Some of our best friends are hipsters. As for haircuts: men can get a 'Lumberjack', 'Arctic Explorer' or 'Captain Valet Deluxe' at branches of The Valet. 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. Essex has some delightful options that are finding increased favour with priced-out Londoners. One of the citys coolest areas, this place is known for its amazing nightlife scene. 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. If the cheapest house price is what you're looking for then Stevenage would be your best choice. A tricky one, this. 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. Ramsgate is the perfect place to trawl vintage shops. (Photo: Matt Buck) Hertfordshire generally dominates the top ten; with Waltham Cross coming in at second place, and five other towns in Hertfordshire making the cut. Staines-upon-Thames is only a half-hour commute by train into London, arriving at the capitals Waterloo Station. The commute to St Pancras International takes an hour and three-quarters. Although seen as a more urban place to commute to London from, Watford is not without its own culture. Whether you choose to commute from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Surrey or Kent, these are some of the best towns to live near London; 1. This friendly little market town is right on the border of the Surrey Hills and the South Downs, so you get access to two areas of outstanding natural beauty for the price of one. The fastest train into St Pancras takes 25 minutes and the average house price is 514,773. It was one of Kents original Cinque Ports and the walled town centre still possesses plenty of medieval charm. One of the coolest areas in the UK capital, this place is known for its great nightlife and trendy bars. 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. She liked the town well enough, but it didnt really click. This 36-square-mile island is set just off Kents north coast, separated from the mainland by The Swale. Not as smug as Broadstairs, this good-looking town is the perfect place to chill out on the beach, pick up vintage finds at its outstanding collection of antique shops (youll be hard pressed to visit the Petticoat Lane Emporium without finding something you have to buy), or cycle the Viking Coastal Trail. That's right, we said eats. Buyers on smaller budgets could consider adjacent Westcliff-on-Sea which is attracting more interest thanks to its value for money although it is by no means as hip as Leigh. Stevenage consists of great transport links as well as great house prices, making it a worthy entrant onto the list. Alternatively try Sway, a sleepy village light on amenity but heavy on charm. Average season ticket prices come in at 3,964 but all that money saved on a house might make this price seem more manageable. Its how we found our first rental home and theyre usually very active with community news and events. 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. Families looking for the best commuter towns near London, which also have thriving schools, will see Basingstoke as a winner. From Colchester you can get to Liverpool Street in just under an hour. My list also has links to my blog posts about specific London neighborhoods. 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. Still, you're just six miles from Heathrow, it's very green, has some. This area has become an increasingly popular place to live in London in recent years, especially as nearby Shoreditch has gentrified and become more mainstream. Fancy the island life but cant stray too far from London? ABQ, meanwhile is a Breaking Bad-themed bar, where you spend two hours in the back of an RV, 'cooking up' cocktails. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ive included a map as well. Just out of town the gorgeous views from Box Hill, immortalised by Jane Austens Emma, are almost worth the thigh-straining climb to enjoy them. It is located 30 miles (48 km) northeast of . Expect to pay 800,000 for a chocolate-box, four-bedroom detached cottage in one of these villages. This account already exists. Kings Parade and Great St Mary's Church, Trinity College, Cambridge. The River Lea and Tottenham Marshes add a dash of nature to the neighborhood, too. There is a thriving arts scene in the town and an art trail (as well as a folk festival and regatta). Godalming in Surrey, where there are pockets of value if you look beyond the traditional commuter-belt locations. is only set to grow as a commuter town. 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. See more. 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.. 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. Is it worth living outside of London and commuting? At which point the hipsters will be queuing out of the doors everywhere from the Putney Rocket to the Barking Dog. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. With its award-winning market, beautiful, timber-framed cottages and great schools, Saffron Walden has long drawn exiting Londoners. Ill start my hipster London guide in the south. We already have this email. A two-bedroom flat here would cost at least 200,000 while a four-bedroom house would come in at about 400,000. My hipster London guide continues in the east. Although a royal park, Windsor Great Park is open to the public free of charge, from dawn until dusk. London is only a 30-minute train which makes Redhill an attractive location. Traditionally the forest has been seen as too far away for London commuters but the pandemic has changed that. 