Commute time is one of the most underweighted factors when choosing where to live in London. Research consistently shows that commute length is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction — every 10 minutes added to a commute is roughly equivalent to a 19% pay cut in terms of wellbeing. For most Londoners, the tradeoff between a longer commute and lower property prices is the central financial decision of home-buying.
The figures below show average commute times to Zone 1 (central London) from each borough. Borough averages mask significant variation within areas — a postcode near an Elizabeth line station may offer a 15-minute commute in a borough with a 35-minute average. Use LondonIQ's commute finder to search by your specific workplace postcode and maximum journey time.
Visualise commute times on a map
The Commute Warp tool shows all of London colour-coded by journey time from any postcode — tube, rail, and bus combined.
Find areas within your commute time
Enter your workplace postcode and budget. LondonIQ shows every area reachable within your maximum commute time — ranked by liveability.
Open commute finder →