Best places to live near London
Homestead ranks places on official data — schools, recorded crime, healthcare, transport, green space, the everyday high street and housing cost — rather than on reputation. Every eligible settlement in England is measured the same way, and the order below is the one that evidence produced.
Scope: 69 eligible England settlements, narrowed to a realistic commute to London within about 60 minutes, with the 12 highest-ranked shown here.
Where a measure has not been published for a place we say so rather than filling the gap. Nothing here is sponsored, and no place was moved by hand.
- St Albans — Hertfordshire — Excellent overall choice · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
St Albans is a large town in Hertfordshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Higher house prices
St Albans is a large town in Hertfordshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 51 minutes.
- Ashtead — Surrey — Very strong contender · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Ashtead is a small town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
- • Limited public transport
Ashtead is a small town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
What gives Ashtead an edge is good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 50 minutes.
- Harpenden — Hertfordshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationallyPlace overview
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, in the East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Higher house prices
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, in the East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 59 minutes.
- Sevenoaks — London — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Sevenoaks is a town in London, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
- • Higher house prices
Sevenoaks is a town in London, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
The strongest reasons to consider it are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 58 minutes.
- Chertsey — Surrey — Worth considering · Very strong nationallyPlace overview
Chertsey is a small town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- • Variable school performance
Chertsey is a small town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 50 minutes.
- Marlow — Berkshire — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Marlow is a small town in Berkshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Variable school performance
Marlow is a small town in Berkshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Marlow's case rests on good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 57 minutes.
- Epsom — Surrey — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Epsom is a town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Variable school performance
Epsom is a town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
What gives Epsom an edge is good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 45 minutes.
- Reigate — Surrey — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Reigate is a town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Variable school performance
Reigate is a town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
The strongest reasons to consider it are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 59 minutes.
- Hemel Hempstead — Hertfordshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationallyPlace overview
Hemel Hempstead is a large town in Hertfordshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- • Variable school performance
Hemel Hempstead is a large town in Hertfordshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
The strongest reasons to consider it are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 51 minutes.
- Otford and Kemsing — London — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Otford and Kemsing is a small town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
- • Limited public transport
Otford and Kemsing is a small town in Greater London. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 55 minutes.
- Gerrards Cross — Buckinghamshire — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Gerrards Cross is a small town in Buckinghamshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Higher house prices
Gerrards Cross is a small town in Buckinghamshire, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 44 minutes.
- Dorking — Surrey — Worth considering · Excellent nationallyPlace overview
Dorking is a small town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
Why it ranked- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- • Limited public transport
Dorking is a small town in Surrey, in the South East of England. It has its own railway station providing onward rail connections.
What gives Dorking an edge is good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Measured journey time to London: about 59 minutes.
What this means for your search
The strongest signal from this ranking is that St Albans performs best against the specific criteria we weighted — but it is squarely a pick for buyers who value the everyday realities of a place as much as its reputation. Weight any one criterion — affordability, transport, character, services — harder than the others and the ordering shifts. The strongest all-rounders are here; the strongest specialists sit just behind. The best place is rarely the top of any single list — it's the place that fits your priorities. If you'd like a shortlist tuned to yours, try the [Homestead questionnaire](/questionnaire).