As the pandemic changed the way we lived and work, the rush to the countryside seemed to dominate headlines. For those who took the leap, we started googling the nearest footpaths, creating home offices and growing vegetables in the garden. Now, many professionals have been called back to the office, but the demand for greenspace hasn’t disappeared.
The mind-set that we must live in close proximity to the office seems to have shifted. But there are still those wanting to have the best of all worlds: countryside and connectivity. With new flexible working patterns expanding the boundaries beyond traditional commuter hotspots, a more rural location of a market town or picturesque village doesn’t just mean community, greenspace and fresh air, but also have great public transport networks. They may well offer slightly longer commutes than what we are used to but if you’re only doing it two or three times a week then it’s not as daunting!
A commute by public transport is not just something to get you from A to B either, it can have positive impacts on our mental wellbeing as well as being a more environmentally friendly option than commuting by car. The commute can help establish a work life balance and help you to switch from the home to the workplace. Many bus and train routes wind through beautiful parts of the country offering brilliant window views, and provide time to listen to our favourite podcasts or get stuck into a good book – not to mention the extra waking up time or quick snooze before we get thrown into a day of work!
So, if you want to live full time outside a city and have an eco-friendly commute, we’ve picked five places with great public transport links:
Kelvedon, Essex:
In the very heart of Essex, Kelvedon offers all the peace and tranquillity you could want from countryside life but with direct trains to London in just under an hour. This village truly is the best of both worlds.
Rook Hall is located on the edge of this well-connected village:
Sandwich, Kent
Long held as one of the finest medieval towns in England, Sandwich has all that one would expect of a thriving and prosperous town, including a railway station and flexible bus routes. By train, you can get to Deal or Ramsgate in under 15 minutes or London in under two hours.
You can find The Pellicane House on the High Street:
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Public transport in Tisbury makes it a popular location. There’s not many villages with direct train routes to London, Salisbury and Exeter, as well as easy bus routes to various nearby villages.
Walk 15 minutes through the centre of the village from the train station and you’ll find Hillstreet Farmhouse:
Royston, Hertfordshire:
Royston is an increasingly popular town in Hertfordshire, with regular services to Cambridge from its station in just 15 minutes.
This lovely Victorian property is just a 10 minute drive out of town:
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
This quintessential Yorkshire market and spa town perches above the River Nidd and its railway viaduct offerings fantastic views for commuters as you head towards York or Harrogate.
Windrush House is just a 20 minute walk from the station:
