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Original poster

How far is too far to walk to a train station for daily commute into work?

35 replies

littlecrystal · 12/08/2013 09:34

Sorry if this is slightly off topic for Property thread, but it relates to trying to buy a house.

I am looking to buy a house in a commuter town outside London and trying to establish what is acceptable walking distance to a train station for 5 days a week. I would say up to 1 mile, but 1 mile shown on Rightmove can easily extend to 1.5 miles walking distance. I still have 30 odd years to work until I get luxury to retire, so don?t want a burden of getting exhausted every morning and evening, but at the same time properties further out seem to be nicer and bigger? so that?s the dilemma!

Any advice from fellow commuters?

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 12/08/2013 09:37

I guess it depends on how long the train journey and walk the other end is tbh. When dh was commuting to London, we were 1 mile from the station, and he was only the other side of London Bridge (which the train got into), and it was just about OK, but a bit miserable in the winter.

Dackyduddles · 12/08/2013 09:38

Yes. We live 1 mile from commuting station. It's approx 15-20mins walk. Mostly dependant on fitness, illness, injury, on the phone, etc.

I wouldn't advise going above it if thinking of 30yrs. I would make it something you do from visitation of a house as part of checking it out. Some days it's fine. Some depressing. Some hard. It's both ways come rain/shine. Like anything it can be monotonous. Equally can be useful time to check in with parents.

I'd buy trainers to walk in too as costs fortune in leather otherwise too.

SwedishEdith · 12/08/2013 09:40

I have 15 minutes to station and 20 minutes on the other side. I think that's about my limit. Think if you have to carry a laptop as well

pinkje · 12/08/2013 09:41

You could cycle to the station too perhaps. Ours has a decent bike park and is what I'll do when I return to work as parking is a pita. Hadn't considered winter though.

turkeyboots · 12/08/2013 09:47

I wouldnt do more than a,10 - 15 min walk personally. As that will be too long on dark wet mornings! Look for a bus route as a back up for dark wet days when you might not want to walk.

Original poster
littlecrystal · 12/08/2013 09:50

Thank you so far.

The other end would be about 10 mins (fast) walk.
I could cycle or I could use a bus into the station, but cycling is not always possible (rain/winter/being too old or unwell), and I would not want to commit to regular bus expenses on top of massive rail ticket cost.

OP posts:
ConcreteElephant · 12/08/2013 09:56

We've recently moved and it's added 10 minutes to my walk, taking it from 25 to 35 minutes. It's about my limit! I only have to do it 2 days a week though, otherwise I think it'd be getting too much. I've a fair walk at the other end too, 20 minutes down the river - I can Tube it quicker but it's a lovely walk.

Both walks are really pleasant - I enjoy them - a shorter walk through less nice surroundings would feel worse I think.

I agree that you want comfy shoes for the walk and change for work - I just leave my shoes in the office.

Definitely use a map app to work out the distance, Rightmove isn't helpful at all in this respect! I use MapMyRun for running anyway so I just used that.

georgedawes · 12/08/2013 09:58

Our train station has, luckily, a free car park, appreciate train stations nearer London probably don't but maybe street parking?

5madthings · 12/08/2013 10:01

i would say up to half an hours walk?

i do that for school run so two hours a day as its there and back.

recently our cut through was closed due to building works which made it a 45min walk each way. it was fine but i was glad when the cut through was open again.

commute to workwise i used to bike but would have 15-20min bike ride.

AnswerThePhone · 12/08/2013 10:08

I would walk up to a mile and I'd look on it as part of my exercise routine. People in London do walk lots and it's great for us. My MIL lives in a small town and drives everywhere which has resulted in her almost being unable to walk. Drives us mad when we go on holidays and it has made us so aware of how important walking is.

AnswerThePhone · 12/08/2013 10:09

Little crystal there is a website ( don't have time to search for it just now) which you can map out your walking route and it will show you the mileage.

Thurlow · 12/08/2013 10:10

Mine's 20 minutes, or a very distressing 40 minute round trip if I'm dropping DC off at childcare. Then 30 mins on the train, 10 mins on the Tube, 5 mins walk. It's not too bad but it's getting a little irritating.