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). There are lots of good options in and around the area. The charming streets, historical spots, and affluent homes all make St Albans one of the best commuter towns near London, and no list of commuter towns would be complete without a mention of St Albans. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Whats to love? Most of the shops are independents, with lots of little art galleries, and the walking along cliff-top paths is just spectacular. A good choice if youre an extra in Holby. Shoreditch (EC1) was once the coolest place to live in London before encroachment by bankers and other professionals due to its easy commute to the central business. 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. A new creative quarter was established by Roger De Haan, who invested millions in his hometown, which is now full of public art, by the likes of Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin, and hosts the Folkestone Triennial. If you want to stay in this part of London, you can book accommodation in Spitalfields here. One for lovers of the random-stuff aisle. 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. 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. Stevenage as a town has all the amenities and resources you would expect from a modern town. Average property price: . Although the future may be uncertain as more commuters seek new towns to settle, Stevenage remains a fantastic choice. 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. Leave us alone. Alongside its transportation convenience, Guildford is more or less halfway between London and Portsmouth on the English south coast, making it a great place for recreation as well as for work. And they have useful shops on their doorstep, plus country pubs dotted all over the place. 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. Tam Rzh: Great atmosphere, nice hipster vibe, great bubble tea :) 8. Whats to love? The high street and the areas that surround it are packed with hip cafes, bars, and vegan restaurants. Stephen Rodgers, senior branch manager at Fox & Sons estate agents, estimates that you would pay around 280,000 to 300,000 for a two-bedroom flat, or around 500,000 for a three-bedroom terrace. . There are also three primary schools on Hayling, all with good Ofsted reports, plus a senior school also considered good. But there are streets of Victorian terraces and semis priced from about 600,000, and a budget of 400,000 to 500,000 would buy a two to three-bedroom terraced cottage in town. Hyde Hall is a great expanse of floral displays and flower gardens, all of which add to the charm and idyllic nature of this Essex city. 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. So where is the best place to live if looking to leave the capital? Photo: Magic Pea South of the river, the Bussey Building has fast become a hipster stalwart, thanks to rare groove funk and soul nights,. People move on a whim after a fun weekend of beach parties in the summer. Also regularly voted as one of the happiest places to live, the town boasts gorgeous countryside surroundings. 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. The town of Reading is well known for its textured history and being one of Berkshires largest towns. This endless expanse of shingles is lit by the glow of a nuclear power station and dotted with abandoned, rusting fishing boats and modest houses built from redundant 19th-century railway cottages. 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. Crazy golf has found a lot of love among the hipster community; navigate your balls through old washing machines at Junkyard Golf, or go putting on a Peckham rooftop car park. Thanks for subscribing! Watfords nightlife has been famed for decades, so much so that it often attracts revelers from the capital for an evenings entertainment. 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. We've occasionally been told we're hipsters (we're not). Lying directly north of the capital, out of the hustle and bustle of Greater London, is the small city of St Albans. One of the only noted downsides to choosing Reading as your commuter town is the high price of rail season tickets. They are often bought as holiday homes by buyers who have replaced ramshackle cabins and bungalows with landmark modern houses. TheKent coast, while lovely, was just that bit too far for a daily commute. The commute: with a road link to the mainland and its own rail station, Sheppey is easy to get on and off. Iver,. The commute: Havant Station is a two-mile walk or cycle from the island. The ability to be within a reasonable distance of the capital without crazy high prices became too appealing for many to ignore. The fastest train to London would get you to Paddington in 27 minutes. 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. Located around twenty miles north of London, it takes a zipping 14 minutes to get into the capital, arriving at Euston Station. 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. 