Map reveals the cheapest London station to live near — where rents are £835 less than average

Easy access to the Tube is a must when looking for a new flat in London.

After all, you’re paying through the nose, so the least you can expect is a straightforward commute.

Now, new data has unveiled the cheapest places to rent and buy property along each TfL station in London – so you can avoid a miles-long hike on your way to work and the dreaded ‘card declined’ beep when you tap in.

Stuck as part of ‘Generation Rent’? The most affordable destination in the Big Smoke is Anerley Station in South London, which comes in at £1,400 per month.

Yes, it’s zone 4, but it’s only 32 minutes from central London, located along the Windrush Line and connected to London Bridge.

It also fares relatively well compared to the rest of the capital, as average rents come in at £2,235 per month, according to the ONS.

Also in joint first place at £1,400 is Penge West – which is just round the corner.

It takes slightly longer to get to central London (36 minutes), but it’s also conveniently nestled along the Windrush Line.

Clearly, South London is the place to be as a renter too – as Norwood Junction came in third place for renting specifically at £1,410 per month.

In a position to buy? The research, which is part of an interactive map from Barratt Homes, finds that the most affordable place to set up shop is Dagenham East along the District Line.

The average house price here comes in at £344,000 – which, although admittedly more expensive than typical figures across the UK (£267,400, according to Zoopla), is miles below the going rate for London (£683,820, as data from Rightmove shows).

In second place is Becontree (£347,000), while a home in Dagenham Heathway can be snapped up for exactly the same price.

Things to do in Anerley, South London

Wondering about relocating to snap up some (relatively) cheap rent? There’s no shortage of things to do in Anerley.

If you’re a foodie, this SE bolthole is famously the home of Chatsworth Bakehouse.

An essential for baked goods in the local neighbourhood, it serves up focaccia, cheesecake, buns, and pizza – and was even hailed by TikToker @kristabelplummer for having the ‘best sandwiches in London.’

There’s also Marlow Fish Bar which was established in 1962 – and to this day, the business still uses beef dripping to cook up its delicious fried goods, a true rarity in London.

And there’s tipples aplenty to be poured at the Anerley Arms, which is kitted out with a beer garden for the summer months. Sunshine pints, anyone?

For a spot of greenery, Crystal Palace Park is a nine-minute walk away – which is famously home to the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Naturally, they’re not real, but sculpted – and have stood proudly since they were built in the 1850s.

By modern standards, they’re not considered to be totally accurate, but they are Grade I-listed. If you fancy admiring an iguanodon on your morning run, this is the place to be.

Also inside the park, there’s the legendary Crystal Palace Park Farm, which is completely free to enter. Here, you can spot goats, ponies, chickens, guinea pigs, and even a ferret.

What locals love about Anerley, South London

It’s safe to say that Anerley locals are pretty enamoured with the area. Previously taking part in Metro’s renting series, What I Rent, tenants Fleur and Leila were delighted with it.

‘We’re really happy here, mainly because unlike surrounding areas, Anerley hasn’t been hit by too much gentrification and it’s about in the middle between each of our families,’ the pair said when we previously took a nosy around their one-bedroom flat.

They were fortunate enough to find it on the very first day they went flat hunting.

‘We found it on Rightmove and viewed it later that day and signed for it the day after,’ they added.

‘Because it was empty we moved in about a week later, which was really lucky.’

Over on the r/London Subreddit, @JumpCuts has been living in Anerley for five years and ‘loves it.’

‘We are five minutes from Crystal Palace Park, a 10-minute walk/two-minute bus up to the Triangle with great pubs and restaurants and it’s an easy walk to Penge too,’ they penned.

‘In terms of transport, it’s quick to get into town from either CP Mainline/Overground or Anerley Overground.’

@tomrichards8464 said that he enjoys living in SE20 for the ‘easy access’ to places like ‘Beckenham, Penge and (especially) the Crystal Palace triangle.’

This article was first published on May 7, 2024.

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