Coronavirus, working from home and the threat of flash lockdowns are making people living in London re-evaluate their living arrangements.
Research by the London Housing Assembly recently found that almost half of Londoners currently looking to move house want to find a property outside of the capital.
Sacrificing living space for a quicker commute has, in the past, been a trade people have been willing to make, but with people spending more time working from home, many are considering a different way of living.
While most people are familiar with the commuter towns of Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, marketing agency EMPRA has researched lesser-known spots where you can land a spacious property well below London prices, and travel into the capital in as little as 50 minutes.
With the government’s stamp-duty holiday not due to end until March 2021, now is as good a time as any to take the plunge and move, so what can you get for under £450,000 within a maximum 70 minute train journey to central London?
Towns less than 70 minutes from London you might not have considered
Andover, Hampshire
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Swindon, Wiltshire
Rugby, Warwickshire
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
67 minutes
66 minutes
52 minutes
50 minutes
62 minutes
London Waterloo
London Kings Cross
London Paddington
London Euston
London St Pancras
While most people are familiar with the commuter towns of Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, marketing agency EMPRA has researched lesser-known spots where you can land a spacious property well below London prices, and travel into the capital in as little as 50 minutes by train, including Andover, Rugby and Huntingdon
Andover – Hampshire
How quickly can I get to London?
The fastest train is 67 minutes straight into London Waterloo station.
With around 37 trains a day running through the Andover stop, this has got to be worth considering.
Located just 67 minutes train journey away from central London, Andover, in Hampshire, is a bustling market town with beautiful hidden gems. Pictured, the River Anton flowing through Andover’s Town Mills
What you can get for your money
For £435,000 you would be able to get your hands on Chantry Cottage – a four bedroom, rebuilt and restored Tudor cottage.
The cottage has bags of room, and plenty of history too, and is situated half a mile from the mainline station making an ideal option for commuters.
If you’re looking for a unique property with space to breathe – this could be the perfect spot – with a walled courtyard too for some outdoor privacy.
Chantry Cottage, in Andover, Hampshire, could offer London commuters the perfect blend of countryside and history with good links to the capital
Priced at £435,000, and a 67 minute train ride to London, the cottage has bags of room compared to the smaller places available in the capital and more often with a higher price tag
The picturesque home has four bedrooms and has the added benefit of a walled courtyard to the rear, perfect for some outdoor privacy
The impressive Tudor cottage has been restored to high level and comes well under the £450,000 budget
What’s the town got?
The benefit of living in leafy Andover is having the feeling of living in a small market town, surrounded by picturesque villages and ancient woodland, while still able to get to London in just over an hour.
In a tradition that dates back to the Saxon times, there is a street market that is set up every Thursday and Saturday and there is also a small indoor shopping centre.
The town is brimming with school, including ten primary schools, three secondary schools, two independent schools – one with a sixth form – and a further education college.
It is well serviced with a range of supermarkets including Waitrose and Lidl, lots of eateries and a five- screen Odeon cinema.
What else?
It’s around a 30-minute drive to Southampton Airport and closer still to the historic cities of Salisbury and Winchester.
This impressive property has a rather rare backdoor view, with the impressive St Mary’s Church just a few steps from the back garden. Pictured, the view of the property from Chantry Street
Grantham – Lincolnshire
How quickly can I get to London?
The fastest train is 66 minutes straight into London Kings Cross.
Not typically a town associated with commuting, Grantham, Lincolnshire, often falls under the radar for people looking to leaving the capital but it boasts a 66 minute train journey to Kings Cross. Pictured, an aerial view of Grantham
What can I get for my money there?
For £300,000, well below the £450,000 budget, potential buyers could purchase a four bedroom Victoria property set over three floors.
The impressive home is situated in the heart of Grantham, less than half a mile away from the mainline station which takes you straight into the heart of the capital.
While located in the centre of the town on Avenue Road, the house still boasts outdoor space for the homeowners to enjoy.
This impressive home in Grantham, Lincolnshire, is less than half a mile away from the mainline station which has links directly into London’s Kings Cross, arriving within 66 minutes
With four bedrooms set over three floors, the modernly decorated Victorian property is £150,000 under budget at £300,000
The beautiful period home is decorated to a high standard and has masses of space for growing families
While located in the centre of the town on Avenue Road , the house still boasts of an outdoor space for the homeowners to enjoy
What’s the town got?
Grantham is another historic market town and is probably most famous for being former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s birthplace.
The town boasts quaint old pubs, cafes, bars and clubs – with lots of places to eat and plenty of fast food outlets.
There is a variety of different educational institutions in the district including two grammar schools for boys and girls, independent schools and a further education college.
The town picked up two accolades recently when it was named as one of the top commuter towns in the country.
The quaint and historic market town is likely to be best known as the birthplace of former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, where she spent her childhood and there is a commemorative plaque in her honour
What else?
For those interested in history and nature, The National Trust’s Belton House is located a short distance away, as well as Belvoir Castle.
This part of Lincoln also boasts many historic houses and leafy walks along the canal for people who enjoy the great outdoors.
As well as its history, the town boasts of a range of pubs, bars and restaurants for residents to enjoy as well as small independent stores
Swindon – Wiltshire
How quickly can I get to London?
The fastest train is 52 minutes straight into London Paddington Station.
The largest of the towns you may not have considered before, Swindon covers a large area and is the ideal blend of bustling streets and countryside, just a short drive away for those looking to escape for a few hours. Pictured, an aerial view of the Old Town area in Swindon
What can I get for my money there?
