The 10 best London commuter towns and villages that everyone wants to move to

Whether you travel to London for work or study, you can make travelling into the capital easier and less stressful when you choose one of London’s best commuter towns for your next home.

We’ve rounded up the top London commuter towns and villages for you to consider when searching for an ideal base for travelling, all of which have exciting developments of new-build Bellway homes near London. Each of these locations offers impressive amenities, a great standard of living, and excellent London transport links by road or rail.

Top commuter towns near London

Stratford

Commuting to London couldn’t be easier than from Stratford in East London, which has a busy interchange station served by the Underground, Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Elizabeth Line, as well as National Rail services. Stratford itself has plenty to offer too – from Westfield shopping centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to historic Victoria Park, one of London’s oldest public green spaces.

Legacy Wharf, Bellway’s development of new-build apartments in Stratford is a five-minute walk from the interchange station, making travelling into central London a breeze. The development also boasts an on-site gym, concierge, and working from home hub; these homes are ideal for first-time buyers and professionals who want the perfect balance of a straightforward commute with great amenities and an enviable location within one of the most well-connected London suburbs to live in.

Milton Keynes

With its carefully planned road layouts and modern infrastructure, the city of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire has long held a reputation as a great place to live and work, but its proximity and transport connections to London are making it an increasingly popular location for commuters too – from Milton Keynes Central railway station, journeys to London Euston can take as little as 35 minutes.

Outside of its urban centre Milton Keynes has many attractive towns and traditional villages from where you can take full advantage of the excellent transport links; the new neighbourhood of Whitehouse is about 10 minutes by car from Milton Keynes Central, and also offers easy access to the A5 and M1 for travelling around the South East. Bellway has two developments of new homes in Milton Keynes, Whitehouse Gardens and Bellway at Whitehouse Park, giving you a superb choice of beautiful houses and apartments within this exciting sustainable community.

Cuffley

The charming and sought-after Hertfordshire village of Cuffley benefits from a semi-rural location with abundant countryside and woodland nearby, as well as being within the North London commuter belt – the M25 and A1 are close by for travelling by car, while Cuffley’s own train station provides direct services to London King’s Cross taking just 40 minutes.

King George’s Vale is Bellway’s development of new-build homes in Cuffley, situated just three minutes’ drive from the train station for straightforward travel into London by rail. There are also Underground and Overground stations with park and ride facilities just 15 minutes away by car, giving you an exceptional choice of ways to commute from your new home.

Maidenhead

Connected to central London by the Elizabeth Line as well as the M4 motorway, Maidenhead is considered to be one of the best commuter towns near London not only for its excellent transport links, but also its attractive location alongside the River Thames in Berkshire.

However, living in Maidenhead offers more than just a straightforward commute and riverside charm; you can fill your downtime with walks in the Chiltern Hills, dine in the area’s many upscale restaurants (including two with three Michelin stars, such as Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck), shop in Maidenhead’s traditional market town centre or visit the family-friendly attractions along the riverside, including Ray Mill Island.

There are several Bellway developments of new-build apartments in Maidenhead, including Cooper Square, which is just five minutes’ walk from the Elizabeth Line, while The Atrium is under two miles from Maidenhead railway station.

Slough

Slough has a reputation as one of the most affordable towns near London to live in, and offers a straightforward commute via Crossrail, with journeys to London Paddington taking as little as 17 minutes, and the Elizabeth Line which whisks you to Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street in less than 40 minutes. Its proximity to Heathrow Airport makes this South East commuter town appealing to frequent international travellers too.

Montem Square, Bellway’s development of new-build homes in Slough is just a mile from the railway station, and the M4 is within easy reach for getting around by car. The family-friendly Salt Hill Park will be virtually on your doorstep, as will Slough town centre for great restaurants, a buzzing bar scene, and the Queensmere Observatory for a broad choice of shopping and casual dining.

Reading

Another popular London commuter town in Berkshire is Reading; once known for its ‘beer, biscuits, and bulbs’ in the industrial revolution, it’s now a bustling cultural hub that also benefits from quick and convenient transport links into the capital. From Reading West station, you can arrive at London Paddington within 25 minutes, while the M4 motorway runs through Reading and onward to west London.

Boasting an enviable position within Reading’s vibrant northern community, Carter’s Court is a collection of new-build Bellway apartments and homes that are within walking distance of the town centre, and just six minutes from the train station. If you prefer a more suburban, village feel, Bellway’s Watchman’s Place development is situated in Tilehurst about 10 minutes’ drive from Reading town centre; here, you will benefit from a peaceful location with all the amenities of a major town close to home, while central London is just over half an hour away.

Kings Hill

Having only started life in the late 1980s, the pretty garden village of Kings Hill, near Maidstone has blossomed from a former WWII airbase into a lively community within the enviable, idyllic surroundings of the Kent countryside, yet with robust transport links into London. Kings Hill is an aspirational location – as you’d expect from a postcode shared with the head office of Rolex – but also friendly and welcoming, and a great place for young families as there are several local schools, plenty of sports to get involved with, and an abundance of open green space and dedicated cycle paths throughout the village.

While Kings Hill doesn’t have its own railway station, the village is well-linked to nearby West Malling which provides direct train journeys to London Victoria and Charing Cross in about an hour; if you need to commute to London by car, you’re close to Junction 4 of the M20 for access to the M25.

