New job near Heathrow - advice on housing/commute please?
Discussion
Hi all, I've recently accepted a job offer that's based very close to Terminal 4. Since I currently live in Bristol, the commute would be rather problematic if I stayed here - so I'm looking at sensible areas to rent that are quite close to work (I'd like to live pretty close to the office). So far, Ashford seems like a nice enough place without paying exorbitant rental rates; some places in Stanwell look pretty reasonable too. It's just me and the one car, so a little 1/2 bed semi-detached house would suit me very well.
Couple of questions though - are there any areas that I should avoid, or any others to consider? Also, what's commuting around the area like? I appreciate I'm working near a sizeable airport so it's never going to be completely void of traffic, but is Google Maps' estimate of 16 minutes to get from Ashford to T4 reasonable at commuting hours?
Thanks in advance.
Couple of questions though - are there any areas that I should avoid, or any others to consider? Also, what's commuting around the area like? I appreciate I'm working near a sizeable airport so it's never going to be completely void of traffic, but is Google Maps' estimate of 16 minutes to get from Ashford to T4 reasonable at commuting hours?
Thanks in advance.
Stanwell is pretty ropey really. I'd avoid it.
Ashford is ok, not much going on there really. Can't say I'd personally recommend it.
I live in Staines. It's OK - actually moved down for a job a couple of years back and ended up buying there. Not the worst place to live, nor the best. Enough to do for me - 35 minutes into Waterloo, 15 minutes to Windsor on the train. Nice by the river and a couple of vaguely decent pubs and restaurants.
As for close to T4 - down in Bedfont Lakes? Traffic isn't horrendous along the A30 but can back up at times. Watch out for speed camera vans on it.
Other option - live further into London and take public transport? Could be an option if shuttle buses etc are provided to the office.
Ashford is ok, not much going on there really. Can't say I'd personally recommend it.
I live in Staines. It's OK - actually moved down for a job a couple of years back and ended up buying there. Not the worst place to live, nor the best. Enough to do for me - 35 minutes into Waterloo, 15 minutes to Windsor on the train. Nice by the river and a couple of vaguely decent pubs and restaurants.
As for close to T4 - down in Bedfont Lakes? Traffic isn't horrendous along the A30 but can back up at times. Watch out for speed camera vans on it.
Other option - live further into London and take public transport? Could be an option if shuttle buses etc are provided to the office.
sebhaque said:
Also, what's commuting around the area like?
Horrendous. Certainly one of the worst in the UK, if not all of Europe.The whole area from the M4 to the M3, along the M25, is always the first
in the UK for more lanes. There is a reason for this.
You would only be exacerbating the problems of one of Europe's most congested areas
by attempting to commute there.
I used to live just outside datchet, nice place but very noisy outside and would rarely have the windows open because of it. I'd be looking around there but a bit further south like Wraysbury, basically avoiding a straight line west from the runway as when they come in to land, they do it in a straight line and fairly low. The planes taking off never bothered me as they're gaining altitude a lot quicker than those landing are losing it so not as noisy...
I now live in High Wycombe and despite the 45 minute commute, it's very nice to have a garden that isn't under the flight path!
I now live in High Wycombe and despite the 45 minute commute, it's very nice to have a garden that isn't under the flight path!
t, but doable) as long as you avoid the M25...Hmmm Ashford, Stanwell and all the surrounding places are riddled with crime, just come up for a day and park near there, then count how many times you see a police car!
I'd avoid Stanwell like the plague, apologies to those that may live there, but I policed that area and around it for a few years, kept me very very busy!
I'd avoid Stanwell like the plague, apologies to those that may live there, but I policed that area and around it for a few years, kept me very very busy!
Back in 2000 my employer relocated to Windsor from Central London and I had a company relocation.
A friend of mine has lived in Wraysbury all his life so I asked him for some tips. Although his wife works at the airport she is in the check-in area so seldom travels in rush hour.
His advice was avoid Datchet, Ashford, and Stanwell.
I ended up moving to Egham and it was fine, although that will involve the M25 for Heathrow and in rush hour it will be virtually stationary, although you'll only have 1 junction of it for T4. Parts of Staines didn't seem too bad either, and Englefield Green is OK.
Oh and believe me you will definitely get plenty of aircraft noise in Wraysbury!
A friend of mine has lived in Wraysbury all his life so I asked him for some tips. Although his wife works at the airport she is in the check-in area so seldom travels in rush hour.
His advice was avoid Datchet, Ashford, and Stanwell.
I ended up moving to Egham and it was fine, although that will involve the M25 for Heathrow and in rush hour it will be virtually stationary, although you'll only have 1 junction of it for T4. Parts of Staines didn't seem too bad either, and Englefield Green is OK.
Oh and believe me you will definitely get plenty of aircraft noise in Wraysbury!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 16th November 22:49
No specific recommendations from me, but I do think you are looking at the right options.
Don't whatever you do look too far east of the airport. Air noise might be a bit better, but access to Heathrow is horrible from places that really aren't that far away.
