Best Commuter Towns London in 2025
On the hunt for the best commuter towns London? And what towns are commutable to London? We’ve rounded up a few areas based on train times, house prices and what they’ve got going for them (outside of great transport links). If you’re looking for affordability, there are several great cities near London where living costs are more manageable. While these locations might mean an hour or longer commute to central London, the trade-off is significantly lower house prices!
Best commuter towns London
Which towns are 30 minutes from London?
- Maidenhead, Kent – 19 minutes
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire – 19 minutes
- St Albans, Hertfordshire – 20 minutes
- Reading, Berkshire – 21 minutes
- Borehamwood, Hertfordshire – 23 minutes
- Woking, Surrey – 24 minutes
- Iver, Buckinghamshire – 24 minutes
- Hatfield, Hertfordshire – 25 minutes
- Luton, Bedfordshire – 26 minutes
- Purfleet, Essex – 29 minutes
- Beaconsfield, Chiltern Hills – 29 minutes
- Redhill, Surrey – 31 minutes
- Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire – 32 minutes
- Guildford, Surrey – 32 minutes
- Twyford, Berkshire – 32 minutes
- Brentwood, Essex – 34 minutes
- Three Bridges, West Sussex – 34 minutes
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire – 35 minutes
- Amersham, Buckinghamshire – 38 minutes
- Horley, Surrey – 38 minutes
- High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire – 42 minutes
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire – 48 minutes
- Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire – 50 minutes*
*All are fastest train times, delays/planned works not accounted for.
How much could you afford? Use this house affordability calculator to find out:
Top 10: best commuter towns London (fastest train times)
The last couple of years saw many of us working from home, which shifted priorities in terms of the best places to live. Green spaces, home offices and fast broadband became the must-haves. That being said, the attraction to London and the need for fast commuting times hasn’t gone away. It’s voted one of the best cities to live in – but what of those commuter towns near London?
A recent study by Selecta UK has identified the most desirable commuter location for individuals seeking an ideal suburban setting within commuting distance of London. The study considered factors such as high-speed train availability, affordable housing prices, and good schools.
Let’s explore the top 10 – all house price data has been sourced from Dataloft PriceHubble. Reflecting the average house prices achieved over the past 12 months. For annual train ticket costs, we’ve used the season ticket calculator from National Rail and we’ve used Train Times for planning train journeys.
Data source: Dataloft by PriceHubble.
Note: The term ‘average price’ refers to the most recent 12-month period available at the time of publication, based on Land Registry data (December 2023 to November 2024).
These commuter towns aren’t particular the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK, but they are close to the Big Smoke. In our research, we’ve looked at more than just train times alone, but also affordability, annual season ticket prices and what an area has got going for it. For example, the average house price in Beaconsfield is £1,228,910, making it inaccessible for many, despite its good transport links!
10. Purfleet, Essex
- Fastest train to London: 29 mins
- Season ticket price: £2,956
- London terminus station: London Thameslink
- Houses achieved an average price: £326,736
Coming in bottom place of our commuter towns London list (but still more affordable than many others on this list) is Purfleet in Essex. Part of the London commuter belt and home to some beautiful scenery. From Purfleet to London, trains typically reach Fenchurch Street in about 29 minutes. Semi-detached houses achieved an average price of £383,399 in Purfleet’s postcode area RG19.
9. Luton, Bedfordshire
- Fastest train to London: 26 mins
- Season ticket price: £5,240
- London terminus station: London Thameslink
- Houses achieved an average price: £323,199
If you want to be close to the hustle and bustle, but also close to outdoor spaces then Luton ticks the boxes. Luton is an active town with a significant amount of development and urban activity, which might not be for everyone. It does however has excellent transport links to both London and Luton airport. The town also has green spaces nearby which you can enjoy like the Barton Hills and Dunstable Downs. Direct trains from Luton to London St Pancras International can take as little as 26 minutes.
8. Hatfield, Hertfordshire
- Fastest train to London: 25 mins
- Season ticket price: £3,416
- London terminus station: London Kings Cross
- Houses achieved an average price: £480,394
Hatfield offers plenty to do right on your doorstep, and while not as busy as some Hertfordshire towns, the price of your average family home is much lower. Its high street might not be as bustling as others, but it offers many of the perks of living in London without the price tag. You can reach Kings Cross in just 25 minutes on the fastest services. 25% of sales in the past 12 months were flats, achieving an average sales price of £225,280. While houses achieved an average price of £480,394.
7. Iver, Buckinghamshire
- Fastest train to London: 24 mins
- Season ticket price: £2,740
- London terminus station: London Paddington
- Houses achieved an average price: £568,130
While house prices are a bit higher here than some of the others on this commuter towns London list, they’re still much lower than the London average, while being only 24 minutes away. A terraced house for example achieved an average price of £412,067 in postcode area SL0. Here, you’ll benefit from the calm of the countryside and urban connectivity. Heathrow is only 6 miles away too.
