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Top four London commuter hotspots revealed

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
23/11/2015

Demand for property in the capital’s commuter belt is red hot, but where should you buy?

The cost of living in London is at an all-time high, with the average flat costing a whopping £400,000, almost 50% higher than the average UK house price of £286,000.

Prices are expected to rise further over the next five years, so estate agent eMoov.co.uk has revealed four commuter hotspots where demand is high, but you can still purchase an affordable property and commute to the capital.

1 Bicester

Bicester is one of the most rapidly expanding towns in Oxfordshire and is currently undergoing extensive re-development including the modernisation of the town centre and expansion of the two railway stations. Services already exist into London Marylebone, with direct links into Milton Keynes and Oxford coming over the next few years with the East West line. Bicester has also been earmarked as the next garden city and is already popular for its shopping village.

Average house price: £312,460

Commute time into London Marylebone: 46 minutes

Season travel card: £3,500

Price change in the last 5 years: +21% (£79,445)

2 Didcot

Didcot has also been designated as an area of major growth and has benefited from substantial generation over the last eight years, with plans to build 200 homes a year, up until 2026. There are also confirmed plans to double the size of the Orchard Centre, Didcot’s retail area, bringing new business and creating a large number of new job opportunities.

Average house price: £293,625

Commute time into London Paddington: 40 minutes

Season travel card: £3,996

Price change in the last 5 years: +27% (£70,000)

3 Maidstone

South of London, Maidstone in Kent offers commuter links into a number of London stations. Historically Maidstone was an industrial town, opposed to the development of railway links into London. Today it’s one of the top five hubs for retail in the South East, with developments such as the Mall Maidstone and the Lockemeadow Centre providing a wealth of options for shoppers.

Average house price: £266,994

Commute time into St Pancras: 52 minutes

Season travel card: £3,160

Price change in the last 5 years: +24% (£93,517)

4 Bishop’s Stortford

Looking east of the capital, Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire provides direct routes into Liverpool Street. The town centre has all but been re-built, with an infrastructure over-haul creating a number of new riverside apartments and penthouses, as well a rejuvenated shopping complex with cafes, bars and shops.

Average house price: £378,024

Commute time into London Liverpool Street: 52 minutes

Season travel card: £3,232

Price change in the last 5 years: +25% (£121,986)

Founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk, Russell Quirk, commented:

“You really have to make that call, remain in London, or increase your commute and secure a property you can build a concrete foundation with. There are a wealth of commuter areas like Maidstone, like Bicester, that provide realistic alternatives, and we believe prices in these areas will increase dramatically over the next decade or so. It’s these places that are allowing UK buyers to have the quality of life they desire, without having to sacrifice the career prospects on offer in the capital.”

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