How long is too long - London commute?

[goldpendant]

Hi fellow Londoners,

Looking for a bit of perspective on commuting, mine has always been an easy train ride into Waterloo and a short walk, but I'm at second stage interview for a job that would put my commute up to 1hr 15mins with numerous changes (think bus, tube, bus).

It's a bit much right?

But say I really wanted the job, do people move within London for jobs? We love where we are (SW), a move a bit further north to say Chiswick or Kew would make it manageable, but that means new schools, new house etc, a huge upheaval for a job.

Thoughts please? Should I just accept that it's a pig commute if I'm offered it, or would this wear you out and you'd decline if offered? Disclaimer, I don't really like commuting and expect to need to be in at least 2-3 days a week.

I've commuted to Milton Keynes before from S London. I wouldn't move areas. That journey 2/3 days a week is fine ime unless you have a bad back or whatever. Most people's commute is just over an hour door to door I'd say, mine certainly always has been.

I wouldn’t do it. It could make your life very miserable and presumably that 1.15 is if everything is running perfectly? Which it just won’t be.

I wouldn’t move within London if it would mean new schools, 1h15 is on the upper end of reasonable for 5 days per week but if it’s only a few times a week would be doable. About an hour is very normal.

Pre-Covid mine was 1.5 hours and I hated it with a passion. I live in zone 6 and work in zone 1. Every day it's a case of on your marks, get set, GO!!! 1000 times worse if trains are delayed etc. Cross rail is supposed to be arriving in 2095 so should be a lot better then. Think VERY hard about committing to that commute. Each time you do it steals a bit of your soul.

I had a commute that length and what made it bearable was (a) it was pre-DC so no stresses there and (b) I was reverse commuting out of London so always got a seat on a nice quiet train. It was awful when anything snarled the network up though.

But 2/3 days a week I'd definitely consider it. I wouldn't move my whole life for it though - jobs change.

It's only a couple days a week. If you share the general start and end points maybe we can suggest quicker routes? The journey planners are rubbish in certain areas.

Yep we have 2DC, both primary so have drop offs to contend with too.

It would be a bus to the nearest mainline tube station (at least 35mins), then tube (15 mins) and then another bus (who knows for how long- I've never done this route before!)

The addition of two buses is putting me off, I know the roads and traffic is hugely unpredictable and just feels much lengthier than a train/tube commute.

If I could drive it's only take me 45 mins, but that also feels like madness in London. And there's probably no parking either.

Ok start is Kingston, end is Latimer Rd.

Where do you live and where is the job? Could you get an electric bike and I can help you find a safe route? There are some really nice protected paths now.

Could you potentially drive to a different tube or train line which gets nearer (ie within walking distance) to the final destination?

Do you have a mainline station nearer? 35 mins on a bus to tube seems extreme. Mainline to central London might reduce times?

Google says 55 min on bike which is usually a very low estimate in my experience, can you bike to a station and leave the bike there, and leave one at the station the other end? Or trains will let you take a folding bike usually

It is a bit long and delays will make 1h30 from experience the bus is a stressful element.

I had 10min walk, 2 train/tubes and a 15 min walk total long 1h15 and found it knackered me.

I know people who commute from Bristol to London. That's an hour and a half on the train plus the walk/cab/bus at either end.

It is slightly on the long side, but it's not fulltime, so bearable. Buses in London are massively improved. There's always things that may hold you up, e.g roadworks etc, so may want to get the bus one earlier than you need to arrive to save any stress.
I would definitely try it out and wouldn't even think of moving within London.

Can't you still get the train into Waterloo then jump on the tube?
I commute from north to southeast London (one hour plus) and did one route for ages then found another 20 minute quicker one a year later . There are so many options now, especially with the London Overground. (In a way I prefer the longer route as I get a lovely walk in at the end, and a nice raisin Danish pastry).

I would bike to Kingston station , change at Clapham junction for the overground to Shepherd's Bush and bike from there, either with Uber Jump bike or leaving them at the station. 21 min train then 12 min train. Once you're waiting for buses the time increases exponentially especially on a rainy day

I wouldn't do that journey with two buses. 35 minutes on the bus means more in a busy rush hour and much more if there are long waits for the bus to come, as is common in the suburbs. 1hr 15mins is fine if it is one train journey but not with the changes.
Moving schools could be an issue and house prices could be more in the new area so I wouldn't do it.

Do you mean there's another bus after Latimer Rd? Because you can take the tube all the way there switching at Hammersmith

I would also do Kingston to Clapham J to Shepherds Bush though

@BathwaterBaby

I would bike to Kingston station , change at Clapham junction for the overground to Shepherd's Bush and bike from there, either with Uber Jump bike or leaving them at the station. 21 min train then 12 min train. Once you're waiting for buses the time increases exponentially especially on a rainy day

That would be my suggestion too

Even if you can't cycle, walking is usually better than a rush hour bus!

If it is a bit too far to walk from Shepherds Bush, would you consider a Brompton / other foldable bike for the last bit? Alternatively, I had a plan to buy a cheapish bike that lived at or near my mainline London station and then cycle it back and forth to the office (but haven’t needed to execute this one since Covid).

I think that amount of time is a normal commute. If it is only for 2-3 days, it’s easy. I would definitely not move house for that. I did about that for seven years every day - that was the shortest journey time, but it could take longer with delays.

I was just over an hour door to door, 3 trains from SW London zone 3 to W London zone 2 🙄

It was lining up all the bloody trains that was stressful, but I was lucky that it usually went ok and I dropped from 3 days in the office to 2 when I went back with dc2.

I started work at 7.30 so was on the 6.30 train and I found (anecdotally based on dh being on the later trains after dropping DC at childminder) my trains were more likely to be on time 🤷

We had an amazing childminder who was ok with the once in a while train faults too.

It can be done if you and your DP are willing to make it work.

2 or 3 days a week, I think it’s doable. But I don’t mind commuting. Will your partner be able to sort out the DC in the morning, so you only need to worry about yourself?