Fancy a move out of London? These WFH-friendly locations will save you £££s

(Image credit: Getty/Prisma by Dukas)

published 30 July 2020

Hands up if this pandemic’s given you a taste for a slower-paced life? Here at Real Homes we’ve loved the work-from-home lifestyle, and we’re definitely not looking forward to the dreaded commute once the offices are back up and running.

Thankfully, we’re seeing some companies move towards a more flexible way of working, and if you’re lucky enough to be working for one of them, this could be your chance to make the move away from the city for a more peaceful life – and it could cost you less, too.

Home office ideas: stylish workspaces to boost productivity

For those in London in particular, making the move to a coastal or rural location could save you up to £2,493, according to money-save website NetVoucherCodes.co.uk – while still providing you with the connection speed you need to get your job done.

The company have researched the best places to work from home in the UK by average broadband speed, and you'll be surprised at just how far down the capital comes on the list – a measly 16th place despite sky-high rents.

So, where's the best place to live if you're adopting the WFH lifestyle permanently?

If you love city life but don't love the London price tag, then Hull could be the place for you. The northern city has an average download speed of 87 Mbps – compared to London's 50 Mbps – and an average three-bed house would cost you just £778.50 to rent in the city centre, compared to £3,188 in London – a saving of £2,409.50.

Fancy heading to the seaside? Crosby, a coastal town in Merseyside, has a similar internet speed to London but will cost you just £695. Love the idea of a rural retreat? Pretty Altrincham in Greater Manchester has a slightly lower internet speed of 49.5 Mbps but will cost only £1,232 in rent.

Expensive cities like Leeds, Newcastle and Portsmouth have rent as high as £1,355, but offer some of the worst broadband speeds in the country, coming in bottom of the table with a lacklustre 24 Mpbs or lower.

A spokesperson from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said, 'As employees are less likely to have to live within commuting distance to the office, they can look at options that would have not previously been viable.

'It’s important to weigh up the consequences of the move and make sure it’s right for both you and your employer.

'It’s deciding if you’d rather spend your lunchtime strolling the beach or an open green field instead of hitting the shops on Oxford Street.

'These decisions and a potential move will also help save you money, which you can enjoy with the extra time you have back after ditching the commute.'

Formerly deputy editor of Real Homes magazine, Ellen has been lucky enough to spend most of her working life speaking to real people and writing about real homes, from extended Victorian terraces to modest apartments. She's recently bought her own home and has a special interest in sustainable living and clever storage.