London’s great balancing act

Research looks at how to reduce your commute and not increase your rent

HAVE you ever wondered if your tube commutes could be made easier by moving closer to work, but worry about the rent increases? We certainly have. Well now, thanks to new research, residents can see the prices of rent in different areas and compare them with journey times to central London.

The research, by To t a l l y M o n d a y. c o m , claims Londoners will pay an average of £6.60 a week in rent for every extra minute they can shave from their travel time.

MOST EXPENSIVE The most expensive average rents are the usual suspects closest to central London.

Green Park takes the top spot at £613 per week on average, with its proximity to both the Victoria and the Jubilee lines.

Oxford Circus, which is served by the Bakerloo and Central lines, is not far behind with an average of £594 a week.

Followed by South Kensington with £542.

Sloane Square with £534.

Great Portland Street with £516.

Goodge £515.

And Baker Street with £490. Street with

THE CHEAPEST One of the best value stations to live near for your commute are Mile End, which costs an average £215 a week and is just 16 minutes from the Central line’s most expensive station to live near, Oxford Street.

Seven Sisters is only 16 minutes away from the Victoria line’s most expensive station, Green Park, and costs around £224 a week.

Next in the ranking is Tottenham Hale with £205, followed by Preston Road, Bethnal Green, Northwick Park and Fairlop, which are not far behind in the best bang for your buck when it comes to tube commutes.

Head of brand and communications at the site, Joe Gardiner, said: “Obviously there is more to choosing a place to live than just seeing how close it is to work, but many Londoners feel the less time spent on the tube each day the better.

“We hope this research gives people in London an insight into where they should be looking to live if they want affordable rent prices along with a manageable commute.”

For those not wanting to leave west London there is good news, as Eastcote costs an average of just £188 a week and is 27 minutes away from the most expensive station on the Metropolitan line, Baker Street.

Harrow on the Hill is also included on the list of best value places, costing £246 a week for a 20 minute journey to Baker Street.