THE 'GOLDEN TRIANGLE' COMMUTER TOWN ON LONDON UNDERGROUND MAP NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE

A commuter town being on the London Underground network feels too good to be true, let alone one that has been ranked as one of the top 10 best places to live in England. On the Central line you’ll find the commuter town of Chigwell, in Essex, which literary buffs will know it for its ties to Charles Dickens’ work.

The town is said to have been the inspiration for Maypole in his novel Barnaby Rudge . Dickens even went so far as to describe Chigwell as “the greatest place in the world…Such a delicious old inn opposite the church…such beautiful forest scenery… such an out of the way rural place!”

The town has come a long way since then and you’ll find it hasn’t lost its celebrity appeal. Considered part of the ‘Golden Triangle’, a trio of wealthy locations including Loughton and Buckhurst Hill, the Chigwell’s residents range from footballers to Lord Alan Sugar.

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Currently, Chigwell ranks 9th in Garrington Property Finders list of best places to live 2025. The list ranks towns based on natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, schools, and employment opportunities and value for money. Placing 9th out of 1447 options is impressive and makes this commuter town worth a look.

A Spokesperson for Garrington previously told our sister site Essex Live: “When you’re buying a home, what makes the difference between a good location or a great location? The answer will depend on what you want most from where you live - whether that’s bright lights, the great outdoors, good restaurants or great schools.”

“Our research team has crunched the numbers on no fewer than 18 different sources of data to identify the places that offer the best quality of life and the strongest combination of the things that matter most to people.”

It’s just a 60 minute commute from Chigwell station to London Bridge, 51 minutes to Waterloo and 50 minutes to Oxford Circus. It’s a convenient enough fit for Londoners looking for a luxury commuter town.

Chigwell is peppered with timber framed buildings that seem straight out of a 15th century village. It’s a mix of old style and new money. While the high street may boast buildings with historical facades, there are plenty of modern luxury homes to choose from. Despite its reputation as being a beacon for the rich and affluent, don’t assume you're out of the running just yet.

How house prices compare to London

With housing prices trending down last year, now may be the time to bite the bullet. Prices in Chigwell were down 5 per cent with an average pricing of £565,232 and flats averaging £393,360, according to Rightmove. Compared to the City of London with an average price £871,227 and that's a 20 per cent drop from the previous year.

Chigwell is a charming blend of restorations and remodels, giving new life to old elements. The most notable example is Chigwell’s famous pub, Ye Olde King’s Head, originally built in 1547. Lord Alan Sugar took over the building and turned it into Sheesh, a Turkish restaurant that still honors the original architecture. It includes a cocktail bar with live music, making it a great date night spot. When you’re not in the mood to go out, Chigwell has plenty of other fun to offer.

The Hainault Forest Country Park has stunning nature trails and playgrounds designed with both young children and teenagers in mind. It makes it an easy, family friendly outing at the weekend. After you’ve explored the trails and visited the animals at Foxburrow Farms you can stop for lunch at the 1856 Cafe, which was renovated from the original 1856 barn space, and enjoy a view of the grasslands.

As more Londoners look to commuter towns to buy homes, it's important to remember that it’s not one size fits all. For those looking to settle into a more traditional country life and leave city life for the work week, Chigwell may not be your best bet. But for those who want a little bit of London in the countryside, you’ll find Chigwell has just what you need.

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2025-05-05T04:31:46Z