Elon Musk considers it “morally wrong”, Lord Rose, the former M&S boss, thinks it is a loafers’ charter, and Lord Sugar believes it is high time for “bums on seats” back in the office.
At the height of Covid-19 Tory grandee Jacob Rees-Mogg even spent his days placing passive aggressive “sorry you were out when I visited” cards on empty civil service desks.
Working from home has some high profile critics, but the trend has proved hard to shake post pandemic — according to the latest data from the Office of National Statistics more than one in six of us WFH full time while another 28 per cent split their time between home and office.
The rise of hybrid work patterns — not to mention the 56 per cent who still do the nine to five — means commuter homes within a short distance of London are back in vogue.
Because while moving to Devon might sound gorgeous, its not so thrilling when you’re yawning on the platform at Exeter St Davids waiting for the 5.10am to Waterloo.
Properties in the Home Counties have a reputation for being forbiddingly expensive, but there are some excellent choices which offer you journey times as short as 23 minutes and prices starting at £350,000. Who says you can’t have it all?
Houses on Spinners Walk in Windsor
Daniel Lynch
Why we love it: Given its regal heritage this Thames-side town is not nearly as expensive as you might expect — certainly to those used to London prices at least.
And beyond the castle the benefits of life in Windsor include great commuter links and schools, a really good range of shops, restaurants, and cafes, an active arts scene and an annual music and literary festival.
The grand expanses of the Great Park provide ample open space, the chance to admire its herd of red deer, and a great adventure playground for the kids.
If you have a healthy buying budget, homes close to The Long Walk — where Harry and Meghan took their post-wedding carriage drive — have the highest price tags in town because of their character and proximity to the town centre.
Nicola Thornton, a senior negotiator at The Frost Partnership, says buyers will find better value if they are prepared to make a longer walk to the town centre and station. She suggests looking in Dedworth or Clewer Green, both in west Windsor, for more bang for your buck.
A combination of sunny weather, global instability, and April’s hike in stamp duty for first time buyers have combined to slow Windsor’s market down, says Thornton — but on the plus side this does mean less competition for buyers.
“We get a lot of renters coming out of London, young professionals who can’t afford to buy and who like Windsor because it is a really good commute and it is buzzy,” she says. “It is a lovely place to be.”
Any shortcomings? Rammed with tourists.
Average prices: Buyers spent an average of £564,469 in the past year, with terraced houses costing just over £600,000.
Fast trains: From 29 minutes to Paddington.
Best schools: Most primary schools are rated good by Ofsted. Upton Court Grammar School and Eden Girls’ School are rated outstanding.
The beach at Southend-on-Sea
Lucy North/PA Wire
Why we love it: If you dream of seaside living but still need to show your face in the office, then Southend is your most accessible option.
Traditionally a place for good old-fashioned bucket and spade holidays, Southend still has slightly too many arcades and tourist tat shops, but what it lacks in Margate-like hipness it makes up for in affordability and connectivity.
Mark Newman, of Winkworth estate agents, says about half his buyers are moving out of London: “We get a lot of first-time buyers coming out because the prices are so much cheaper, but the majority are families looking to get their children into one of the grammar schools.”
“The transport links are really good so a lot of them still work in London. You can go to the City directly or get off at Stratford, get onto the Elizabeth Line, and be in the West End in about an hour.”
Southend seafront retains an old school British seaside vibe, and its high street is filled with chain stores — useful but a bit boring. But venture inland to neighbourhoods like Thorpe Bay or Leigh on Sea and you will find a great range of restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutiques.
Tom Hunt, branch manager of Bairstow Eves, says buyers are starting to get to know Southend’s suburbs as well as its town centre.
“Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea and Shoeburyness are gaining in popularity with ex-Londoners, due to their charm, character and semi-rural location, offering a fantastic alternative to the built up areas they’re moving from,” he says.
Any shortcomings? The beach is standing room only on sunny days. Locals head to Shoebury East beach, which tends to be quieter.
Average prices: The overall average sale price is £339,634. Expect to pay just over £200,000 for a flat, almost £400,000 for a semi, or around £320,000 for a terrace.
Fast trains: From 47 minutes to Fenchurch Street.
Best schools: An almost clean-sweep of good Ofsted ratings, with two outstanding single sex, selective high schools for seniors.
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Bluebell woods in Berkhamsted
PA
Why we love it: Good schools and proximity to grammar schools has historically drawn family buyers out of London.
The town centre is another plus point, with its independent cafes and boutiques, plentiful restaurants, and the art deco Rex cinema.
Sports’ fans will appreciate the well-equipped leisure centre, tennis courts, and skate park, and since Berkhamsted is right on the fringes of the Chiltern Hills means that it has a real countryside feel.
Milly Englander of Harding Green estate agent is full of praise for the town — and she should know since she moved there herself two years ago. “You’ll find independent boutiques, artisan coffee shops, excellent restaurants and a really lovely and strong sense of community,” she says. “Families gather in the summer at the cricket club on Friday evenings which is great fun.
“I often say to people that Berkhamsted combines the lifestyle of a London neighbourhood with the open space, great schools and slower pace of life that Hertfordshire is known for.”
Any shortcomings? Traditionally one of the most expensive towns in the Home Counties thanks to its super-fast commute, Berkhamsted has been hit by work from home and the trend for moving further from London. As a result prices fell six per cent in the past year. This makes it very much a buyers’ market, but also means buyers will have to wait around for a recovery before they can think of selling at a profit.
Average prices: The average Berkhamsted home sells at £702,617. While it has its share of multi million pound piles, an average terrace will set you back £580,000 and semis come in at just over £700,000, while detached homes cost a hefty average £1.26m.
Fast trains: From 31 minutes to Euston.
Best schools: Most primary schools in town have good Ofsted ratings but there are a couple which require improvement so parents need to study catchment areas before buying. The town’s secondary school, Ashlyns, is rated good, and there are grammar schools within reach.
Why we love it: Years of inward investment have transformed this once-lacklustre commuter town into a vibrant, cosmopolitan almost-city — its 300,000 strong population makes it the biggest town in Britain.
Families love Reading for its schools, it has Crossrail services to London, and as well as a comprehensive range of shops and restaurants in the town centre and a growing foodie scene. Highlights include the Reading Festival, outdoor swimming at the Thames Lido, the pubs linking the Kennet and Avon Canal, and the tranquil Beale Wildlife Park (so long as you stay away from its splash park).
Chris Cullity, head of sales at Haslams estate agents, says that the number of people coming into Reading from outside the area has more than doubled since before the pandemic. Almost half of his sales are to out-of-towners, many of them London renters who can’t afford to buy in the capital. “Cost is the main driver,” he says. “But it is very buzzy around the centre, there are riverside restaurants and cafes, and lots of shops. The transport links are strong, and there is a lot of greenery around.”
Any shortcomings? Too many chain stores.
Average prices: The average spend on Reading property is £415,598. Terraces trade at just over £350,000, semis £455,000, and flats just under £240,000.
Fast trains: From 23 minutes to Paddington.
Best schools: The majority are rated good by Ofsted, with Kendrick School and Reading School both rated outstanding.