You don’t have to live right in Westminster to live the London lifestyle. It's one of the greatest benefits of the London Tube, Europe's longest metro (Statista).
If you're looking for affordable rent and a quick commute, you can venture outside the city's centre. There are so many places one could live and commute around London easily, it just depends on where you’re coming from and going to. We mapped out a few areas where our renters often find the best of both worlds:
Prefer to browse? You can search Foxtons properties for sale by commute time or properties to rent by commute time.
1. Ealing
Ealing has been a frequent feature on our blog lately. It’s on our list of areas in London with the cheapest rent in 2022. DesignMyNight, just wrote us an expert Ealing guide to food and drink. Also, advances in transportation have turned Ealing into a renters’ dream, especially now that the Elizabeth line is running. You can get from Ealing Broadway station to London Paddington in 9 minutes.
Transport: Ealing Broadway Station is on the National Rail, Elizabeth line, Central Line and District Line. West Ealing Station has the Elizabeth line and Great Western Railway. Ealing Common has the Piccadilly and District line.
Photograph: Shopping at Ealing Broadway | DSC_5226 by Ben Sutherland / CC BY / Flickr
2. Wembley Park
As for up-and-coming areas, we’re loving Wembley Park. It’s becoming a popular spot with young professionals, thanks (of course) to its transport and to the exciting things to do in the area. It is going through a thoughtfully planned regeneration – really focusing on what unique things Wembley has to offer, and is blossoming with great food, art, sport, drinks, shopping and entertainment.
Transport: Wembley Park has the Jubilee and Metropolitan line, Wembley Central has the Bakerloo line, and Wembley Station has the Overground line.
3. Finsbury Park
Read the Rock and Roll history of Finsbury Park and you’ll find The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie… and music history is still being made around here. Next month's festival, Wireless, will feature billboard-frequenting artists such as Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Finsbury Park is blossoming into a cultural hub, and it’s not just the music and not just the park. There’s a wealth of independent eateries, night life and plenty of sport, too. This area is catching the attention of renters and young families for its transport, low property prices and the lively community.
Transport: Finsbury Park Station has National Rail Services, the Victoria line Piccadilly line, Northern City line and Thameslink.
Photograph: Routemaster festival in Finsbury Park | By: Oliver Mallich / CC BY-ND / Flickr
4. Stratford
The 2012 Olympics were monumental in the regeneration of Stratford. There is so much to do in this area, whether you're sporty, hungry or looking to shop. It's popular with young professionals for its easy commute to the City, University of East London students, and with young families for its 'Good' and 'Outstanding' Ofsted-rated schools.
Transport: From Stratford Station, Bank is an 11 minute ride on the Central line. Take Southeastern from Stratford International and you'll be at London St Pancras in 8 minutes.
Photograph: Westfield Stratford | By: Herry Lawford / CC BY / Flickr
5. Woolwich
The Elizabeth line is a real game-changer for Woolwich. There is a big regeneration plan around this area in conjunction with the new station serving the Elizabeth line, which "includes 3,750 new homes and new cultural, heritage, commercial and leisure quarters"(Crossrail blog, Woolwich Station). Currently, Woolwich is a picturesque family-friendly area with a surprising military and weapons manufacturing history.
Transport: Along with its DLR connections to Canary Wharf, the Elizabeth line makes a Woolwich commute much more feasible for many Londoners. Now, you can travel to Liverpool Street in just 15 minutes.
Photograph: The Woolwich Ferry | By: Reading Tom / CC BY / Flickr
6. Bromley
All finished with work in London? Then head home to the beautiful Kentish countryside (Kent Downs, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty reaches into Bromley). If you're looking to live at a slower pace when you aren't on the clock, Bromley is the ideal. It is the largest London borough by area with big parks, big homes and fantastic schools - that's why families love it here.
Transport: Bromley South is the station you want to be near if you're looking for a quick commute. The Sotheastern Railway train will take you direct to London Victoria in 18 minutes. If you're closer to Bromley North, Southeastern will get you to Grove Park in 5 minutes than on to London Bridge in 19.
Photograph: 466023 Grove Park to Bromley | By: Train Photos / CC BY-SA / Flickr
7. Croydon
Croydon gets mentioned frequently for renters because there's a strong regeneration plan, new restaurants and entertainment cropping up all the time, and rent prices are relatively cheap. Croydon is a great area for Build to Rent (BTR), which is a serviced apartment with fantastic amenities - like a pet spa, gym or rooftop bar in the building. One big reason Croydon is so popular for BTR is that the transport links are fantastic.
Transport: From East Croydon, Thameslink will get you to London Bridge in 14 minutes and the Southern Railway will get you to London Victoria in 19 minutes.
Photograph: Croydon Boxpark | By: Matt Brown / CC BY / Flickr
The Elizabeth line has had a big effect on reducing commuting times. Read more about the local markets along Elizabeth line stations.
We also have more tips for renters around thinking outside the box to find your next London let.
If you haven't found your dream rental yet, we have an earlier version of this blog, with a few additional suggestions on affordable areas with quick commute times.
