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. Finding the right committer town for you would take a lot of different factors. There are green spaces like Victoria Park and London Fields here as well. One sip of this stuff and you'll be a raving hipster. New here? House prices are around 370k but a season ticket is a tough ask at nearly five grand a year. Dedham Vale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hackney Wick is also near large green spaces like Victoria Park and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, so there are plenty of places to channel your inner hipster outdoors here. Its beach is a mix of sand and shingle. The trade-off for a slightly longer commute is the chance to live in a green and pleasant town close to the UKs largest city. St Albans on the edge of London comes in number 1 on the list. 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. Although Stevenage stands over thirty miles north of London, it is possible to catch the fastest train and arrive in the capital in 27 minutes. There are two top-notch golf courses nearby and lots of bars and bistros to explore. Enjoy a stroll around different pop up shop and don't forget some foodie at the upper level. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. tend to be expensive and youd often have to settle for small apartments that dont meet your requirements. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Just you wait. If you're already a hipster you'll already know about a lot of these. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Want more property news from MyLondon? Go to Black Rock, where you drink whisky from a 185 year-old-oak table. Over the last two years, the county has also found increased favour with Londoners fed up of being locked down in the city. Upriver, at Richmond, life on the Thames has a distinctly tranquil, laid-back flavour, as evidenced by the White Cross pub. St Albans is one of Englands most historic settlements, dating back to the 1st century when it was only second to the city of London. Nowadays, the time-worn streets are peppered with independent shops and eateries, like Townsends bookshop, Italian bistro Lucca Enoteca, and record and natural wine shop Winyl, as well as arty. Top commuter towns across Hampshire, Surrey, Kent and Essex Picturesque country and seaside locations for house-hunters who still want to live within reach of the capital. However, for every best commuter town, there are some that are worse. 2023 Londonist, All rights reserved. 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. The famous Pryzm nightclub is one of the locals favorites, offering five rooms of varying music and atmospheres. I hope youve enjoyed this guide to the best hipster neighborhoods in London, and that its made you want to put on your glasses, get a tattoo, go vegan, and explore more of the citys coolest areas. One of my favorite things about London is that theres a place for everyone. Families looking for the best commuter towns near London, which also have thriving schools, will see Basingstoke as a winner. The prices also make it a dream for those wanting to leave. Go to local events, on your own if possible. Old fashioned in a 1930s detective agency? The coastal town is actually so popular with Londoners it has been dubbed "Hackney on sea." Bethnal Green Working Mens' Club is a front for some of the hippest happenings in London, including the monthly Double R Club, where Twin Peaks fans eat cherry pie and watch nightmarish burlesque. Some of our best friends are hipsters. Theyre generally 20th century creations either as purpose built new towns or having undergone massive expansion in a short period of time to cater for the growing population in the south east. Whats to love? Watfords nightlife has been famed for decades, so much so that it often attracts revelers from the capital for an evenings entertainment. Ranked as the best commuter town for those working in London, pretty St Albans sits proudly in Hertfordshire. Hmm. The rise of commuter towns in the past few years can't be ignored. South of the river, the Bussey Building has fast become a hipster stalwart, thanks to rare groove funk and soul nights, gallons of Red Stripe, and more art students than you can shake a 20,000 loan at. Theres a range of options to choose from in the neighborhood, including hotels and apartment rentals. If you click on the pins, you can find my relevant blog posts about each one. Time Out checks out the conclusions of Phil Spencer (yes, him off Location Location, Location minus Kirsty Give up coffee, Netflix and EasyJet Allsop) just published on the IQ Move blog and then, because we cant resist, weigh in with our own thoughts. The commute: Trains to Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street take about an hour. Be ahead of the game: isn't it obvious? The area has a fun nightlife scene as well. Another hunch of ours: homing pigeons are going to be a thing. Traditionally the forest has been seen as too far away for London commuters but the pandemic has changed that. Be ahead of the game: put down that cocktail and get ye to a micropub in Sidcup. Stevenage as a town has all the amenities and resources you would expect from a modern town. Your email address will not be published. Trains from either Broadstairs or Ramsgate to St Pancras International take just under an hour and a quarter. Thanks for subscribing! Families looking for somewhere to settle and commute with younger children will be delighted with the high reputation Guildford has when it comes to its schools. Research shows that Hertfordshire is one of the best counties to live if you're commuting into London. The best commuter towns in Hertfordshire. Set on the river Itchen and beside the South Downs, Winchester has a charming old city centre but it is vibrant and quirky enough to keep Londoners happy. The charming city of Chelmsford only has a population of 110,00 and has an extremely low crime rate a fact that gives the city an idyllic feel, ideal for leaving the traffic and rush of inner city London. A commuter at Vauxhall station, London, in May. Like Danny Dyer. More than 100,000 readers on Ilivehere voted for the worst place to live. It is perfect for walking, running or letting a horse do the hard work. The season ticket price is 2,316 and you are also only 6 miles away from Heathrow. Oh, and this hip cauliflower dish: Sweet-toothed hipsters will be found indulging in a Crosstown Doughnut or fighting a losing battle with a vegan freakshake at The Canvas (which also has a adult ball pit, for added hipster kudos). 