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Suitable London commuting Areas

2

Comments

  • Jorgan_2
    Jorgan_2 Posts: 2,270 Forumite
    Is the 90 mins using the fast train from Swindon?

    Why not try the commute first to see how you get on? Three hours a day on a train may not be fun, but you will be home each night, well eventually you will. Can you work on the train?

    Having done a 270 mile commute to & from work, it can be tough going, I was driving rather than using the train, but I knew I would be home each night and that was important to me. Its also a lot harder to do in the winter than the summer, well it was for me.
  • lostinrates
    lostinrates Posts: 55,283 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Thanks for all the advice.

    My commute from where I live in Wiltshire is about 90 mins into Paddington. I then need to get over to St Paul's / Bank area.

    Season ticket prices are scarily high (around £600 per month), but still cheaper than renting.

    Difficult decision....

    Remember too, to check train times. DH works in the City too, and its not just cost (although its more expensive for him to use the train than it was for him to commute cheapo airlines from Italy each week :eek: ) but train times. So far he's been able to juggle so that meetings where flights are involved are on fridays (so he can return to Bristol airport not risk missing last train) or that he just gets out 'on time' for the last train on Fridays.

    Remember commuting time to and from station (though I drive DH so its still 'together time' and petrol money). If you are driving north to the Paddington line station, could you drive south instead? (rather than use our paddington line station, very close,) its time and money eective for me to drive south to the Waterloo/Salisbury etc line. which is MUCH cheaper for us than Paddington line.

    I think the advice to commute or lodge till you make a decision is a good one you know.
  • mitchaa
    mitchaa Posts: 4,487 Forumite
    I would say Reading has to be the top choice

    Biggest town in the UK, trains regular every 20 mins into London paddington.

    25min commute.
  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    Thanks for all the advice.

    My commute from where I live in Wiltshire is about 90 mins into Paddington. I then need to get over to St Paul's / Bank area.

    Season ticket prices are scarily high (around £600 per month), but still cheaper than renting.

    Difficult decision....

    Not necessarily. You could be closer to work, for less than £600 a month, for example:

    http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-17459545.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=rent
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    Jorgan wrote: »
    Is the 90 mins using the fast train from Swindon?

    Why not try the commute first to see how you get on?

    Trouble with that is that Paddington is a fair trek from the City, at least 45 mins each way on top of the 3 hours a day from home.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    mitchaa wrote: »
    I would say Reading has to be the top choice

    Biggest town in the UK, trains regular every 20 mins into London paddington.

    25min commute.

    Not really - another 45 mins from Paddington to the city, still a long commute.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • lostinrates
    lostinrates Posts: 55,283 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    neverdespairgirl is spot on. It can take ages to cross London. I used to wrok in different places regularly and some journeys would take ages. tubeline/mainline planning is the way to go imo
  • prudryden
    prudryden Posts: 2,075 Forumite
    Central line to Bank from Ealing Broadway - 30 mins. tops. Also, have Piccadilly and District lines. Piccadilly very fast in AM. Also main line to Paddington.
    Rentals - 1 to 1 1/2 bed £1000/mo. approximate.
    2 bed = £1200-1400 - good size rooms.
    Cheaper if go out to Hanwell, Southall, Greenford etc.
    FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
  • scope
    scope Posts: 764 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Jorgan wrote: »
    Is the 90 mins using the fast train from Swindon?

    Swindon to Paddington is 1 hour exactly. Suitable for commuting (hence the trains in to London are full peak hours), and fairly cheap housing.. 170k will get you a nice 3 bed detached. I think I would recommend renting in todays clima, and if you are going to rent you might aswell rent as close as possible to work, as its not going to be a big difference in cost after train fares, etc are taken into account.
  • newgirl23
    newgirl23 Posts: 11 Forumite
    hi, i live in canvey island, essex and work in the city of london. my one way travel time is 45 mins on the train, door 2 door is about 1 hr 25 mins and my monthly train fares is 200 a month (that is a annual ticket and get a interest free loan from my employer)

    where i live you can get a nice 3 bed semi or terreced for around 180000 and it is a nice area! i think its well priced if u commute to london.

    where exactly in the city do u work? i work around liverpool st/leadenhall which is a 10 min walk from fenchurch st and dont have to get a tube
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