers the whole gambit of commuter budgets too.

However, for many house hunters, the whole point of moving outside London in 2021 is to find a forever home in a quieter and more rural location or to find affordable housing in commuter towns.

This opens up a diverse range of possible locations and an exciting list of potential homes within travelling distance of London.

Your research should certainly include Newbury (Berkshire), Chatham (Kent) and High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire). They all have plenty of well-priced property options and a pleasing combination of local amenities, lively town centres and rural charm.

Can you commute to London from the coast?

When evaluating the best London commuter towns for 2021, it's highly recommended that you give some thought to going coastal!

Of course, you can opt to live within easy reach of healthy and relaxing 'blue space' by buying along the major rivers running throughout the South East, especially the Thames. However, finding a commuter property by the sea is a dream for many house hunters.

For a long time, Brighton has been hugely popular with people who work in the capital, which is why it is often dubbed 'London by the sea'!

However, you should also check out properties available in the lovely coastal areas of Essex, such as Southend-on-Sea and Leigh-on-Sea. With fresh air and amazing views, you can still get to London in less than an hour!

Work in London, live in your preferred location

As the South East rail network improves further in the coming years, you can expect to see an ever-growing list of 60-minute commute options for London.

The decision about where to live often comes down to weighing property prices against commuting costs. However, the type of lifestyle and leisure activities you want out of office hours also needs to be a factor. Thank goodness there are so many great locations to live in the South East!

If you're looking for places to live near London, take a look at our search tool, or our personalised location search service.

Some statistics to consider

As the charts below show, there is a clear decrease in average property prices the further you're willing to commute (with some exceptions such as Cambridge). For example, the difference between a 30-40 minute train journey (St Albans, Esher) and a 90-100 minute journey (Peterborough, Huntingdon), for a semi-detached house, is over £400k.