THE 'VERY FRIENDLY' COMMUTER TOWN 20 MINUTES FROM LONDON NAMED AMONG THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE

Just a short drive outside of South London, the historic market town of Epsom in Surrey has become something of a haven for those who want the best of both worlds, easy links into the capital but with a slower pace of life. It is no longer under the radar though as it has just been named the second best place to live in England in 2025.

Garrington Property Finders has released the results for its 'Best Places to Live 2025 in England and Wales' survey, ranking locations by their natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, schools, employment opportunities and value for money. Epsom also made the list in years prior and has risen the the ranks thanks to its abundance of highly-rated school and high paying jobs in the area. It's not hard to see why Londoners would be tempted to relocate.

With London homes being some of the most expensive in the country, Epsom has become an up-and-coming spot for Londoners who’ve outgrown renting. Especially as housing prices have dropped 2 per cent on the previous year’s price of £569,045 compared to London’s average price of £762,317.

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Known for The Derby, Epsom is the town equivalent of a starter home. It’s the perfect place for young thirty somethings to stop renting and purchase a house while still earning London wages. The work commute to Victoria station is only 41 minutes, London Bridge just 49 minutes and only 38 minutes to Waterloo. You can have your cake and eat it too in Epsom or in this case, afford your yard and enjoy it too.

MyLondon previously spoke to Dee Besant, a business owner who's lived and worked in Epsom 17 years. She told MyLondon: “I love Epsom. I’m a mum of three and I help support the local community and businesses. I can’t see any negative as to why people wouldn’t want to move to Epsom. You are close to London, the commute is pretty easy.”

“I think you’d get more for your money here compared to living in London. If you have a family, you’ve got great schools in the area. If you want a good area to bring up your family, we’ve got that.”

Epsom does have excellent schools to choose from. Epsom college recently rose to 61st place nationally and is ranked the 19th best private school in the southeast. It also boasts an impressive sports record. Cheaper cost of living and schooling isn’t Epson’s only appeal.

The town offers a charming blend of country activities and city pleasures. The Epsom Golf Club and Epsom Downs Racecourse may appeal to more sports minded residents but the town also has plenty of relaxing nature parks to walk through.

The Epsom Common Local Nature Reserve, cared for by the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, has many nature paths and is home to a variety of birds. If you're not ready to fully commit to becoming a birder and sporting a barbour jacket, the town has a broad selection of bars and restaurants to entertain you.

You can grab a Mediterranean inspired dinner at Rocksalt, the first fusion restaurant opened in Epsom and then hit the town for drinks. If you need to scratch that cosmopolitan itch, The Be At One cocktail bar has a smart casual dresscode and swanky interiors perfect for a night out.

The bar even participates in the cocktail competition Best in Glass and has 3 award winning cocktails on its menu. There’s plenty of fun to be had on a weekend in Epsom if you want it, but don’t overlook the community aspect of the town.

Epsom resident, Tony Froud, previously told MyLondon: "You've got a lot of shops and rural land. You've got the green belt and a good hospital, it's a good place. Everybody is very friendly and polite and it's a gentle town to live in.

Epsom makes for a great choice for a Londoner to stop playing renting roulette and get on the property ladder, whether they move with a family in mind or simply want to invest in a house of their own.

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2025-05-03T04:00:44Z