London Transport
Plan the commute before you sign the lease, not after the keys are in your hand
A practical guide to testing routes, understanding friction and using commute reality to choose where to live.
Quick answer
A good commute is more than minutes on a map
Door-to-door time, transfers, reliability, walking distance, late-night options and cost all matter. Test the route the way you will actually use it.
- Check real door-to-door time.
- Look for backup routes.
- Compare commute pain against rent savings.
How to test a commute
Do not rely on one app screenshot. Check different times and include the walk at both ends.
- Test peak and off-peak times.
- Check weekend and late-night routes.
- Include station walk, platforms and transfers.
- Look for disruptions and backup options.
Commute tradeoffs by housing choice
The commute is part of the housing decision, not a separate detail.
| Choice | Upside | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Closer rent | Less travel time | Higher rent |
| Further out | More space or lower rent | Higher time and fare cost |
| Direct line | Less friction | May limit area options |
| Multiple changes | More area options | Reliability and fatigue risk |
Commute red flags
A route that looks fine once can feel brutal every day.
Common commute mistakes
Most commute regret comes from choosing the home first and testing reality later.
- Trusting advertised station proximity without walking it.
- Ignoring crowding and delays.
- Not checking the route to likely job areas.
- Forgetting transport cost in housing budget.
Personalised
Browse the Transport hubGet your London commute plan
Landing Connect can connect your job situation, housing preferences and budget to a workable commute strategy.
- Commute
- Housing
- Jobs
- Budget
Takes a few minutes - Free - No sign-up required
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