Thinking Of Leaving London This Year? Here’s Where To Move To

Does WFH have you eyeing up a new countryside abode? If you’re still tethered to the office, it might be time to embrace an age-old lifestyle: commuting. If 2024 is the year you’ll be saying bye bye to the big smoke (or the year you start taking your exodus seriously), here are three new commuter towns to consider for your next home, courtesy of The Evening Standard.

New Commuter Towns To Move To In 2024

Birmingham

The Commonwealth Games shone a light on Britain’s second biggest city, and HS2 is poised to cut journey times to London down to 49 minutes. That means a trip from Birmingham to London will soon be quicker than many towns in the Home Counties. For the days you stay in town, there’s plenty to make the most of, with a swathe of new shops, homes, leisure and cultural spaces, from The Custard Factory’s indie vibe to Peaky Blinders’ new film studio in Digbeth, from two new BBC headquarters to a new outpost from none other than London street food giant Boxpark. All this comes with a 50 percent off price tag compared to London house prices.

Cheltenham

While Bath is the traditional option for London leavers, its spa town neighbour Cheltenham is stealing the spotlight. While your commuting connections aren’t amazing (or even poised to improve anytime soon), if you’re mainly WFH, that won’t be a deterrent from this pretty town fringed by Cotswold countryside. Culture vultures will love it here, with a whole host of annual festivals spanning food, literature and music. If your heart is set on a Georgian town house, it’ll be a fraction of the price here compared to London.

Maidenhead

When it comes to Berkshire, Maidenhead is the new Windsor, Ascot and Eton. Well, kind of. With a spot on the coveted Elizabeth Line, it’s one of the county’s most accessible towns from London, with high-speed journeys to the likes of Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. It’s another hotspot for countryside lovers, with plenty of green space and one of the nation’s favourite wild swimming spots, Bray Lake. Meanwhile, a burgeoning restaurant scene will keep foodies occupied, with the new Waterside Quarter hosting an artisanal bakery, a Mumbai street food inspired restaurant, and much more.