The exciting new neighbourhood of Aviation Park offers a dazzling choice of beautiful new homes in Kings Hill, across two individual Bellway developments: Blenheim Green, and DeHavilland Place. Both offer a choice of stunning 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom homes, with 1 and 2-bedroom apartments also available at DeHavilland Place. Aviation Park won the title of ‘Best Regeneration Project’ at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2023, reflecting the exceptional standard of living on offer in this thoughtfully planned community of new homes near London.

Maidstone

For an ideal balance of countryside living with a high standard of amenities and excellent transport links, Maidstone should tick all your boxes. Intersected by the River Medway in Kent, Maidstone is a well-developed London commuter town connecting locals to the capital in just over an hour by train; closer to home, Maidstone offers an attractive semi-rural lifestyle for families, professionals and first-time buyers alike, and there are many pretty villages to choose from that sit along the East Maidstone railway line route to London Victoria.

These include Otham, which is situated on the outskirts of Maidstone, about five minutes’ drive from Bearsted train station for direct journeys to London. Bellway’s Parsonage Place development of new homes and apartments in Otham boasts a rural backdrop against the lush South East countryside, yet has all of the fantastic benefits of being within a popular commuter hub.

Ebbsfleet Garden City

Connections to central London don’t get much faster than from Ebbsfleet Garden City, which is served by the High Speed 1 (HS1) line on which commuter trains reach speeds of over 200km/h, and you can zip between Ebbsfleet International and London St Pancras stations in less than 20 minutes. Situated in the north of Kent, Ebbsfleet itself is the first garden city to be built in the UK for 100 years, which makes it an exciting place to be in as the area grows and evolves, and there is already a thriving community here across its several individual neighbourhoods.

There are several Bellway developments of new homes in Ebbsfleet: Alkerden Heights, and Castle Grange in Alkerden; Ebbsfleet Cross and Crossways Quarter in Greenhithe; and Harbour Village in Northfleet, situated beside the Thames and just a 20-minute walk from Ebbsfleet International railway station. Across these developments is an exceptional choice of houses and apartments for all types of buyers, including flexible house styles that incorporate dedicated space for working from home when needed.

Romford

Served by the Elizabeth Line to whizz you to London Liverpool Street in about half an hour, the large town of Romford in East London is a great place to live if you want to have the city within comfortable reach but still feel like you’re closer to the countryside, plus you have all the attractions of Essex on your doorstep too.

There are three Bellway developments of new homes in Romford, situated within some of its most sought-after communities for taking advantage of the town’s transport connections. The Comptons is a collection of houses and apartments on the outskirts of Romford and just 10 minutes’ walk from Harold Wood station for the Elizabeth Line; Roe Wood Park is about a five-minute drive to Harold Wood and overlooks the green space of Dagnam Park and Manor nature reserve.

In Romford’s Redbridge neighbourhood, Kingsgate Park is a new Bellway development that incorporates community spaces and play areas for families, and is a couple of miles from Chadwell Heath station for Elizabeth Line services into London.

Why choose a Bellway home in a London commuter town?

Bid farewell to long and stressful commutes, and prioritise your work-life balance when you choose a new energy-efficient Bellway home in one of the best London commuter towns. Whether you’re a first-time buyer stepping onto the property ladder, are looking for your ideal family home to grow into, or an apartment within walking distance of a railway station yet with plenty of flexible space for working from home, you’ll find your perfect property among our exceptional selection of new-build homes and apartments near London.

We carefully select the locations for all of our new developments to ensure that there are excellent local amenities including shops and schools, beautiful green spaces, and great transport links nearby, so you can look forward to being part of a fantastic, growing community in a place you’ll love to come home to.

Tips for choosing the right commuter town near London

• Consider your commute and transport options – Before you commit to a new home in a London commuter town, research the local transport options to ensure that they meet your needs and will get you to where you need to go on time, and with as little stress as possible. If you plan to use public transport for commuting to London, identify the nearest bus stop or train station to your new home and ensure it is accessible for you; if you will be driving, check how long your journey will take during peak times, and do a ‘trial run’ to make sure it’s feasible for you.
• Evaluate schools and amenities – Your new home will be more than just a base for commuting; it will be where you spend most of your time outside of work, so make sure it has all the amenities you need for everyday life as well as great ways to spend your downtime. From good local schools, a choice of shops and a gym, to cafes, bars and restaurants, explore your new area to make sure it ticks all your boxes.
• Think about long-term lifestyle plans – Buying a home is a significant milestone, and whether you’re planning to put down roots or are just thinking about the immediate future, it’s important to consider your long-term lifestyle ambitions. If you’d like to spend a long time in your new property or even find your ‘forever home’, you’ll need flexible space to accommodate possibilities such as an expanding family, working from home, and room for guests to stay or ageing family members to move in; on the other hand, if you might be moving on in a few years or so, you may want to choose a home in a sought-after area for living near London so you’ll have no problem finding a buyer when the time comes.

If you’re ready to begin your search for your ideal new home for commuting into the capital, explore all of our current and forthcoming developments near London, and read about the many great reasons to consider a new-build Bellway home for your next move. You can also learn about the unmissable buying schemes and incentives that are available to make your new home even more affordable.

We also have many useful Your Nest articles to support you along your home buying journey, including a breakdown of the current costs of moving house, a guide to the stages of building a new home, and a change of address checklist to ensure you update everyone about your move. You can also read inspiring stories from real Bellway homeowners who have found their dream home, like Helen and Alan who downsized to a Bellway Watchmaker, and Maria and Asad, who found all the room they needed to grow in their Bellway Dingley home.