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. Visit in all seasons. The prices also make it a dream for those wanting to leave. Old village stocks in Aldbury, Kent. If youre asking yourself where do London hipsters live? youll find the answer here. Taking the top spot of green spaces in Watford is its Cassiobury Park. Its celeb-strewn too: Dele Alli and Gino DAcampo both live here. Here's our top 10 picks for the best up and coming places to live in the UK: 1. Staines-upon-Thames is perfectly balanced between a growing town, connected to the infrastructure of modern London and south England, while at the same time, there is an expansion of greenery and untouchedness that comes with Staines-upon-Thames. Also in Hertfordshire, so the same rules about hurricanes apply, but house prices here hover perilously close to 600,000. Services to Fenchurch Street take from 48 minutes. Its another hugely historic settlement, in Roman times known as Verulamium. How much? According to our food and drink writers, the smell of smoked meat from Berber & Q draws in hipsters from far and wide along with a 'we sometimes do/sometimes don't take reservations' policy. Something went wrong, please try again later. Located on the Lee Navigation canal, this area is full of converted industrial spaces with artists studios, coffee shops, and independent breweries. When we first came down there were maybe one or two restaurants. West Mersea, four miles away, is a busier, more touristy option with a high street, the main beach and plenty of cafes, restaurants, and pubs. With the modernization of Greater London and the expansion of the nearby national Heathrow Airport, Staines-upon-Thames has become an outpost of modernity and an up-and-coming modern town. Heres our pick of 16 locations for commuter homebuyers. 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. Schools within Guildford often appear in the Sunday Times Best Schools List, making it an ideal place to settle for families with children of school-going age. Located right next to Greenwich on the Thames, Deptford is an ideal area if youre into all things new and on-trend. Try another? One person wrote: "The town itself is not easy on the eye, it makes Slough comparable to the playboy tax exile haven of Monaco." 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. Borehamwood is an up and coming area perfectly situated to the north of London and within a great distance. Obviously, Reading is known for its annual music festival but recent news thatits existing four Lidls will be joined by a further three has caused a right stir in thelocal press. Thomas Ruschke: Free WiFi, great shops and a cool hipster vibe. If your dreams of a new life involve a quintessentially pretty English country village then this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just north of Colchester is the ideal hunting ground. If you want to stay in this part of London, you can book accommodation in Brixton here. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. Upriver, at Richmond, life on the Thames has a distinctly tranquil, laid-back flavour, as evidenced by the White Cross pub. 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. Hipsters are going to start frequenting actual working mens' clubs, like Penge & District Trade Union & Social Club. 2023 Londonist, All rights reserved. Not only is it a stones throw away from rural and suburban bliss, but the town itself also has a lot going for it. 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. Its one of the hottest areas to live in London. Linlithgow. For those who enjoy nature and the great outdoors, Chelmsford is home to Hylands Park and a local favorite, Hyde Hall. The best commuter towns in Hertfordshire. Ad revenue is Time Outs main source of income. Be ahead of the game: Wimbledon car boot sale? Tottenham is next on my list of hipster London neighborhoods. A four to five-bedroom post-war house a little further out might cost between 500,000 and 700,000. The number of bus journeys taken in the capital is down by 50%. What is Slovenia best known for? Trowbridge, near Bath. 20 Best Villages and Towns in Dorset to visit in 2023! 1. However, this still didn't stop people from voting it as the worst place to live. The fastest train to London St Pancras takes 20 minutes, the average house price in the area is 582,115 and with a relatively lofty season ticket price of 3,712. If they did, its only 21 minutes to Kings Cross, plus youre handily close to Luton Airport for sunny getaways. Stansted Airport is 13 miles away. Woking, Surrey . With vast swathes of green spaces, farmland, and countryside, Guildford stands alone as a satellite of London while keeping the rural feel of its surrounding suburbs. One person wrote: "As you enter Aylesbury, you find yourself in a traffic jam. Just on the fringes of the South Downs, you wont go short of open country in this historic Hampshire town, which is great for walkers, runners and cyclists. Theres even a place that makes mead here. Old fashioned in a 1930s detective agency? Whether you want somewhere more central or more up-and-coming, theres a place for you. For all your shopping needs, Stevenage is home to a huge shopping center with the privilege of being extremely traffic free. Or you can always go axe-hurling in Whitechapel.

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