6. Woking, Surrey
- Fastest train to London: 24 mins
- Season ticket price: £4,072
- London terminus station: London Waterloo
- Houses achieved an average price: £570,822
We’ve headed back to Surrey now for the sixth spot on this commuter towns London list. Woking is another place which offers a mix of rural charm and buzzy town life. This small but busy area is close to London. The quickest train from Woking to London Waterloo takes about 24 minutes. A semi-detached house achieved an average price of £498,546.
5. Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
- Fastest train to London: 23 mins
- Season ticket price: £2,404
- London terminus station: London St Pancras International
- Houses achieved an average price: £536,742
Only 12 miles from Charing Cross, Borehamwood is an up and coming area proving popular with young professionals. The quickest train from Borehamwood to London Thameslink stations like St Pancras International takes around 23 minutes. The easy commute to London is one thing, the town is also well known for being home to Elstree Studios. 31% of sales in the past 12 months were flats, achieving an average sales price of £306,385.
4. Reading, Berkshire
- Fastest train to London: 21 mins
- Season ticket price: £5,600
- London terminus station: London Paddington
- Houses achieved an average price: £495,870
Reading has long been a firm favourite among commuters, so it’s little wonder it finds its way into the top 5. Outside of its proximity to London, it’s also vibrant, multicultural and family-friendly. However, its annual season ticket price is the highest on this list, which is something to factor in. Terraced homes achieved an average sales price of £357,382.
3. St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Fastest train to London: 20 mins
- Season ticket price: £4,388
- London terminus station: London St Pancras International
- Houses achieved an average price: £664,279
Claiming the third spot on the commuter towns London list is St Albans, a town with a rich history that locals love to explore, including a stunning cathedral. Here, you can find shopping centres, green parks, great entertainment and leisure centres all in walking distance. Plus, a 20-minute journey time from central London goes down well with commuters.
2. Stevenage, Hertfordshire
- Fastest train to London: 19 mins
- Season ticket price: £4,692
- London terminus station: London Kings Cross
- Houses achieved an average price: £361,498
It’s safe to say this Hertfordshire town has some fantastic transport links to London (including getting to London Bridge in 40 minutes), combined with some favourable house prices. It’s a worthy runner-up in this list. Semi-detached houses achieved an average price of £380,129 in Stevenage postcode areas SG1 and SG2.
1. Maidenhead, Kent
- Fastest train to London: 19 mins
- Season ticket price: £3,868
- London terminus station: London Paddington
- Houses achieved an average price: £594,508
Maidenhead is topping the list of best commuter towns near London this year! Thanks to its blend of charm, being situated west of London on the banks of the River Thames. But also for its convenience, as Maidenhead offers a quick and efficient commute to the capital. Travel times to London Paddington can be as short as 19 minutes, which is a significant advantage for daily commuters. House prices are significantly lower than the London average. A detached house achieved an average price of £848,785. While a semi-detached achieved an average of £529,937.
Other worthy commuter towns London mentions
There are some other popular commuter towns that haven’t quite made the above list but are still deserving of a mention, including:
- Ascot, Berkshire
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Bray, Berkshire
- Marlow, Buckinghamshire
- Tring, Hertfordshire
- Windsor, Berkshire
- Maidenhead, Kent
- Grays, Essex
- Dartford, Kent
- Gravesend, Kent
Where is cheapest commute in London?
Is budget your greatest concern, but you still want to be in easy reach of London? Let’s take a look at where is the cheapest commute in London?
The closer you get to London, the more this will rise – often significantly. London’s average house prices remain the most expensive of any region in the UK, with an average price of £508,000 in December 2023.
Within 45 minutes to just under an hour commute in travel time to London can reduce the average house price significantly. If you’re happy to make that sacrifice, we’ve rounded up some of the most affordable commuter cities.
- Peterborough, Cambridgeshire = £224,591
- Wellingborough, Northamptonshire = £247,310
- Northampton, Northamptonshire = £255,498
- Rugby, Warwickshire = £271,532
- Chatham, Kent = £287,975
- Bletchley, Buckinghamshire = £319,697
- Pitsea, Essex = £321,715
- Grays, Essex = £348,266
- Basingstoke = £362,603
- Dartford, Kent = £392,743
Want an in-depth look at London areas?
Knowing travel times and house prices is one thing, getting area-specific insights is another. From good schools to crime rates, get your hands on as much information as possible before you move. After all, you can change many things about a home but not its location!
Phil Spencer’s property report will pull everything you need to know in one place, providing an unbiased view while saving you time and money. Get yours today.
Last Updated: January 29th, 2025
