While many have ties to London due to friends living there or because our job is based there, that does not necessarily mean that you’d want to live there full time. From Hungerford to Harlow, we have picked ten fantastic locations to live in, all less than an hour to London by train.
London may be one of the world’s great cities, rivalling New York and Paris, but not everyone wants to join the nine million people who call it home.
The suburbs of London extend to some 15 to 20 miles from the centre, but thanks to the forethought of city planners of the past, are clearly bounded by the so-called ‘greenbelt’ which prevents urban sprawl.
Go beyond the green belt and London is surrounded by towns and communities. They benefit from the halo effect of the wealth that London generates, while offering all the amenities, jobs and lifestyle that having London on the doorstep offers.
While commuting can be pricey if you have to do it every day, the rise of remote working with just a day or two in the office per week means that such locations are more accessible than ever. With the average price of property in London being £670,449 – sometimes, the price of a commute just makes the most sense.
Plus, unless you go to one of the big parks, you are often hard-pressed much more than a stretch of grass in London. And having a sizeable garden is often something London buyers miss out on. If you are raising a family, there is a lot to be said for living outside of London, so that your kids can lead an outdoorsy life.
Alternatively, you might be looking to settle down somewhere a little quieter in your golden years, while still being able to reach London easily should you need to.
Hungerford
Hungerford, Berkshire.
County: Berkshire
Population: 6,000
Time to London by train: 50 minutes
Average property price: £382,000
Easy to reach by car or train, Hungerford is a small town set on the River Kennet. It’s on the far edge of Berkshire, where it joins Wiltshire.
It’s definitely one for lovers of the outdoors, with the River Dun, and the Kennet and Avon Canal, offering all sorts of exciting activities. The ancient Savenake Forest with its thousand-year-old oak trees (and favourite hunting ground of Henry 8th), is on the doorstep, as is the North Wessex Downs AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty). The highest point in south east England, Walbury Hill, is only four miles away.
Hungeford’s town itself has plenty to occupy you, with antique shops, good quality cafes and some good pubs. However, when you want bigger shops, Newbury is eight miles to the east, while the attractive town of Marlborough (with its private school where the Princess of Wales was a pupil) is the same distance west.
Properties in Hungerford:
You’ll find plenty of choice of flats and small houses from around £200,000, with pretty cottages from under £300,000.
Horsham
Horsham, West Sussex.
County: West Sussex
Population: 51,000
Time to London by train: 55 minutes
Average property price: £453,000
Set in the Sussex ‘Weald’, between the North and South Downs, Horsham benefits from being within striking distance by car or train from both London and the seaside (Brighton or Worthing are both easy to reach).
It was for a while claimed as the wealthiest medium-sized town in the U, and benefits from its close proximity to Gatwick Airport, with lots of air crew living in the town.
However, it wears its wealth well, with a pleasant town centre that has all the usual shops you would need, a low crime rate and excellent facilities such as cinemas, swimming pool and leisure centres. The town centre has attractive if unspectacular countryside on the doorstep, including the River Arun.
Properties in Horsham:
For those returning from a retirement abroad, you can buy a retirement property in Horsham for as little as £100,000. For the non-retired, a budget approaching £200,000 will buy you a small one or two-bedroom flat. While for detached and semis, prices start in the mid £300,000s.
Oxted
Oxted, Surrey.
County: Surrey
Population: 11,000
Time to London by train: 34 minutes
Average property price: £716,000
By the time you move to Oxted you might find that this attractive town in the heart of Surrey has a new prime minister as its famous son. Sir Keir Starmer, if he does become PM, will not be the first in the locality as Sir Winston Churchill’s home Chartwell is nearby too.
Indeed, other high-end connections span the centuries, with Ann Boleyn at nearby Hever Castle and Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed still living in the town.
Oxted is barely 30 minutes from London, handily placed right by the M25 so easy to reach from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. It is set within greenbelt and has beautiful verdant countryside surrounding it on the edge of the North Downs.
The lively London borough of Croydon is less than 10 miles away.
Properties in Oxted:
Having a foot in both the deepest countryside and the outskirts of London has had an impact on prices, which are high. Even retirement properties are in excess of £250,000 and semi-detached houses start at half a million pounds.
Guildford
Guildford, Surrey.
County: Surrey
Population: 145,000
Time to London by train: 39 minutes
Average property price: £616,456
With stunning landscapes on the doorstep – including vineyards on the southern slopes of the North Downs – and cobbled streets in the historic centre, Guildford is a classy and well-connected large town. It is home to several interesting landmarks, including an early 20th century cathedral (you may recognise it from The Omen.)
But it is not all horror and antiquity – the town is a west Surrey wonderland of its own. If you’re a fan of tea parties and croquet, you’ll be pleased to know that Guildford is the home of English author, poet and mathematician, Lewis Carroll. It’s a popular student town, so if you don’t want to live surrounded by students, be careful.
Guildford is approximately 30 miles and 39 minutes by train from London Waterloo.
Properties in Guildford:
You can buy a one-bedroom flat in Guildford for well under £100,000 in a perfectly nice area – don’t worry, this isn’t the sort of town that has a no-go area – but for a semi-detached property you will need a third of a million.
Maidenhead
Maidenhead, Berkshire.
