While moving to where the action is might be more appealing, that doesn’t always mean it’s the right choice. There are so many reasons to opt for a slightly further away option beyond being away from the crowds, and here are 5 reasons why you should consider being a commuter rather than a city slicker.
The Financial Freedom
The most powerful driver for leaving the capital is financial aspects. Moving even 30 to 60 minutes outside of London’s central zones immediately opens up substantial savings on rent, property and even your food shops. The average house price in Inner London often exceeds £700,000, with room for this to increase each year, making homeownership unattainable for many first-time buyers and families seeking to upsize. But also with the potential new tax on more expensive homes, this is another factor to consider if you are in a position of wealth in London.
By moving to a commuter town like Romford, Sevenoaks, or Stevenage, you can often acquire a much larger home, perhaps a three-bedroom house with a garden, for the price of a small two-bedroom flat in Camden. Even factoring in the cost of an annual rail pass, the reduced mortgage and rent payments lead to greater overall financial flexibility and allow salaries to stretch significantly further. Not only are these spaces cheaper but offer a lot of what London does, for example, Romford offer a large shopping centre in Essex which hosts family events while offering some high-value goods.
Space, Gardens, and a Better Quality of Life
Central London life means compromise, such as trading space for proximity. Moving outside the centre reverses this equation, and in fact, you are getting more value for money per square foot plus extra room on the paths, roads and general environment. This shift is crucial for families and those working from home, allowing for separate offices, dedicated play areas, and, critically, a private garden for the summer barbeques and supervised play.
Beyond the house itself, the quality of life improves due to reduced noise pollution, cleaner air, and safer streets. Commuter towns often retain a stronger, friendlier sense of community than the anonymous bustle of the city centre. While travelling on packed trains might have its downsides, for a small time of 20/30 minutes, it’s worth it for the savings, space and quality of life.
Immediate Access to Green Space
While London has wonderful parks like Hyde Park, escaping the centre grants immediate, effortless access to vast, natural landscapes, such as a river or canal, to stroll down without crowds. Towns like Sevenoaks offer the 1,000-acre Knole Park, while areas in Hertfordshire are moments from the Chiltern Hills AONB.
This proximity to nature supports a healthier, more active lifestyle, but also is much better for families and pet owners. Whether it’s weekend hikes, morning dog walks, or simply having a sprawling, tranquil park on your doorstep, the ability to “switch off” and escape the urban environment is a massive draw that significantly boosts well-being and reduces stress.
Better Educational Opportunities and Family Focus
Many families choose to leave London specifically to access the highly-rated state and grammar schools found across the Home Counties (e.g., Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire). Towns like St Albans and Sevenoaks are famous for their educational reputation and dedicated family amenities. It’s a very important factor to consider, especially if you aren’t just there yet with kids, as it puts you in an already go position for when you decide to expand your family.
Beyond the schools themselves, life outside the centre tends to be more child-centric and more child-inclusive activities. There is less focus on late-night entertainment and more on community events, sports clubs, and safe, green spaces, creating an environment many parents feel is ideal for raising children.
A Faster, More Efficient Commute
This may seem counterintuitive, but many workers find their door-to-door commute is actually faster or more reliable from a dedicated commuter town than from an Outer London borough. Towns with excellent mainline rail links, such as Stevenage (19 minutes to King’s Cross) or Maidenhead (19 minutes to Paddington via Elizabeth Line), offer non-stop, high-speed services that bypass the slow, local stops of the tube network.
While they can be pretty busy during peak periods, it’s worth it overall.
With the prevalence of hybrid work, where the commute is only required 2–3 days per week, the occasional higher cost of a fast rail ticket is easily offset by the vast savings in property and the immense gains in personal time and space.
