Commute time

[Rhinothunder]

Just wondering what the longest door to door commute time people think is bearable 5 days per week? Looking to move but would require a bug commute for my husband and not sure what is reasonable. Thanks

I do a 40 minute train journey with an 18 minute walk at both ends. I pretty much always get a seat and it’s fine because I just read a book. I can get a bus at the other end if it’s raining. I enjoy the walk though because it’s an interesting street and through a park.

The station he cha ges from train to tube matters. London Bridge means a long connection, Charing Cross to Embankment means potentially getting rained on etc... what's the changeover?

No expectations to work late. He's in one of those jobs that basically closes with the market, (which is why he has the really early start ). Obviously for him it will be a much tougher weekend, but he's also keen to move for the family and lifestyle on non- office days (space / kids / activities etc). Says he's up for it but I'm just scared we fast forward 2 years and he's not coping with it. So hard to know what is best overall when weigh it all up for everyone.

@BabyRace

The station he cha ges from train to tube matters. London Bridge means a long connection, Charing Cross to Embankment means potentially getting rained on etc... what's the changeover?

Coming into Waterloo, getting to green park

@Rhinothunder

Nothing has to be forever.

The working world is changing so fast, you can't foresee too far ahead.

Current commute is 35mins! So 3 times longer!

I used to do just over 2hours each way. I hated it. It was walk, bus, walk, underground, walk - and of course, the same in reverse at night. Then when the football was on/weather was bad/there was an accident, it was unbearable.

I changed jobs, and I now do about 1hr/1hr 15 mins each way, but it’s drive door to door. It’s like heaven in comparison. I mean, there’s days where it’s longer due to road closures, bad accidents, etc., but I can control the route, the time I leave, and what I can listen to in the car.

It’s amazing that 15 miles difference each way (I live between 2 major cities) can make such a massive difference. I think I would genuinely break to go back to what I did before.

I work in Central London and my commute is 1.5 hours each way. I've worked with people who have had longer commute. It's just a way of life for people who work in Central London and you get used to it.

Waterloo to Green Park isn't bad, it's just a few stops.

That transfer to Green park is easy - particularly early in the morning.

Wow. Then absolutely no way would I entertain that. Also - I work with plenty of men who’s families moved out, with promises of daily commuting. Eventually it takes a toll and they ended up staying in London two nights a week. If you’re happy with that being a possibility then it’s your choice to make as a family.

No one knows what companies will do post covid. Based on what you’ve said he’s in/ associated with banking. They are the ones being the most bullish about getting people back in and fulltime.

Also what if he wants to change job? And the commute isn’t as straightforward?

Yes it's fine. He would drive to station (13mins) train 1h09 to waterloo tube to green park.

Alternatively he can actually drive in- which would be fine in am but I think a nightmare coming home....

This is really helpful BTW thanks everyone. Have never had a commute more than 1hr which I hated as had 2 under 3yrs at the time . So feel awful on his behalf but he doesn't seem that fussed by it. Trying to anticipate how he will feel when it's a daily reality though!

You can’t really work on the train if you do anything vaguely confidential as anyone can look over your shoulder and/or listen to you.

We have discussed him staying overnight 1 or 2 nights which I'm OK with as only for a few years.

Even if changes jobs will always be based in Mayfair or city so shouldn't make a big difference to commute (ie bank or green park tube) , but a change in job is where the risk of him needing to be 5 days in office comes from (current firm is maxed at 3)

That changeover is fine, all under cover so no rain and shouldn't be too busy at that time in the morning. Coming home will be busier but its a quick tube then hopefully he'd get a seat on the train.

London commutes are always longer, and people who don't work centrally don't always take that into account. Are you prepared to take 100% of the morning responsibility with the DC?

5 days a week? Half an hour or so door to door personally.

I can't imagine having to travel 1-2 hours plus each way, every single working day. It sounds absolutely horrific and no amount of money would be enough for either dh or me to do it.

My commute in normal times is 2 hours to door but only 3 days a week. I WFH the other days.

I have a short walk, short train to main train station, then an hour long train journey, then a 15-20 minute walk. I always try to use the hour on the train productively, reading, or keeping on top of emails. And then listen to music or podcasts on the walking/waiting bits. You can find strategies to make it work I think. I try to go in as early as possible and then leave before the real rush hour starts.

I already sort 100% of the childcare has been that way since day dot as he likes to get up and go early. So much so that even when he was wfh and I wasn't I still did it!

Re his job - he is only going to be doing it for max another 10 years (probably less) and hopefully only in town max 3 days a week, I'm just trying to anticipate what it might be like if plans went array

I have done this in the past, although I was a lot younger (late forties rather than my current pre-retirement age).

It's certainly doable, but it depends on the person, the job, the reasons....

I had 16 minutes to station, then park. Train took about 1 hr 20 mins, then two underground rides, would get to the office at about 8.30am. Sometimes stayed late, sometimes left the office early (especially Fridays, everyone commuted long distances so left at 3pm).

It was fine, trains are travelling offices for the commuters. I did it for a few years until I WFH two days per week.

As a PP mentioned, if work is in London, even those living in a London may face a 45 minute commute depending on where they need to get to.

All depends what you are used to. I do wonder if he is only 8 years away from retirement why you need to move away for quality of life now? Unless you started your family late

Mine was roughly 1 hour 20 mins each way, five days a week. It could take longer- problems with trains, cancellations, strikes, etc. It could take a bit less - connections all worked smoothly. Mine was walk to tube, tube (change a couple of times), train, bus. Or a variety of similar routes. An hour at least is pretty standard in London. Returning home always took longer than going - because I’d hit peak time in the tube and couldn’t get on the train at two of my interchanges. That was always the most frustrating part.

For me it's 20 mins each way max. For my partner an hour each way. He calculates commute distance based on salary, higher the wage the more he is prepared to travel.
For me, I value home life more, so stick to shorter commutes. I already put in 8 hour days 5 days a week, not prepared to add another 10 hours commute like my partner. Oddly (or not maybe) I earn much more than my partner does

We are late thirties, 4 kids primary age. Plan is for career change in 8ish years (he'll start to take over a more local family business, at present hes not required in family business and it really doesn't pay as well!) Hence need for job in town for few years to get on top of mortgage. I also work but only 3 days a week. My commute will be 35mins door to door

You need to plan it from your front door to sitting at his desk. So I'd say:
13 minute drive plus a couple of minutes spare to make sure he doesn't miss the train, plus a couple of minutes to park and get to the platform, call it 20 minutes.
1hr 10 minute train
5 mins between getting off a train and getting on a tube
10 minute tube journey
5 minutes between getting off the tube and getting to his desk.
That's 1hr 50 minutes without any delays at all, meaning it will often be over 2 hours. And remember that on the way home in rush hour he won't be able to time getting to Waterloo as perfectly as there might be queues at Green Park. I used to commute into London and it took about an hour and fifteen and it gets very tiring very quickly. Also my commute should have taken an hour but averaged an hour 15 minutes overall.

Pre COVID I used to do 2 hours door to door 4 days a week. Did it for ten years through both my pregnancies. I got used to it pretty quickly and was able to enjoy living in a much more affordable location. Being start of the line helped as well.