Ten pretty, commuter cottages for £400,000 or less — all within easy reach of London

If you already own a two-bedroom flat in London, chances are that you could comfortably afford a three-bedroom cottage a little further afield.

Though it’s a figure skewed by penthouses in prime postcodes, the average London two-bedroom home now costs £496,080 — and it likely won’t be long until it passes the half a million mark.

If you don’t, then maybe this bounty of beams, inglenook fireplaces and walled back gardens might tempt you to cast your net (and see your budget go) a little further.

We’ve selected 10 of the best commuter cottages on the market now, from chocolate-box homes in rural villages to terraces in popular towns like Lewes and Tunbridge Wells.

Bow Brickhill, Buckingshamshire

£385,000

A Victorian terrace home in this attractive village near Milton Keynes. There are three bedrooms of almost equal size, as well as two reception rooms, a conservatory and a courtyard garden. It’s offered with no onward chain.

Michael Graham, 01908 586400

Lewes, East Sussex

£375,000

Though it requires some modernisation, this double fronted Grade II-listed cottage is right in the centre of this popular East Sussex town. There are two bedrooms, exposed beams and a walled patio.

Oakley, 01273 487444

Goudhurst, Kent

£375,000

A period cottage in a historic Wealden village with over 1,300 square feet of living space, including three double bedrooms and an unusual mezzanine. It’s also within the Cranbrook School catchment area.

Batcheller Monkhouse, 01892 512020

Caversham, Berkshire

£400,000

A two-bedroom Victorian terraced house in this popular riverside suburb of Reading, still within walking distance of the mainline station for easy commuting. It has a typical layout and no onward chain.

Fox Beckett, 01189 546845

Dorking, Surrey

£389,950

This compact two-bedroom home is in a suprisingly central spot within the town. It has a living room with a woodburner, a stylish wood and concrete kitchen and a secluded patio garden. It’s also chain-free.

Seymours, 01306 776674

Standon, Hertfordshire

£400,000

An end of terrace home in a pretty village with good train connections from nearby Ware. There are three bedrooms, including a loft room with eaves storage, plus a garden with brick garage and shed.

Elliot Heath, 01920 293333

Lilley, Hertfordshire

£399,950

This Georgian terrace home, located in a rural spot between Luton and Hitchin, was formerly the village shop. Unusually it has a large open plan living room, as well as three bedrooms and a patio garden.

Savills, 01582 465000

Thaxted, Essex

£400,000

Thoughtfully renovated, this 15th-century cottage in Thaxted is a fifteen-minute drive from Stansted Airport. Its wealth of period features include beams and an exterior rendered in historic pargeting.

Inigo, 020 3687 3071

Elstead, Surrey

£400,000

A semi detached home close to the village centre, with a direct connection to London from neighbouring Milford. There are two double bedrooms, a good-size garden and a useful storage space.

Hamptons, 01483 905 232

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

£370,000

A neutrally-decorated cottage with a large garden and one of two bedrooms in a converted eaves space. It’s half a mile from the Pantiles, a colonnaded walkway with some of the town’s best independent shops.

Andrews, 01892 515144