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ABQ, meanwhile is a Breaking Bad-themed bar, where you spend two hours in the back of an RV, 'cooking up' cocktails. 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. Hatfield, Hertfordshire 3. 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. Another home county packed with commuter-friendly locations isHampshire, which has everything from charming cities to rural villages, although its hotspots tend not to be shoestring budget options. This unique arrangement means that Watford has the blessing of being far enough removed from London while being seamlessly connected to its major transport networks. 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). St Albans. Oh yes, and the building's got a Banksy on the side. A London budget will go much further down here renters will say theyve got 1,300 for a two-bed when that should pay for a five-bedroom house. Weve heard good things about local independents, including bookshop Books on the Hill and the Odyssey cinemaand its also famous for being the only Englishtown to have ever produced a Pope, so if youve got your eye on theVatican,this could be the one for you. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Lying directly north of the capital, out of the hustle and bustle of Greater London, is the small city of St Albans. One person wrote: "As you enter Aylesbury, you find yourself in a traffic jam. One person wrote: "The town itself is not easy on the eye, it makes Slough comparable to the playboy tax exile haven of Monaco." If you click on the pins, you can find my relevant blog posts about each one. 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. Think of this post as the highlights reel and those posts as places where you can do a deep dive into what each one has to offer. If youre the type of person that finds it hard to choose whether you want sweet or savoury popcorn, or a hot or cold drink, youre probably not exactly, just someone who wants the best of both worlds. A terraced house typically costs 387,000 while a detached home will set you back 878,000. So where is the best place to live if looking to leave the capital? Can we just say this off the bat: we like hipsters. 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. Super cool Dover Street Market is the hipster home in central London. The famous Pryzm nightclub is one of the locals favorites, offering five rooms of varying music and atmospheres. A four to five-bedroom post-war house a little further out might cost between 500,000 and 700,000. Top 15 sights in Engelberg, Switzerland (including TITLIS). Its peak domestic residence logistics too arcane a puzzle for us amateurs. Or you could look at the market town of Ringwood, where a four-bedroom house is likely to cost from about 750,000. Like many other towns in Surrey, Horley is a mixture of rural life while still being close enough to get that city fix. Impressively, you can get from Richmond to London Waterloo in as little as 22 minutes. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. Emma Jane Palin, 31, an interiors stylist and blogger, bought in Ramsgate almost a year ago, with her husband Josh, 34, a musician who also works at Forts in Margate. It is located 30 miles (48 km) northeast of . Whether youre wondering where to live in London, where to hang out in London, or where to stay in London, theres a variety of hipster neighborhoods in London to choose from. 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. Finding the right committer town for you would take a lot of different factors. 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. There are two top-notch golf courses nearby and lots of bars and bistros to explore. The fastest train to London would get you to Paddington in 27 minutes. The balance of small-town feel and energy makes Reading a great place to live while still being close to the UK capital. Hipster girls may want to look into membership at Chez Stephan, a hairstylist that doubles up as a wine club. 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. One of my favorite things about London is that theres a place for everyone. 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. For more bang for your buck you could go for New Milton, which also has a station but is more built up and less quaint than Brockenhurst. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. See more. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. Over the last two years, the county has also found increased favour with Londoners fed up of being locked down in the city. Famed for its airport, Luton cracked the top 3 of worst places to live. The couple have a six-year-old son, Evan, and a dog, Buddy, and the family loves to hang out on the beach. One red flag here is schools. 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. This swift journey only adds to the appeal of a town that was once considered too far away to be a commuter town. Holiday Home' by Richard Woods, part of Folkestones public art scene. This expansive area in the East End is home to places like Hoxton, Haggerston, and Dalston, all of which have solidly hip credentials. blog and then, because we cant resist, weigh in with our own thoughts. tend to be expensive and youd often have to settle for small apartments that dont meet your requirements. 