A London bolt-hole has risen up the list of requirements for those who made the move to the country during the pandemic, according to Knight Frank.

Some people purchased property outside of London in the belief that the daily commute was a thing of the past. But with the direction of travel now back into the office, it would appear that some of those who moved outside the M25 now face a more regular and lengthier commute, making a London base far more important.

Consequently, the number of new prospective buyers registering with Knight Frank outside the capital looking for a London property has spiked in recent months, fuelled in part by the stamp duty holiday.

In Q3 2021, the group represented 9.5% of the total, down slightly from 10.4% in the second quarter of this year.

“The vast majority of buyers coming from outside of London are looking for a bolt-hole rather than to up sticks and return to the capital,” said James Clarke, head of London sales at Knight Frank. “All of a sudden, that daily commute looks a bit tougher as the need to be back together in the office becomes more apparent.”

He added: “In rare cases, some are doing a complete 180 and coming back to London but the last time I heard of someone doing this, they also made a six-figure sum on their country property.

“What we are seeing quite clearly is that people want the advantages of the Country and London,” said James Cleland, head of Knight Frank’s country business. “The genie is very much out of the bottle for many people who now appreciate the advantages of living outside the capital.

“There is less competition for schooling and some people prefer it as an environment for kids to grow up,” said James Clarke. “Those looking back in London are focussing on areas like Belsize Park, Queen’s Park and south London markets like Wandsworth.”