I live near Kingston and I fly quite a lot. If I can't get a flight out of Heathrow that leaves VERY early in the morning, I actually book Gatwick (more than 3 times the distance away) because it is quicker to get all the way out there on the train than it is to get to 'local' Heathrow by car. I couldn't imagine doing that commute every day!
The places closer to London are usually (but not always) more expensive as well.
Don't whatever you do look too far east of the airport. Air noise might be a bit better, but access to Heathrow is horrible from places that really aren't that far away.
I live near Kingston and I fly quite a lot. If I can't get a flight out of Heathrow that leaves VERY early in the morning, I actually book Gatwick (more than 3 times the distance away) because it is quicker to get all the way out there on the train than it is to get to 'local' Heathrow by car. I couldn't imagine doing that commute every day!
The places closer to London are usually (but not always) more expensive as well.
I've spent most of my life living in and around this area and have a few reconmendations; anywhere directly east or west of the airport will be under the flight path (although I always found it to blend into the background), while parts of Stanwell can be a feel a little rough and run down, I lived in Stanwell village for 5 years and never had any problems with the locals.
Since you'll be working near T4 I'd concentrate looking south otherwise you'll have to navigate around he airport which can be a nightmare at the wrong times.
Ashford is lovely but you'll pay for the privilege, same goes for Laleham, Egham & Wraysbury.
Stanwell, Stanwell village & Moore, Bedfont and sunbury are all reasonably priced, quiet and put you in the right area to get to work.
Since you'll be working near T4 I'd concentrate looking south otherwise you'll have to navigate around he airport which can be a nightmare at the wrong times.
Ashford is lovely but you'll pay for the privilege, same goes for Laleham, Egham & Wraysbury.
Stanwell, Stanwell village & Moore, Bedfont and sunbury are all reasonably priced, quiet and put you in the right area to get to work.
sebhaque said:
Hi all, I've recently accepted a job offer that's based very close to Terminal 4. Since I currently live in Bristol, the commute would be rather problematic if I stayed here - so I'm looking at sensible areas to rent that are quite close to work (I'd like to live pretty close to the office). So far, Ashford seems like a nice enough place without paying exorbitant rental rates; some places in Stanwell look pretty reasonable too. It's just me and the one car, so a little 1/2 bed semi-detached house would suit me very well.
Couple of questions though - are there any areas that I should avoid, or any others to consider? Also, what's commuting around the area like? I appreciate I'm working near a sizeable airport so it's never going to be completely void of traffic, but is Google Maps' estimate of 16 minutes to get from Ashford to T4 reasonable at commuting hours?
Thanks in advance.
You need a motorbike, my friendCouple of questions though - are there any areas that I should avoid, or any others to consider? Also, what's commuting around the area like? I appreciate I'm working near a sizeable airport so it's never going to be completely void of traffic, but is Google Maps' estimate of 16 minutes to get from Ashford to T4 reasonable at commuting hours?
Thanks in advance.
The problem is not where to live, but rather the soul-crushing traffic jam that basically is all of greater London at commuting times. There's no avoiding it from any angle if you need to go to and from Heathrow.
I did it for four years, living in various parts of West London and Surrey, commuting at first to Sunbury, then Staines, Chiswick and fianlly Sutton (i.e. all in the vicinity of Heathrow). The only saving grace is that commuting out of London and back in at home time is marginally better than doing it the other way round, but then you better grease your wallet if you want to live closer to town...
That all changed one day - almost exactly two years ago - when I decided, after a two-hour crawl into the office (11 miles incidentally) that I was going to do my bike test and join the smart guys who'd previously sailed past me on two wheels, as I sat there, late again for my meeting, crying into my steering wheel.
After cutting my commute from 1hr 20 mins each way to a 45 minute round trip, I would never, ever commute in London by car again. To hell with the cold and rain; bikes and their associated clobber have come along way. Far better to arrive a bit damp on the odd day than it is to waste 720 hours of my life each year stuck in the car.
To cap it all, I discovered a new social life and a new set of awesome friends through biking; not to mention a cheaper and arguably more enjoyable hobby than fast cars. My only regret is not doing it sooner.
You'll thank me, I promise.
ETA: I've just realised your post was a couple of months ago now. Where did you move to?
Edited by GreatPretender on Sunday 31st January 08:26
GreatPretender said:
good information
I've moved to Stanwell Moor. It's not the most friendly area to live in, but it's quite handy for commuting. I've never really experienced any traffic on my commute to T4, and it never takes me longer than 20 minutes to drive there either. I would love a motorbike but I'm a short chap, so getting my leg over (so to speak) can be tricky on some mounts. I was strongly considering getting a bike before I moved here, but now I've seen how forgiving the commute tends to be, it's on the back burner.
I'm thinking of moving to East Bedfont when my contract is up, mainly because while commuting is easy from here, doing any form of grocery shopping is quite difficult as you get snarled up in the rush hour traffic.
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