London's Property Prices Force Commuters Into Campsites

"Each morning at these sites the shower blocks teem with commuters washing, shaving and making themselves presentable for a hard day's graft in the big smoke," writes Helen Pidd.

Lucy Boggis, an heptathlete aspiring to the 2012 Olympics lives at the Lee Valley Campsite in Edmonton. She has been at the site, located next to an athletic center, since last September as she received no lottery funding.

In a caravan a few doors down from Boggis lives IT contractor Keith Davidson, who commutes to Canary Wharf each day. "I often get contracts down here. The main reason I stay here is because of the flexibility – if you rent a flat you often have to commit to six months or a year, whereas here you can come and go as you like," he said.