County: Berkshire
Population: 70,000
Time to London by train: 34 minutes
Average property price: £618,860
The Elizabeth Line has recently connected this charming Berkshire town with the centre of London. Once upon a time, you would have had to change at Paddington to get to central London. Now, you can get from Maidenhead to Bond Street in 57 minutes. Perfect, if you have a city-based job but want to raise a family outside of the centre.
Just up the river from Windsor, Maidenhead is ideal for bike rides, dog walks and even bopping along on a boat along the Thames. Boutlers Lock and Ray Mill Island is park with an aviary and guinea pig enclosure. Plus, wooden animals for children to play on. It makes a pretty spot to have a picnic. For something a little more adventurous, Taplow Lake offers open water swimming, axe-throwing, and water skiing.
Properties in Maidenhead:
You can find a one-to-two-bedroom apartment in Maidenhead for as little as £75,000. Although, a budget of £130,000 will grant you more options. For a semi-detached four-bedroom home, a budget of £500,000 will comfortably find you a property.
Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
County: Bedfordshire
Population: 42,727
Time to London by train: 30 minutes
Average property price: £342,134
Leighton Buzzard has a beautiful, buzzing high street where you can find lots of unique independent shops. If you are after vinyl or a bouquet or a new dress or even just a spot of tea, you’ll find it here. Since Medieval times (circa 1086), Leighton Buzzard has had the Charter Market, every Tuesday and Saturday. It is a chance to get your hands on delicious fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, as well as to pick up a trinket or two.
Additionally, Leighton Buzzard is famous for being home to the Leighton Buzzard Railway a locomotive fleet totally 60, one of the largest narrow-gauge collections in the United Kingdom. Their steam trains were built as long ago as 1877, and trains developed during the First World War.
For car journeys, there is easy access to both the M1 and the A5. A direct train from Leighton Buzzard to London Euston will get you there in 30 minutes. With stops on the way, the time nears an hour. If you book in advance, then the price is just £17.50. Helpfully, Luton airport is just half an hour away.
Properties in Leighton Buzzard:
The starting price for a one or two bedroom property in Leighton Buzzard is around £130,000. While a family home will cost you around £300,000.
Harlow
Harlow, Essex.
County: Essex
Population: 95,000
Time to London by train: 30 minutes
Average property price: £300,000
As an up-and-coming city surrounded by the gorgeous Hertfordshire countryside, Harlow benefits from the best of both worlds. It is home to the Gibberd Garden, a stunning 9 acre landscaped garden with lawns, a brook, and a tearoom. Plus, it has its own Sculpture Town of over 100 public artworks. For a little bit of theatre, you won’t have to journey to the West End and worry about grabbing the last train home, as Harlow has its own Playhouse.
Harlow has good transport links to London, Cambridge, and Stanstead Airport. The cost of a train to London Liverpool Street is £18 and takes upwards of 30 minutes.
Properties in Harlow:
£170,000 is a good starting budget for a small flat in Harlow. While those looking for a multi-bedroom house will need a budget of at least £400,000.
Chatham
Chatham, Kent.
County: Kent
Population: 104,316
Time to London by train: 40 minutes
Average property price: £298,470
Once home to a young Charles Dickens, Chatham is a town with heaps of old-fashioned charm, set in the beautiful Kent countryside. Chatham is an enchanting place to be for history enthusiasts with its famous Historic Dockyard, where you can see a Second World War Destroyer. Originally constructed during the Napoleonic era, Fort Amherst served as a civil defence centre in both world wars.
During quiet times, you can get a train from Chatham to London for a little over £5. While the minimum journey time is 40 minutes, you can end up pottering along for an hour and thirteen.
Properties in Chatham:
Luckily, Chatham has affordable property. You can find a terraced three-bedroom house for around £200,000.
Epping
Epping, Essex.
County: Essex
Population: 133,969
Time to London by train: 36 minutes
Average property price: £668,519
Epping lends its name to an incredible forest and a market town. Epping Forest is a 2,400-hectare ancient woodland forest. It boasts of many outdoor activities: cycling, horse-riding, football, boating, cricket, and even golf. But perhaps Epping’s greatest asset is that you can enjoy this magnificent countryside and then catch a tube – yes, Epping has its own underground station – to central London. Epping is on the central line, and so you can get to Bank station in 38 minutes.
Properties in Epping:
If you fancy a park home, you can nab one for around £90,000. If you would prefer a small apartment, then £150,000 is a healthy budget to start with. While four-bedroom homes start around £400,000.
Henley-upon-Thames
Henley-upon-Thames, Oxfordshire.
County: Oxfordshire
Population: 12,186
Time to London by train: 44 minutes
Average property price: £706,133
While Henley-upon-Thames is definitely not the most affordable location on our list, if what you are after is somewhere to live that feels like it is straight out of an old English storybook, then it is the place to be. It is best known for hosting the Royal Rogetta, an annual rowing event. It even has its own River and Rowing Museum. Not just rowing fans, Henley-upon-Thames hosts an exclusive black-tie music and arts festival every year too. For the rest of year, there are numerous pubs, cafes, and restaurants to frequent and a vibrant main shopping street to keep you occupied.
Unfortunately, there are no direct trains to London, so the journey will need a minimum of one change. From Henley, you can go to Twyford and then catch the Elizabeth Line into London’s centre.
Properties for sale in Henley-upon-Thames:
Property wise, the Medieval streets are made up of beautiful Edwardian and Victorian houses. But this does come at a cost, the minimum for a one-bedroom home is £280,000. While a four-bedroom home would cost upwards of £750,000.
