Five towns set to be tomorrow's commuter hotspots

A long commute is becoming the norm for more and more of us, as home buyers are priced out of the cities.

You can get far more for your money if you're prepared to spend a little time on the train, with research recently revealing that London workers can save nearly £450,000 on the cost of a home if they are willing to commute for an hour each way.

Commuters to London willing to make one-hour trip could see big savings on home

However, many of the best-known commuter hotspots are themselves pretty pricey. These days, it can be hard to find anywhere within range of the big cities that hasn't already been bought up by travelling workers.

But one way to beat the crowds is to look to those areas that have in the past been less accessible - but that are now getting new railway stations.

We look at a few of tomorrow's commuter hotspots.

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Kidlington, Oxfordshire

Oxford's new Parkway station opened a year ago, and earlier this month started running direct trains to London Paddington, taking around an hour. The station is just five minutes' walk from Kidlington - officially a village, despite a population of over 17,000 and all the amenities you'd expect to see in a smallish town.

This newly-converted one-bedroom flat is a fifteen-minute walk from Oxford Parkway and just off an all-night bus route into central Oxford; it's perfect for a first-time buyer. Finished to a very high standard, it has a large - and beautifully kitted out - open-plan kitchen/reception. There's a double bedroom with built in wardrobes and a smart shower room. Two of the four flats in the development have a small garden, and all have allocated parking; this one's available through agent Thomas Merrifield for £225,000.

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Fife, Scotland

The biggest beneficiaries of the new Edinburgh Gateway station, which opened earlier this month, will be commuters living in Fife, who will get two extra trains an hour, and who will be able to connect to Edinburgh trams.

And less than a mile from Glenrothes with Thornton station, this three-bedroom bungalow is in the right place to benefit. It has a large open-plan lounge/diner with a kitchen/breakfast room and utility hallway. There's an en-suite shower room to the master bedroom, along with a family bathroom. Agents Slater Hogg & Howison are looking for offers over £218,000.

Ilkeston, Derbyshire

Work's been delayed on Ilkeston station, but it's looking like opening next year. When it opens, though, trains will run to Chesterfield, Sheffield and Leeds, with those to Nottingham taking just 15 minutes.

Just a fifteen-minute walk away, this attractive three-double-bedroom house is spread across three floors and is larger than it seems. There are two good-sized reception rooms, as well as a breakfast kitchen. Outside, there's a small garden with parking at the rear. It's on the market with Charles Newton & Co for £124,950.

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Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire

The new station at Apperley Bridge opened this time last year, with trains running to Leeds and Bradford, taking just fifteen minutes to get to each. This new-build four-bedroom house is on the Brompton Fold development, currently under construction near the Apperley Bridge Marina.

The house has an attractive layout, with a dual aspect kitchen and dining room with separate utility room. There's a good-sized living room with French windows onto the garden, which houses a single garage. It's being marketed by Miller Homes, and is priced at £340,000.

Kenilworth, Warwickshire

While the project has been delayed, Kenilworth Station is set to open next August, with trains to Leamington, Coventry and beyond. Kenilworth is an attractive town, with excellent schools that make it a draw for families.

A ten-minute walk from the new station in the Old Town conservation area, this historic cottage is chock-full of original features including fireplaces and wooden floors. There's a range cooker in the kitchen, a pretty living room and dining room and two double bedrooms with bathroom upstairs. There's a gorgeous garden to the rear. It's up for sale with Sheldon Bosley Knight for £335,000.