For people who may be interested in purchasing a property in Swindon, they could get their hands on a sizeable Victorian terrace with four bedrooms.
As well as coming just under the £450k budget, the home, listed by Richard James Estate Agents and priced at £425,000, is beautifully presented throughout and perfect for a family looking for a period home.
Located just over a mile away from the mainline station, the property and the town it is in are definitely worth considering if you’re looking to escape to the country.
And with the small courtyard garden, those with children will still be able to tell their little ones out to play without having to venture to a nearby park or field.
London workers considering leaving the hustle and bustle of the city could also get their hands on this four bedroom Victorian property in Swindon, Wiltshire
The impressive home, priced at £425,000 is listed with Richard James Estate Agents and the modern kitchen is a fantastic selling point for the property
Located just over a mile away from the mainline station, the property and the town it is in are definitely worth considering if you’re looking to escape to the country
The small courtyard garden is perfect for those with children , allowing them to still be able to play outside without having to venture to a nearby park or field
What’s the town got?
As a large town, Swindon is packed full of fantastic shops and amenities for residents to take advantage of, including the Swindon Designer Outlet indoor shopping mall.
The Outlet is the perfect place to find items at reduced prices and most of the buildings used to be railway works and it is adjacent to the Stem Museum and the National Trust’s HQ.
Similar to the other locations, Swindon has a large selection of schools to choose from, including 12 secondary schools, two of which also have sixth forms and one independent school.
What else?
One of the main benefits of the town is its accessibility, with it being equidistant between Bristol, Bath and Reading, only 12 miles from Marlborough and around 26 miles from Oxford.
As well as being just a 52 minute train ride away from London Paddington, the town has a fantastic range of shops for residents to get their dose of retail therapy. Pictured, the pedestrian High Street in Swindon
Rugby – Warwickshire
How quickly can I get to London?
The fastest train is 50 minutes straight into London Euston Station.
This Midlands town could be the perfect spot for people hoping to escape London, just a 50 minute train ride from Rugby, Warwickshire station and commuters are in the city. Pictured, pedestrianised area of Rugby
What can I get for my money there?
With masses of potential for development, this fixer upper is perfect for people looking to take on a project.
The four bedroom Victoria property, which was originally two houses which have been knocked into one, will set you back £425,000.
As well the extremely spacious family home, there is also a two story outbuilding with planning permission for a three bedroom home which could create some extra revenue or form an office as people begin to work from home more regularly.
Another town those looking to branch out of the city could be Rugby, Warwickshire, with some excellent homes available to buy
This Victorian property, which will set you back £425,000, has lots of potential with spacious open plan rooms, including four bedrooms
The home, which was originally two house which have been knocked into one, could be the perfect property to buy for people looking to take on a project
As well as the masses of space inside, there is also a two story outbuilding with planning permission for a three bedroom home and a large garden
What’s the town got?
Rugby is a sizeable town, with a population in excess of 70,000, and is most famous for the invention of the extremely popular sport.
There are large numbers of schools, including 25 primary schools, four comprehensive schools, three grammar schools and two independent schools serving the town.
Rugby School is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious public and was the setting of Thomas Hughes’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece Tom Brown’s Schooldays published in 1857.
What else?
As well as being on London’s mainline, it’s well served by the motorway network, with the M1 and M6 merging close by Rugby’s nearest airports are Birmingham and Coventry.
The county of Warwickshire is also home to Stratford upon Avon – the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
The reasonably large market town of Rugby, Warwickshire, (pictured) is most likely most famous for inventing the popular sport and also has one of the oldest public school in the country
Huntingdon – Cambridgeshire
How quickly can I get to London?
The fastest train is 62 minutes directly into London St Pancras
Another town for London-based workers craving space could be Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, (pictured) with just a 62 minute train ride into the capital
What can I get for my money there?
This large 19th century townhouse boasts of four bedrooms and two reception rooms, all for just £315,000.
The impressive home, which has potential for modernisation and boasts of a large garden, used to form part of the Huntingdon County Gaol.
The accommodation is arranged over three floors and is in a traffic free location and is just over half a mile away from the mainline station and route into London.
People considering leaving the capital might also want to consider Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, which has excellent train links to London, taking 66 minutes to get to St Pancras
While under budget at £315,000 and in need of some modernisation inside, the four bedroom property could the perfect choice for people looking for a renovation project
The four bedroom home boasts a large garden and private entrance and is just over half a mile away from the mainline station and route into London
The 19th century townhouse accommodation is arranged over three floors and used to form part of the Huntingdon County Gaol
What’s the town got?
Huntingdon joins the rest of the market town on the list, dating back to the 1100s and boasting of a good variety of shops and outlets.
Sticking with traditions, there is still a market held every Wednesday and Saturday, alongside a range of pubs, restaurants and bars.
The town is steeped in history, with a name which derives from the old English term ‘huntedun’, which means ‘Hunte’s hill’, and was the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell in 1599.
What else?
Just south-west of Huntingdon you’ll find Grafham Water, a large fresh water reservoir that provides a range of outdoor activities and watersports including, cycling, sailing and fishing.
As well being able to get a lot of property for your money, the beautiful town boasts a good variety of shops and outlets, as well as beautiful spots to visit. Pictured, the River Ouse runnign through Huntingdon town centre
A market is still held in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, (pictured) every Wednesday and Saturday, as per the tradition in the quaint spot which dates back as far as the 1100s