Commuting to London Advice

Andhi

Good evening all,

I am currently in the market for a new job as I am unhappy with the company that I am currently employed with. Unfortunately, it seems in my city of Peterborough there's very few options with regards to my current career path. Given that London's not that far away, I was considering the commute but have never done intercity employment before and thought I would ask for some advice. London seems to be rife with opportunities which are in line with my current role.

I currently live in Peterborough, around four miles from the train station. I've been looking at season tickets and the prices vary between £6K - £7.7K, but I am not really sure what I am looking at.

The jobs which I would be going for pay at least £10K more than my current wage, so instant profit if I get one, right? But then I have travel to the train station and parking to consider too. Not to mention the amount of time it would add to my day (time is money).

I would like to know if anyone has commuted to London, preferably from Peterborough, but please share from elsewhere and what I should expect.

Are there any hidden costs which I am not considering?
How stressful is the journey? Would I be likely to get a seat being one of the last stops before London?
Which train to get, fast or slow?
And, if possible, how much time does it add to a 9 - 5 job, as I have a young family and don't want to be away for too long.

Any help or experiences you can share would be fantastically helpful.

Thanks!

w211

Where in London would the job be?

How far away would it be from Kings Cross Station, would it be another tube/train/walk/bus and for how long?

Peterborough to Kings Cross, is about an hour (give or take 10 minutes, depending on train).

Andhi

Thanks for the quick reply. Most of the business which are advertising are within walking distance of King's Cross. Others are in Canary Wharf. I would prefer KC, but beggar's can't be choosers. If the figures added up I would likely take CW.

laurel7172

My brother-in-law commuted from Peterborough to London for years. Parking is expensive, as is owning a second car to keep in the car park. He cycled. However, the biggest saving was when he qualified for his employer's flexible working hours and could get an off-peak season ticket, leaving just after 9am and returning late evening.

I seriously wouldn't fancy commuting to Canary Wharf from Peterborough. Take a day off and try the journey at peak time before you decide to take a job there.

I think you and your partner need to sit down and carefully consider what you really want. If you are serious about your career, then you must be aware that nobody likes having to pick up the slack for a time server with one eye on the clock-no matter how justified you feel in view of the commute YOU have chosen and the family time YOU want.

If I were going to commute to London from Peterborough AND had a young family...I wouldn't. I might consider moving to one of the few places closer to London where house prices are comparable (Stevenage or Luton) in order to shorten the commute. Poor old Peterborough is underrated, and they probably are too.

mgdavid

Do your sums again. 10k minus 20% tax, minus 12% NIC and minus pension contribs (say 5%) will leave you £6300 so if a season ticket is 7k then instant loss. You need 15k rise to make a half-decent increase and set that against the pain of wasting 3 hours a day travelling. Some do it, some don't - be thorough in your research first.

London50

Hi

I would also add that it may be OK during late spring,Summer and early fall but take on board {if you have not done so} the middle of winter with snow and delayed or worse {cancelled} trains and trying to find a route that can still get you to London.
I admire you drive and can understand that the capital may offer far more than where you are now but the saying about "grass being greener" sometimes comes with things you may not have thought of.

Idiophreak

mgdavid wrote: »

Do your sums again. 10k minus 20% tax, minus 12% NIC and minus pension contribs (say 5%) will leave you £6300 so if a season ticket is 7k then instant loss. You need 15k rise to make a half-decent increase and set that against the pain of wasting 3 hours a day travelling. Some do it, some don't - be thorough in your research first.

I'm with this. I've often thought of commuting to London (from Oxford), but the way things add up, I'd need at least £15k extra to make it vaguely add up financially - and probably at least £20k+ extra to make it worth the extra time from my day.

(consider, also, that London tends to be quite different culturally...so as well as adding the commute, you may also have to work longer hours once you get there)

Andhi

Some very good points all round, and many which I hadn't considered, so thank you all.
Up until around a year ago, I loved my job. But the structure of the business changed dramatically. It hasn't worked out well, and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. It's well passed the point where I've wanted to leave, but must stick it through until I get a new job.
I really don't want to change career, but there's only one other company in Peterborough which does the same line of work, and I've heard lots of bad things from former employees.
I would happily drive (I'd actually prefer to) as far as Northampton, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Cambridge etc. But the jobs all seem to be in London.
I've applied for several last night. Some in the region of £30K+, so fingers crossed that one of them comes good.

Andhi

Quick update.

I've got two second interviews in London next week and one first interview. So things are going well. I've worked out that I won't be needing the tube I get the one I really want (Leicester Square), but will if I accept the other (Waterloo). So there's a few hundred pounds a year to be saved if I get the one which I am most keen on - not just for geographical location.
I am taking my CBT in a week or two too, so I can invest in a put-put bike which is free to park at the station. And the pay is good enough to compensate for the travel with a little bit more left over for time taken.

I appreciated all your help. I hope things work out.

Cheers Money Savers.

Elfbert

Good luck!

peachyprice

How are you going to get from Kings X to Leicester Square?