Life(style) swap: five of the best towns for London commuters starting their 2018 property search

Despite the controversial rail fare hikes earlier this year, a move from London to the commuter belt is still likely to stack up financially. You just need to know where to look.
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Ruth Bloomfield29 March 2018

The prospect of leaving the capital can feel daunting for would-be commuters, particularly if they've no idea where to start their property search.

The Home Counties offers a fantastic amount of choice for those looking for a new lifestyle.

And although rail fares were hiked again for the start of this year, the relative value of property means that a move out of London is still likely to stack up financially.

To help Londoners considering becoming commuters in the near future, we asked the experts where they suggest buyers should begin their search, whether they yearn for a pretty village, or want to live in a bustling town.

1. BEST FOR: OUTDOOR TYPES
Haslemere, Surrey

2018 annual season ticket costs: £4,112
2017 annual season ticket was: £3,972

Increase: £140

Haslemere's location is perfect for countryside lovers
Alamy Stock Photo

Why: Haslemere ticks all the boxes for a would-be commuter starting a new life, according to Neil Barnes, branch manager of Hamptons International.

The town lies a 50-minute commute from Waterloo and it’s within easy striking distance of the south coast for weekends of sailing and messing about on the beach.

Its location can hardly be bettered for countryside lovers. Sandwiched between the Surrey Hills and the South Downs, Haslemere is perfect for cycling, walking and horse riding.

Both Goodwood Racecourse and Cowdray Park Polo Club are nearby, for fans of horsepower of all kinds.

The high street boasts a Waitrose branch along with boutiques and plenty of independent coffee shops as well as the chains, while there are beautiful country pubs in the surrounding villages.

Other points in its favour include its schools, led by the Ofsted “outstanding” Grayswood Church of England Primary.

The choice of homes is extremely varied, ranging from very grand country manors to ancient red-brick cottages and Edwardian and interwar detached houses.

How much: A three-bedroom semi would cost from about £500,000, and five-bedroom detached houses start from about £800,000.

2. BEST FOR: BUDGET-CONSCIOUS BUYERS
Luton, Bedfordshire

2018 annual season ticket costs: £4,176
2017 annual season ticket was: £4,032
Increase: £144

Luton is set for major regeneration over the next 20 years 
Alamy Stock Photo

Why: Good schools, a fantastic commute and affordable family homes helped to propel Luton into top spot in a recent commuter league table by estate agent Jackson-Stops.

Luton isn’t the prettiest town in the world and its centre can best be described as bog standard – but the 23-minute travel time to St Pancras alone means it should not be overlooked by would-be commuters.

It is also seeing impressive capital growth, with property prices up 10 per cent year on year – a sum that comfortably covers the price of a season ticket, up £144 in the last year.

Parents like Luton because of its good schools. Barnfield South Academy, Barnfield West Academy and Cardinal Newman Catholic School, all for seniors, are rated “good” by Ofsted.

The choice of property ranges from roomy Thirties semis to new-build houses. Around Luton, pretty villages including Great Offley and Lilley feature character houses for those who dream of roses round the door.

And while today’s Luton is not exactly a commuter honeypot, there are proposals for £1.5 billion investment over the next 20 years.

This would include redevelopment of the airport, complete regeneration of the run-down High Town area and also of The Mall Luton shopping centre, plus hundreds of new homes, shops and restaurants in a series of mixed developments and a new football stadium.

How much: The average Luton house price is a budget-friendly £252,896.

3. BEST FOR: A PERFECT MIX OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

2018 annual season ticket costs: £4,900
2017 annual season ticket costs: £4,732
Increase: £168

Berkhamsted offers better value than St Albans
Alamy Stock Photo

Why: Berkhamsted is often overlooked in favour of Hertfordshire’s highest-profile commuter location, St Albans, but is better value, and is the gateway to the beautiful Chiltern Hills.

The Ashridge Estate, run by the National Trust, is on the doorstep, and the town centre has a good range of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. A twice-weekly market gives Berkhamsted a bit of buzz.

“Berkhamsted is the perfect commuter town,” says Jamie Dyson, branch partner at estate agents Brown & Merry. “The train station, with direct trains into London Euston in approximately 30 minutes, is in the centre of the town and is within walking distance generally.

“The Grand Union Canal runs through the town and the historic castle ruins occupy a spot adjacent to the station.

“There are several good schools, most notably Berkhamsted School which is a private school with boarding available.

“There is also a good mix of both period and more modern homes.”

The town has several state primary schools rated “outstanding” by the Ofsted education watchdog, including Bridgewater Primary School and Victoria CofE first school. The main co-ed senior school, Ashlyns School, recently made the leap from “requires improvement” to “good”.

Like Luton, Berkhamsted has some lovely satellite villages, such as Aldbury, Bovingdon, and Potten End.

How much: A three-bedroom Victorian terrace house will set you back about £650,000 to £700,000.

4. BEST FOR: HOUSE PRICE GROWTH POTENTIAL

Flore, Northamptonshire

2018 annual season ticket costs: £6,584
2017 annual season ticket was: £6,356
Increase: £228

Flore's star is on the rise (Alamy Stock Photo)
Alamy Stock Photo

Why: You’ve probably never heard of this pretty village, but according to Ian Cattle, head of residential, Carter Jonas Northampton it is the hidden gem of its county – and about to get even better thanks to a new road.

“With its Northamptonshire Ironstone and smattering of Victorian homes, the village aesthetic is quintessentially English, while its village pub, primary school and thriving community make it a lovely place to live,” he said.

Transport links are surprisingly good. "While seemingly rural, Flore is a mile and a half from the M1 and Long Buckby Station, which offers commuter links to London Euston in just over an hour,” said Cattle.

And Cattle believes that Flore’s star is on the rise. “At the end of next year, Flore will benefit from the opening of a village bypass, which it has needed for the last decade, and which will decongest the village centre and inevitably accelerate house price growth,” he said.

Adding to the appeal Flore is close to Princess Diana’s childhood home, Althorp House, which runs year round events including literary and food and drink festivals.

How much: Around £450,000 to £500,000 for a four bedroom character detached house. Four bedroom modern houses cost around £420,000.

5. BEST FOR: PART-TIME COMMUTERS

2018 annual season ticket costs: £10,424
2017 annual season ticket was: £10,060
Increase: £364

Chippenham is a great staging post to some of the loveliest villages in Wiltshire (Alamy Stock Photo)
Alamy Stock Photo

Why: The long-awaited electrification of the Great Western Railway will cut travel time to this historic market town to just under an hour – trains to Paddington currently take from one hour and 14 minutes.

The excruciating cost of a season ticket – up £364 since last year – means this might not suit a full-time commuter, but Chippenham could be perfect for someone who is only in town a couple of days a week.

The workaday market town is also a great staging post to some of the loveliest villages in Wiltshire, in particular Hullavington, Great Somerford, Biddestone and Sherston.

“These have stunning period properties, many of which are Grade II listed,” says buying agent Craig Fuller of Stacks Property Search.

“All these villages have good facilities, excellent access to the M4/M5 and easy access to rail links. They have very active young communities along with everything great about the countryside – ponies, dogs, mud and long walks. In most cases they have excellent state primary schools.”

How much: You’ll pay £650,000 to £900,000 for a three- or four-bedroom house.