Londoners are flocking to the ‘perfect’ commuter village with homes £384,684 cheaper

Just over one hour from London is the riverside village of Mistley (Picture: Getty Images) Perched right on the River Stour in Essex lies the unassuming village of Mistley, famed for its warm community feel and unique history. Being an hour away from the capital by train, it’s little surprise Londoners are packing it in and heading to this well-connected piece of coastline. It’s not just a speedy commute you’ll have to look forward to, either. The house prices are a fairly jammy deal, too. According to Rightmove, the average home has sold for £280,281 over the last year, with the majority being semi-detached properties. These have averaged out at £320,833, while flats have fetched a tastier £164,619, and terraced houses £267,978. Naturally, this is considerably cheaper than the situation in London, where homes have averaged out at £664,965 over the last year. Ouch. This makes the going rate in Mistley £384,684 cheaper. Ready to start your homebuying journey? You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. So, if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle, this Essex bubble could be just the tonic you need – without eye-watering mortgages. Things to do in Mistley During the 18th century, politician Richard Rigby had ambitious plans for Mistley, envisaging it as a saltwater spa town. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. At the time, Mistley was relatively small, with only a port, a few warehouses and a small church, constructed in 1735. The average house in Mistley costs £280,281 (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) Though his spa town vision never came into being, the Mistley Towers of the local church remain to this day, as do many Georgian structures along the high street – which are well worth a nosy. Just down the road in Manningtree, there’s the outdoor market on a Wednesday and Saturday, where you’ll find everything from locally sourced fish to fresh vegetables and a sweet treat or two. If water sports are your thing, the Manningtree Mermaids Wild Swimming Club offers a safe space for people of all genders to swim together across the Stour Estuary. If you identify as any kind of ‘merfolk,’ you’re welcome. Mistley was once destined to be a spa town (Picture: Getty Images) In 2024, they were even presented with an award after they campaigned to secure designated bathing water status at Manningtree Beach. Likewise, the Stour Sailing Club describes itself as ‘most friendly.’ It’s been going since 1936, and now has just over three hundred members. For something a little different, there’s Mistley’s annual pram race. Naturally, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a team of two people racing to get to the finish line, with the ‘baby’ in the pram and the ‘parent’ pushing. Locals say Mistley has a ‘proper community feel’ (Picture: Shutterstock/Steve Nimmons) In 2024, the route featured eight pop-up pubs, with teams stopping off at each for a tipple along the way. If you’re in search of a more permanent watering hole though, The Red Lion in Manningtree is a favourite among locals, famed for its real ales, craft ciders and comfy sofas. There’s also The Mistley Thorn, The Crown and The Anchor. What locals love about Mistley It’s safe to say that locals are completely besotted with Mistley, highlighting its strong sense of community and proximity to nature. Over on the r/Essex Reddit thread, @Mikeybarnes, whose parents have lived in Mistley for the last 10 years, said it has ‘a proper community feel’ that they don’t ‘think you get [in] many other places.’ @StillJustJones pointed out that while there’s ‘not loads to do culturally,’ that ‘doesn’t really matter as you’re in a bloody fab area.’ Colchester is a mere 9 miles away (Picture: Getty Images) ‘The wider area is just smashing. Dedham, East Bergholt and Hadleigh are all within easy reach and really nice places. In the other direction, Wrabness, Julie’s House, the nature reserves and RSPB site are just lovely,’ they added, while @Dazza477 described it as the ‘perfect place to live.’ And, although @SshhHereHeComes lives just up the road in Colchester, he gets a ‘really good feeling’ whenever he comes out towards Mistley – and even goes as far as driving his dog there ‘just so I can walk him there.’ Transport links in Mistley Mistley also happens to have one of the highest-performing train stations across the UK – and it’s just over one hour by train from Liverpool Street. Just hop on the Greater Anglia service to Manningtree for one stop and change for the direct line. Who needs to live in London anyway? 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