Where is top of the commuter hot-spots for 2016?

City workers commuting into London will have breathed a sigh of relief at the news that rail fares are only increasing by 1.1% in 2016 – the lowest rise in six years. However, commuters looking to implement a New Year’s resolution of spending more time with family, friends and loved ones will be looking more closely than ever at the quality of their commute versus the cost of buying a home.

National estate agent Jackson-Stops & Staff has today revealed its top commuter hotspots, based not only on the average price of a home, but also examining the length of commute, frequency of trains and the likelihood of getting a seat in the morning.

Following an analysis of a range of factors (see table below) Jackson-Stops & Staff reveals that its top London commuter hot-spot is Dorking in Surrey. Coming in at ‘number 2’ is Farnborough in Hampshire followed by Weybridge, also in Surrey, at ‘number 3’.

Top five commuter hotspots according to Jackson-Stops & Staff (see end for full table)

Nick Leeming, Chairman at Jackson-Stops & Staff, commented: “A commuter’s lifestyle is not for everyone but people who do opt for the daily journey into the City will be carefully balancing a number of factors in their minds and two of the most important in our experience are what you can get for your money in terms of property, and the cost and quality of travelling into the capital.

“Dorking not only boasts average property prices below those seen in London – you can purchase a spacious detached family home for less than £500,000 – but an annual travel card that comes in at under £3,500 and a journey time into London of under one hour. According to the most recent research from the Office for National Statistic, commuters tend to report lower levels of life satisfaction than the general population. So ensuring this time is bearable is quite high up the check-list for City workers living out.

“The advent of mobile technology means more people are able to use their commuting time to do something useful, whether that’s having a look at their emails before they reach the office or getting ahead on the daily news agenda. This means that factors like whether you can get a seat on the train become all important – if you’re wedged into a carriage and unable to move, the time spent on the train is much less pleasant! Ultimately people are trying to get from A to B so frequency of trains and journey times are also integral.”

Dorking

Dorking is a sought-after area, not only for its proximity to London and average house prices that come in at less than the Capital’s, but its location near the Surrey Hills – a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Famous beauty spots include Leith Hill and the area is peppered with beautiful villages.

Despite this country setting, the M25 is easily accessible and Gatwick Express trains to London leave every 15 minutes. 

Dorking also boasts good schools. The main state secondary schools are Ashcombe and The Priory and there are a range of private schools. To top it off, Dorking retains its market town characteristics and has an excellent range of shops and amenities.

Farnborough

Farnborough is notable for its convenient location, including two stations which provide trains into London (Farnborough Main and Farnborough North) and there are several non-stop trains in the mornings which take Farnborough Main customers straight into London Waterloo. The UK’s major airports, Gatwick and Heathrow, are a one hour and twenty minute drive away respectively.

Farnborough boasts a number of very good primary and secondary schools and the shopping and amenities offered in the centre of town are good. The area is most famous for its biennial air show which attracts the giants of the aviation world and gives the town an international feel for several weeks.

Aside from London, Farnborough is also located near other towns and cities which offer excellent amenities, including Reading and Basingstoke. 

Weybridge

Weybridge has long been considered one of Surrey’s most coveted locations in which to live. Home to secret billionaires, young professionals and families it is perfectly located along the River Wey. Three major motorways – the A3, M25 and M4 – are easily accessible and Weybridge Station offers half hour journey times to London Waterloo. Weybridge is a tale of two cities; two property markets operate quite independently with one serving an ultra-prime clientele while the other operates on more of a mainstream level.

The area is incredibly sought after for schools with both private and state schools in high demand which include St Georges College, Notre Dame, Cleves and Oatlands. The town has a pretty centre, with a well-stocked high street which offers a Waitrose and Morrisons along with brands including Phase Eight and Space NK. Restaurants here are aplenty and gastropubs such as The Minnow, Hand & Spear and The Old Crown are always busy.