7.50 adults, 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 (+4420 7401 8865; www.gardenmuseum.org.uk) BEST FOR: River walkers. If youre asking yourself where do London hipsters live? youll find the answer here. East Mersea is a peaceful, residential spot with some of the islands bigger, most expensive houses. We don't know. London neighborhoodstend to be expensive and youd often have to settle for small apartments that dont meet your requirements. One commentator wrote: "I have seen it slide from a town of some limited qualities to the toilet of Berkshire within the last five years.". The best London commuter towns, according to Phil Spencer and Moveiq 1. 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? Vintage Fashion Fair, and another who gets their togs from the charity shops along Streatham High Road. This multicultural neighborhood is known for colorful south London markets like Pop Brixton, Brixton Village, and Brixton Market. 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. At number one worst place to live came Aylesbury. This expansive area in the East End is home to places like Hoxton, Haggerston, and Dalston, all of which have solidly hip credentials. Here are the capitals best commuter isles. The fastest train to Kings Cross is 27 minutes however another benefit of Stevenage is the fact you can get to London Bridge in 40 minutes. Borehamwood, Hertfordshire 5. Shops will often put things on and its a good way to meet people. The bustling hub of St Albans is home to a large independent scene, which includes independent book shops, cafes, and celebrated cinemas. Aside from this, Staines-upon-Thames is also home to Staines Moor, over a thousand acres of moorland that is a fantastic place to hike and nature watching. Best places to live outside London for nature: Best places to live around London with top schools: Places to live outside London with easy commute: Where to live outside London near forests. Required fields are marked *. Hayling Island in Hampshire is about four miles from coast to coast, its beach a mix of sand and shingle. There are lots of hipster-friendly. The best places to live near London: Hertfordshire Much Hadham, Barley, Ashwell, Harpenden and Aldbury offer a commuter idyll. The best commuter towns close to London | The Spectator One of the coolest areas in the UK capital, this place is known for its great nightlife and trendy bars. If you're looking for a town with less than a 30-minute commute to London, then Richmond is the perfect place for you. All but one of Winchesters schools are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, which is a lot better odds than youre likely to find in London. This area also has atmospheric side streets and secret lanes to discover. Or you can always go axe-hurling in Whitechapel. 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. Journey time to London: 36 minutes Hitchin, Hertfordshire In the town you will find plenty of good gastropubs and being in the Surrey Hills means access to lovely walking and cycling country. Enter your password to log in. That's right, we said eats. work life. The beer is cheap, fresh, and if you take a phone call, your iPhone might end up nailed to the wall. 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. 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. 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. This Map Will Show You All Of London's Commuter Towns, Ranked There arent many flats on the island but there are a few small purpose-built blocks, priced at circa 250,000 for two bedrooms. 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. Support Time Out directly today and help us champion the people and places which make the city tick. Be as snooty as you like; they're obviously doing something right (the combination of uber rare Japanese cereal and old He-Man videos, at a guess). Although Staines-upon-Thames is close to London, the busy Heathrow Airport, and M25 Motorway, it still retains its small-town feel. Folkestones alpha address has long been its West End, with its streets of lovely Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian houses. All in all, Basingstoke ticks many boxes if you are looking for an overall better quality of life outside of the often chocking life inside the UK capital. The underrated seaside commuter town known as 'Hackney-on-Sea' where Being stuck in the traffic allows you to observe the magnificent beauty of all the trashy citizens that live there.". Number three is Reading in Berkshire,currently 25 minutes from Paddington, but thestretch of the Elizabeth line that runs there opens in 2023 and it will effortlessly connect residents with Bond Street, Canary Wharf and Stratford, which suddenly makes it a good choice if you commute to the City. What stands out as Guildfords most favorable aspect is the surrounding countryside and villages. Aside from its historic and luxurious charm, Windsor is a town surrounded by some of the best open green spaces and parkland in the entire county a true antidote to the concrete jungle of the London you will be commuting to. If they did, its only 21 minutes to Kings Cross, plus youre handily close to Luton Airport for sunny getaways. Whats to love? In 2014, Nice felt a need to be close to her parents, so the family moved to Leighton Buzzard. property and rental prices in the capital. Read on to find out what the ten best commuter towns near London have to offer and find your new home away from the hustle and bustle of the modern capital. So where is the best place to live if looking to leave the capital? Youve got a really beautiful old town with cobbled streets and pubs with seating out on the sea wall so you can sit and have a drink and watch the estuary and the fishing boats, and then you have got a really vibrant, thriving high street, full of bars, boutiques and vegan restaurants, she says. But Kents sandy beaches, grammar schools and lovely towns are drawing a new generation of Londoners still WFH for part of the week and willing to live farther from the office. As promised, heres a map of the hipster London neighborhoods on my list. Its just 25 minutes from St Pancras, and is weirdly also known for its cinematic heritage, with Elstree Studios, a collection of different studios across various sites of which two still remain. High Wycombe is a beautiful area with the surrounding Chiltern Hills making it an idyllic spot. Rated as one of Englands top three growing towns, the largest town in Hampshire, Basingstoke is undoubtedly seen as one of the best commuter towns near London. But where should these yuppies with an edge start their search for a home? Rotating events and food trucks in and around The Truman Brewery keep things exciting as well. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. While pop-ups vanish as quickly as Coco Pops turn the milk chocolatey, Cereal Killer Cafe is still going strong. If you want to stay in this part of London, you can book accommodation in Brixton here. The fastest train into St Pancras takes 25 minutes and the average house price is 514,773. How much? Coming in at number 9 on the top 50 worst places to live, came Slough. Located around forty miles directly west of London, the town of Reading has been a popular commuter town for decades. We've occasionally been told we're hipsters (we're not). The commute: it is 10 miles from Mersea Island to Colchester. The average house price for this town is considerably lower than Iver which can make it that much more attractive. Number four is occupied by Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. The average house price in Redhill is 479,434, season ticket prices come to 2,908. SueBurtonPhotography // Getty Images. Londoners spend record sums on homes outside the capital, Leaving London: We bought a five-bedroom Victorian home for the price of a London flat, Woman stabbed to death in street in Brixton, Man, 20, in critical condition after assault in Beckenham, Ant and Dec among celebs invited to Coronation as guestlist revealed, Investigation launched after woman stabbed to death in broad daylight, Mum says son was too embarrassed to leave killer girlfriend. Enter your password to log in. The number of bus journeys taken in the capital is down by 50%. Whether you want somewhere more central or more up-and-coming, theres a place for you. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. 3- Staines-upon-Thames. A lot of hipster neighborhoods in London are in the East End. 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. Given there are so many choices, I want to give you an idea of your options and some good ideas for cool neighborhoods in London. If the cheapest house price is what you're looking for then Stevenage would be your best choice. For those who wish to live outside of the town itself. On looks alone, the two loveliest villages have to be Dedham and Nayland. Just off the Hampshire coast, Hayling is easy to get around its about four miles from coast to coast. Great pizzas directly across the street. And things get livelier on the coast, particularly around the yachting town of Lymington. Mark Newman, director of Winkworth estate agents, says buyers after a home in Leigh-on-Sea should budget around 350,000 for a two-bed flat, or 550,000 to 600,000 for a three-bed terrace. What is Slovenia best known for? The ability to be within a reasonable distance of the capital without crazy high prices became too appealing for many to ignore. Located to the far west of London, just under fifty miles, Basingstoke may surprise many with its commuter town label. Only 17 miles west of central London, Staines-upon-Thames is a town that often gets overlooked when it comes to the best commuter towns near London. The combination of fantastic rail links, county charm, and affordable housing will make the city a far more popular alternative to the towns closer to Greater London. Hipster - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com Best London commuter towns for 2023 - House Beautiful Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. When that extends to big stuff such as where you want to, in relation to where you work, then it gets a bit more tricky. Although seen as a more urban place to commute to London from, Watford is not without its own culture. This multicultural neighborhood is known for colorful south London markets like Pop Brixton, Brixton Village, and Brixton Market. This collision of contemporary and crumbling is what gives the village its unique charm. 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. Essexhas long been a good port of call for those looking for a seaside location but who dont want to compromise on local amenties. Basingstokes Festival Shopping Centre provides the residents with an ultra-modern shopping experience, complete with premium shops, restaurants, and bars. Rounding out the top 10, Redhill makes the list. This up-and-coming place in the northeast of the city is home to all things hot and trendy. Movie buffs might rhapsodise over The Shining or Dr Zhivago, but for our money, its the fact that The Muppet Show was produced here that gives it outstanding kerb appeal. It is one of the longest lines of beach in the country, one just leads on to the next, so it is great for walks, she says. Best Commuter Towns London | 2022 Round-Up | Move iQ Hipsters are going to start frequenting actual working mens' clubs, like Penge & District Trade Union & Social Club. These are the list of the best commuter towns and some of the worst. Although its ideally placed for commuting into London, there is a large infrastructure here that means you are not forced to travel outside of the town during your days off, creating a great balance between work and home life. TheKent coast, while lovely, was just that bit too far for a daily commute. 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. One for lovers of the random-stuff aisle. The lure of the city has dwindled in recent years. There's more taxidermy, plus life drawing, absinthe tasting and life drawing at The Last Tuesday Society. 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. Most Affordable UK Commuter Towns For 2020 - House Beautiful If you're not in the mood for booze, it's got to be a beet-o-tini mocktail at Redemption, or a coffee in any push bike-related cafe that's going. That may not be the case by the time we've finished writing this paragraph, but hey ho. Before that the couple had rented in Margate, having moved to the coast from London. This account already exists. 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