Renters in London often don’t have the luxury of choosing their ideal location. Limited supply of homes to rent means they typically move to wherever they can find a decent property within budget. So when the time comes to buy their first home, many are starting with a blank slate and considering the whole of London.
For these first-time buyers, affordability and connectivity are two of the most important considerations, so we set out to find out which London boroughs benefit from the best of both worlds.
To do this, we analysed more than 250 locations across London, comparing average journey times from locations across each borough to major London transport hubs with borough-level first-time buyer house prices. Boroughs were then ranked on both factors to create an overall score, identifying where buyers can get the best mix of value and connectivity.
The results
Newham came out on top in our rankings thanks to its strong combination of relatively affordable first-time buyer prices and efficient transport links, with average journey times to major hubs of just 12.5 minutes.
Barking & Dagenham and Croydon also ranked highly due to offering some of the lowest first-time buyer property prices in London, and the journey times into Central London are pretty good too.
In fact, East Croydon station provides direct services into London Bridge in just 14 minutes.
Here you can find our Addiscombe Grove CR0 development, where prices start from £199,999. There are very few homes remaining though so if you’re interested, you’ll have to be quick. Our development was designed by award-winning architects Metropolitan Workshop, with all of our homes cleverly designed with high ceilings, large windows and layouts to make the most of the space.
It also has a whole host of communal spaces for residents to enjoy, including a 9th-floor wellness room for yoga and gatherings, three landscaped communal gardens, a residents’ lounge, a workspace and secure bike storage. And it isn’t just London Bridge you can get to quickly, with trains also going to:
- Gatwick Airport in 15 minutes;
- London Victoria in 16 minutes;
- London St Pancras International in 29 minutes;
- And Brighton in 46 minutes
Harrow also performed well in our rankings, where connectivity paired with comparatively mid-range entry prices appeals to buyers wanting to stay within easy reach of Central London. In this neck of the woods, you can find our Sheepcote Road HA1 development, where prices start from £259,950.
Here, residents have access to a range of communal amenities including courtyard gardens, a co-working lounge, an allotment where residents can grow their own produce and rooftop terraces.
The homes have full-height, extra-wide windows which allow light to flood in, integrated LED lighting, kitchen furniture sourced from responsibly-managed forestry, flooring which is recycled and recyclable, eco-friendly Beko appliances, and built-in storage.
Providing access to both Central London and the green belt, Harrow puts cityscapes and country escapes within easy reach, particularly with Harrow-on-the-Hill station just a 10-minute walk away. Regular National Rail, Underground and bus services provide direct routes to places like:
- Wembley Park in 7 minutes;
- London Marylebone in 14 minutes;
- Baker Street in 22 minutes;
- Farringdon in 31 minutes;
- And Liverpool Street in 36 minutes
And although Waltham Forest didn’t rank in the top ten there are locations within the borough that provide excellent access into the city. This includes Walthamstow Central, home to our Forest Road E17 development, where prices start from £297,000 and community and comfort are key.
Landscaped rooftop gardens and shared allotment beds make it easy to get to know your neighbours, while each apartment benefits from a bright, open-plan layout and contemporary finishes – the perfect blank canvas.
Forest Road is a just a 12-minute stroll from Walthamstow Central, with regular Underground and Overground services to get you into Central London quickly, including:
- King’s Cross St Pancras in 15 minutes;
- Oxford Circus in 20 minutes;
- and London Liverpool Street in 18 minutes
There’s plenty on your doorstep too – Walthamstow has a vibrant restaurant and café scene, independent shops and a host of markets and museums to explore, while nearby Walthamstow Wetlands and Lloyd Park offer an abundance of green space.
At Pocket Living, we offer a 20% discount on homes in some of London’s buzziest and well-connected boroughs to get you on the property ladder in an area that works for you.
Explore our communities and create a My Pocket account to see which developments you’re eligible for.