Research from Metro shows that those who chose to move home didn’t actually move that far away.
With a 430g pack of chicken costing on average almost double in London than the rest of the UK, it's no wonder some people are choosing a change of scenery to save a few pennies.
Metro reported movers purchased properties an average of 45.4 miles outside of the city in 2024. The most popular areas were Epsom and Ewell, Brentwood, and Mole Valley.
Below is the list of most popular destinations in 2024:
Location | Percentage bought by Londoners in 2024 |
Epsom and Ewell | 74% |
Brentwood | 47% |
Mole Valley | 35% |
Colchester | 27% |
Tonbridge and Malling | 26% |
Rushmoor | 25% |
Chelmsford | 24% |
North Hertfordshire | 21% |
Swale | 19% |
Huntingdonshire | 18% |
One reason people decided to make the move was due to the increase in the ability to work from home. Many people questioned why they are paying a huge amount on rent or a mortgage when they could work from elsewhere and pay a lot less.
The other reason is the cost of living in London being a lot higher.
Some people love the hustle and bustle of London life and accept they have to pay for it, whereas others are happy with a more rural way of life and living their life as opposed to just surviving in some cases.
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