Woking in Surrey has been crowned the top London commuter hotspot for 2023, according to the updated London Commuter Guide by estate agent Yopa.
The guide identifies the best places to live outside London for those who wish to retain their London lifestyle while escaping the capital’s chaos.
The town’s short commute time of just 26 minutes to London Waterloo, high-performing schools, and lower crime rates helped it secure the title. Reading, Slough, Luton, and St Albans made up the top five, with Maidenhead, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, and Letchworth completing the top ten.
The guide takes into account multiple economic and quality of life metrics, including proximity to excellent schools, the number of trains per day, and average local salaries, to determine the best places to live for commuters.
Yopa’s interactive map allows users to explore and discover how well their town ranks.
The updated guide is particularly relevant as commuters saw an average 5.9% hike in rail fares as of 5th March, bringing commuting costs back into the headlines.
Isaac Bull, London’s divisional franchise director at Yopa, said: “Since the first lockdown back in 2020, and the increase in remote working, we have definitely seen a change in buyer’s behaviours in and around London.
“Lots of people have opted to move further out of London to take advantage of being able to get significantly more for your money down one of the many commuter routes in the suburbs. Buyers have typically sold their smaller flats closer to the City and traded up for a larger house with gardens.
“This has meant a longer commute for some when they do have to work from the office but most are happy with compromise”.
However, we may begin to see the trend reverse. Bull added: “There is starting to be more and cases of late though, where some feel that commute is just too much and they miss the hustle and bustle of living in zones 1 and 2.
“This has caused a return of many buyers who are keener to be within a 15-20 min from home into the office. This has been a positive step for sellers of smaller properties in zones 1 and 2.”
Jonathan Moss, divisional franchise director for the South East ended, concluded: “Woking boasts an extensive range of amenities, lots of outdoor spaces which are perfect for dog owner walkers and running.
“You can stroll in areas of outstanding natural beauty such as RHS Garden Wisley or find yourself on a stretch of the Basingstoke Canal. Woking is an idyllic location for a family, and you can be in London in next to no time”.
