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Strutt & Parker’s latest research reveals that rising housing costs are prompting the UK’s workers to make tough choices about where they live and work
With property prices higher than ever in London, many people are choosing to move out to the surrounding counties and brave the daily commute into the city for work. Here, we’ve picked out six impressive properties that combine the benefits of rural living with the convenience of being within easy reach of the capital.
Guide price: £2,750,000
Churchfields House is an impressive country house set in more than five acres of landscaped grounds in Hertfordshire. A spacious sun and games room acts as the heart of the property, while its onsite leisure facilities – including an indoor pool, tennis court, gym, hot tub and sauna – are perfect for unwinding away from the office. Knebworth station is a nine-minute drive away, from where trains arrive into Kings Cross in 37 minutes.
Guide price: £2,450,000
Set in 10 acres of Essex countryside, this five/six-bedroom farmhouse blends the best aspects of traditional and modern design. Interior features include wooden ceiling beams and marble fireplaces, while outside you’ll find a heated swimming pool, summer house, separate annex and stable block. Despite the semi-rural location, Chelmsford station – from where trains into London take half an hour – is just a 10-minute drive away, and the M11 is also within easy reach.
Guide price: £985,000
Built in the 1500s, this four-bedroom, Grade II Listed Berkshire property is as unique as it is appealing. The exterior boasts several original features, and the interior has been carefully modernised to work in harmony with traditional elements. A step outside reveals a beautiful garden complete with a working well. Commuters can reach the M4 in 15 minutes, while London Waterloo is around an hour away from nearby railway stations.
Guide price: £1,750,000
Located amid quiet Hertfordshire fields and woodland, this contemporary architect-designed house boasts an array of high-end internal features. With four bedrooms and four reception rooms, there is also a roof terrace that allows for an impressive vista, and a separate outbuilding. It’s just a few minutes’ drive from the M1 and 10 minutes from Hemel Hempstead station, from where regular trains travel to the heart of London in 21 minutes.
Asking price: £1,050,000
This modern apartment is set within an imposing, century-old country house located in seven acres of countryside. The ground-floor, three-bedroom property features a large reception room with a conservatory-style façade that offers impressive garden views. Commuters can travel from the nearby Gerrards Cross and Denham Golf Club stations to London Marylebone in less than 30 minutes, while the M40 is also easily reached.
Guide price: £700,000
Dating back to the 1600s, this Listed property in West Sussex has been rejuvenated to combine its traditional charm with contemporary features. The spacious house comprises a bespoke fitted kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, a study and four bedrooms. Outside, the garden encompasses an expansive lawn and a small stream. Trains from Crawley station, an eight-minute drive away, take commuters into London Victoria in less than 45 minutes, and the M23 is accessible in under 10 minutes.