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). Join local Facebook groups. Although more expensive than counties like Kent, Hertfordshire's commuter towns are among the closest to London, with our two hotspots both within 30 minutes of the capital 1. Hitting the number two spot is Hatfieldin Hertfordshire, a county where, reassuringly, according to My Fair Lady, hurricanes hardly ever happen. You can now use Citymapper to plan your Elizabeth Line journey. Spend weekends paddleboarding without sacrificing on London comforts in these hipster-friendly commutable coastal towns with flats for about 200k While it's in vogue, head to The Library Pot in Richmond (yes, Richmond can be hip too) or Draughts in Hackney, where games include Bushwhackin' Varmints and Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrals of Skullport. That may not be the case by the time we've finished writing this paragraph, but hey ho. But where should these yuppies with an edge start their search for a home? Timber-framed two to three-bedroom cottages in the town centre cost around 350,000 to 500,000. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. 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. Average property price: . Whats to love? Word of mouth seems to have been behind Leighs resurgence and most who move down seem to have a ready-made support network. This textured past has given St Albans a rich identity and can be seen as one of Englands most quintessential towns. 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. The prices also make it a dream for those wanting to leave. This infrastructure is bolstered by Readings huge commercial center, especially for information technology and insurance. 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. This mini community is home to tattooists, jerk chicken and jiu jitsu classes. 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. Where should you lay your head for zzzs after the daily grind? 3- Staines-upon-Thames. Clearly, being within touching distance of London isn't a winner for these people. 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Linlithgow. 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. The fastest train from Horley to London would take 28 minutes. In addition. A bit of a shortage of larger period houses means, when they do come up, prices of around 800,000. Leave us alone. 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. Services to Fenchurch Street take from 48 minutes. A few months ago we brought you the best commuter villages around London to live out your bucolic fantasies. St Albans is a beautiful town rich with history and only 20 minutes from London, A train from Reading to Paddington Station would take 25 minutes, From the outset Iver may not look like much but it has loads going on, High Wycombe came in number 7 and is a pretty town consisting of the old and the new, Aylesbury is a mix of old and new, with modern buildings emerging from Tudor-era houses. Vast new estates are now zoned west of the A1 and in the northeast of town, providing affordable housing to residents of Stevenage. The combination of long-standing ties to London, especially in its commuter routes, the towns strong infrastructure, and resources all make Reading one of the best commuter towns near London. The average house price in High Wycombe is 354,830 and a season ticket would cost 3,856. 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. Catherine Nice moved to Folkestone in 2015, with her husband Gary, and their two children, Jude, 11, and Ruby, eight. The Kent coastline offers a huge range of options for buyers, from affluent historic towns alive with cafe culture to some of the most extraordinary landscapes in Britain. Located to the far west of London, just under fifty miles, Basingstoke may surprise many with its commuter town label. Again, with an average season pass of 2,904, the cost of making this daily commute isnt something that can be taken likely. If youre the type of person that finds it hard to choose whether you want sweet or savoury popcorn, or a hot or cold drink, youre probably not exactly indecisive, just someone who wants the best of both worlds. As the vastness of Londons expansion seems to grow in size, affordable and promising commuter towns seem to get further and further out from the capital, and Stevenage is one such place. What is Lyme Regis famous for? Brixton is another of the coolest places in London. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Despite the royal connections and eye-watering property prices, Windsor has an air of charm and Englishness that makes it a hugely popular place to live. People move on a whim after a fun weekend of beach parties in the summer. Georgie Perkins moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 2004, from Hertfordshire. Named Thames Valley Town of the Year in 2017 and boasting a quality of life rating of 96%, Basingstokes popularity is undeniably on the rise. One for lovers of the random-stuff aisle. Taking the longest on our list of best commuter towns, the train journey from Camberley to central London will take you around an hour and fifteen minutes. There are lots of hipster-friendly. Theyre great places to soak up the local atmosphere. You will also find there are some really excellent independent boutiques to explore. The commute: Trains to Victoria take around 90 minutes. Dont worry, its all part of the tour. work life. How much? 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. One of the citys coolest areas, this place is known for its amazing nightlife scene. St Albans on the edge of London comes in number 1 on the list. A global financial hub and home to nearly nine million people, it is no surprise that London has become a hive for professionals. 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 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.