Five years after the Covid pandemic disrupted working patterns, the shift back to office life is noticeable for many UK workers. Over a third (39%) of employees have now returned to the office full-time and three-quarters (76%) are commuting at least three days a week. For the many who moved away from major cities during the pandemic, this shift means that their current commute may no longer be sustainable.
New insights from Zoopla reveal the cheapest commuting hotspots in the UK, identifying the areas where commuters could save up to 61% purchasing a property within a one hour commute from the office.
Escaping London's property premium
London has the highest number of inbound commuters for work in the UK. However, with the city’s average property value sitting at £588,300, buying a home in the city is simply not a reality for many. There are however substantial savings on properties to be made for commuters willing to live outside of London that offer a direct commute of under an hour for just a fraction of the price, saving home buyers an average of 56%.
Towns with train connections to London stations in the North and East of the city offer the most attractive combination of low house prices and manageable travel durations. Peterborough in Cambridgeshire enjoys one of the lowest home values of £238,800 and a reasonable commuting time of 50 minutes to King's Cross. Similarly, Wellingborough and Kettering provide excellent value for St Pancras commuters, with average home values of £245,400 and £261,500 respectively, and reasonable commute times of 53 and 56 minutes.
There are however, also affordable options south of London. Chatham is one of the cheapest options for three different London stations (St Pancras, Victoria and London Bridge) with an average home value of £279,200 and a commuting time of 40-44 minutes. It presents an appealing option for those who need flexibility and a reasonably quick journey, without the high price tag of more westerly commuter towns. Similarly, Luton provides an appealing blend of decent property prices and multiple connections to London. It is one of the cheapest options for those commuting into London Bridge, with an average home value of £305,700 and a commuting time of around 47 minutes.
The North East and Wales offer the UK's cheapest homes for commuters
Outside of London, commuters to Newcastle and Cardiff can make the most substantial percentage savings on property by looking at the surrounding towns. For instance, a home in Shildon, with a value of just £73,800, offers a staggering 61% saving compared to Newcastle’s city average of £189,880 and a commute of just 55 minutes. Similarly, New Tredegar, a commuter town close to Cardiff, also provides a 61% discount with an average home value of £108,600 compared to Cardiff’s average of £280,760 and a commute of just under an hour.
Commuters to Bristol can achieve a 43% saving by moving to Newport, where the average home value is £214,700 compared to Bristol's £379,800 and the journey is a quick 18 minutes. In Scotland, towns like Wishaw and Shotts, with average home values of £111,670 and £114,080, provide a massive 61% and 60% saving respectively, compared to Edinburgh’s average of £287,110.
For those prioritising a balance between substantial savings and a short commute, there are some great options outside of major cities in the UK. For Birmingham commuters, towns like Tipton and Wednesbury offer a 14% saving on average home values while providing a very short commute of under 25 minutes. Meanwhile, Bradford and Dewsbury, for Leeds commuters, deliver impressive savings of 33% and 30% respectively, with fast journey times of 17 and 11 minutes.
Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, commented: “As we’ve seen, the move back to more time in the office is back on the agenda for a vast number of people in the UK. With affordability becoming an increasingly important consideration for home buyers, many are having to widen their search area and need help to understand their options. Our analysis provides a useful guide to some of the most affordable commuting hotspots that offer the best of both worlds. The savings on offer are substantial, especially for those commuting into major regional cities like Newcastle and Cardiff, where buying a home just an hour outside of the city can save you a massive 61%.
“Whilst it's important to consider the cost of commuting vs the savings, the data demonstrates that for those with the flexibility to move further afield, a shorter commute doesn’t always have to come with a premium price tag."