You definitely need decent shoes so you can walk at a fair lick if you want to, and maybe also podcasts etc to make the walk seem a little more interesting. If you see it as some exercise for the day it's not a bad thing really.

Original poster
littlecrystal · 12/08/2013 10:11

5madthings you are are real walker! I am not sure if I could manage what you do. I mean, I love walking, but still seems a lot!
We do have a car and there is free parking (well free parking zones on residential roads around), but I would love to be car-free at some point, so this does not appeal.

As it is long(ish) train journey, I would like a simple walk-train-walk and that's way I am interested on how far people walk to train stations...

OP posts:
CharlotteBronteSaurus · 12/08/2013 10:13

i reckon a mile is the maximum

I have no problems walking 2 miles, even a bit longer, if that's all I've got to do.
But even a mile walk after a packed train journey at 8pm is a bit soul destroying.

PicnicPie · 12/08/2013 10:16

We are just over a mile and prefer to have that little bit of distance from the hustle and bustle of the town centre. It's a 17 minute walk but we can also get the bus which takes 5-7 mins and comes regularly. We use the TfL bus tracker to check when the next bus is due before we leave home. Our bus travel is covered in the annual season ticket so we don't pay any extra.

Suppose it also depends on how long the rest of our journey is?

Bumblequeen · 12/08/2013 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 12/08/2013 10:26

yes it def depends on how long the rest of your journey is.

i walk everywhere, we live 20-25mins from city centre so walk to town etc.

my sil commutes into london and drives everywhere, she really struggled with our school run walk when she did it one time which i found really suprising.

given you have a ten min walk at the other end then i would say 20mins to the station? get a good windproof/waterproof coat!

MummytoMog · 12/08/2013 10:30

I have a twenty minute walk and loathe it. Most days I take the bus, even though it isn't quicker. But a nice electric bike, that would pedal assist me up the hill to the station might win me over to it...

Original poster
littlecrystal · 12/08/2013 10:31

The train journey is 40 mins and the other end to work is 10-15min walk...

OP posts:
Original poster
littlecrystal · 12/08/2013 10:34

MummytoMog I love the idea of electric bike! though I would be worried that it will get stolen.

Currently my walk to the tube station (in London) is 0.5 miles and I would say it is just about right. But living in a commuter town may give a different prospective.

OP posts:
lifesgreatquestions · 12/08/2013 10:34

I didn't realise how much my 2 miles of walking to and from the station a day was positively affecting my health. You cannot guess now what ailments might come your way but a mile for now sounds reasonable and healthy. Are there busses for crap weather/sore knee days?

ConcreteElephant · 12/08/2013 10:41

That's not far off my timings - I think if I were doing it every day I'd draw a line at 30 mins, assuming it's a nice walk.

It's a good bit of exercise, time to think, catch up on podcasts or whatever.

I think some people have got out of the habit of walking, due to driving everywhere, lack of time etc. You take it for granted, it's just walking after all, but I'm often surprised by the lack of capacity for walking that some of my slim, apparently healthy friends have.

specialsubject · 12/08/2013 10:45

anyone in normal health and under 60 or so should easily be able to do a mile each way, as long as it is not up massive hills. Bit of practice and you won't even break a sweat. And that's your daily exercise done.

that should take about 15 minutes in walking shoes. (not heels, not ballet flats, not silly sandals - decent trainers at least) If you do need to carry stuff, buy a backpack so the weight is properly distributed. Handbags off one shoulder are a bad idea.

Jan49 · 12/08/2013 11:20

I'd say under half an hour's walk. Up to 20 minutes is OK. More than that gets irritating when you're tired and just want to be home. Also depends on whether there is an alternative like a bus in bad weather or when you're ill or just don't feel like it. (I walk everywhere and don't have a car).

Thurlow · 12/08/2013 11:22

If there are buses or taxis available at the station, that makes a big difference. A taxi to my house is less than £5. It means I can occasionally get a taxi home if it's late or I'm ill or I'm slightly drunk without feeling too bad about it.