How bad is it really to commute to London?

[Forgetfulperson]

Currently considering looking for jobs in London but my commute now is only 20 minutes so I know it'd be a huge adjustment! The train is 1hr 20 minutes to London from where I am and then it'd be whatever time on the Tube or bus to get to where I need to be. Am I crazy to even think about doing it?

I’ve done the Marylebone run, but my office was a short walking distance. It’s the bits either side that add up and are unappealing, snow and ice, cancellations. I commute to Paddington now, a little easier but 20 hours a week for £1,100 a month needs a high salary to justify. Giving it up, only 11 more days to go, already I’m feeling happier and healthier.

I once did 90 mins door to door for 6 weeks and it nearly killed me
Colleague tried 2 hours door to door and eventually handed her notice in despite being offered more money to stay

Mine is pretty much two hours door to door. I quite enjoy it as it gives me time to deal with emails etc. It's very reliable though as it's a coach and guaranteed seats. I prefer it to my 40 minute commute on the east London line and then the jubilee, that was hell! I used to stay at work really late to put it off.

I’m doing similar (1 hour 40 door to door) and it is quite a drag. I’ve got used to it but everything is very tight for childcare and when it goes wrong it goes very wrong. The thing that is the killer is that I wake up at 5.30. I’m not natural a morning person so I’ll often have a snooze on the train. There are some days when I’m just totally exhausted. I don’t have a lot of choice though as I’d never get as high paying job where I live without commuting.

I also get up at 5:30. We all have to be out of the door by 6:45.

Just musing about how far people come at work and they do come from quite far afield. We have a couple of commuters from Yorkshire (although not every day!) Cambridge and Portsmouth too, they do do it every day.

Hollow laugh and at the idea of doing emails on the commute on my line: depends on decent work ICT, getting a seat, mobile connection on the train and elbow room.

Hackneyed long distance commuter speaking here (writing from train now!). If you can walk at the London end and reliably get a seat, it's doable but only worth it for a really good job. You need to test out the journey in both directions at the relevant times before considering it - often the homeward leg is worse for getting a seat. For me, it's the tube leg that makes it unbearable, especially in the evening when a short tube delay means you wait half an hour longer for a train. It's really shit when you're poorly/headachey and just want to be home.

I used to do it but like other posters it seriously affected my health. Leaving so early in the morning and getting back so late meant so long between meals I was snacking all the time and I put on loads of weight. It was exhausting, I started having panic attacks in the crowds and on the underground. I managed it for about a year before I got a new job. My journey now is 30 mins door to door and it's utter bliss.

If you can get under the magic hour, it's grand

A train every 30 mins would rule out your commute for me - I've had too many experiences of cancelled trains (so you end up waiting an hour for a train); delayed trains (so you have 45 mins worth of passengers cramming onto the train); and trains that suddenly decide to skip minor stations in order to make up the time, throwing you out at random places and having to get a cab back (TBF, every time this has happened I've clubbed together with other passengers to share the cost, but still...)

I did a 10 minute walk, 40 minute rail trip and a 20 minute walk (couldn't face the tube - especially in summer) for 11 years. It was bearable - just. Your proposal would be way too much for me.

Oh and that was to Victoria with 4 trains an hour. A half-hourly service is another reason to say "no". Cancellations would make the journey even worse as far as crowding goes.

My commute is fine. But my train to London is 55 minutes and then the tube is 3 stops on the Hammersmith and City/Circle/Met line then a short stroll. Hour and 20 plus tube would be quite long. Definitely not so crap if you get a seat and it's a reliable line though.

I think an hour door to door is no problem. If it is a bit longer eg 90 minutes but is a walk plus train, again it's perfectly doable but as soon as underground or changes of train/ tube are involved and it is long it becomes miserable and I think most of us would resent it quite quickly.

OP how many days a week would you be commuting?

I have a 1.5 hour commute each way but these days I only do it 3 days a week as I WFH and am PT. I've commuted for a v long time (and 5 days a week until recently) and it really takes the edge off not having to do it every day. Definitely worth checking out the flexible working policies of places you apply to.

I did an hour and a half door to door, both ways every work day for 3 years and it nearly broke me. It meant very little time with my children on a good day, and none on the not infrequent days a train was late. It was very expensive too. I now have a 5 minute commute in a job that is less interesting, but feel much better for it.

My brother commutes from Newark north gate to London Kings Cross every day - 1hr30 mins plus 20 min walk on arrival. He drives 20 mins to the station. It's a long day!!!!!!

He did live in London but it was so expensive he sold up and bought further north and has a really big house and no mortgage but a London salary. He stays with friends on a Wednesday night in exchange for buying an Indian - he's got a good deal but it is tiring. He's saving up loads tho and plans to do this until he's about 55, another 13 years then take a more local lesser paid job, once the kids are off his hands!

Where I live I have a 35 min commute to London followed by 25 min tube ride. At both ends Home/Office are a minute from the station. In reality it takes me 1 hour & 20 mins including walking/transfers/waiting etc. Total commute time is nearly 3 hours. I do it only 2 days in the week and couldn't do more. This is ok coz I work part time. I would say anything more than 1 hour door-to-door is difficult on a full time basis. Don't do it.

There's no way I would ever do a commute like that. Total waste of life.

I've done a 90 minute commute for the last 15 years, on & off. The trick is not to have to do it every day & dont do it in the middle of the rushhour.

It really depends:
Door to door time?
Packed train or are you able to sit?
Any children?
Are you able to work on the train or would really welcome the time to read or something else?