Being physically nearer a place doesn't always make it easier to get to... many people living in the south east/west will know that on public transport it's cheaper and easier to go via London. Example; from Weymouth to London to Oxford/Thame to get to Towersey, is easy and half the price of trying to get from Weymouth to Oxford/Thame directly. Even with a car, the quicker roads go to/from London and the major cities... so it's often easier to go to London first and start from there!

My manager takes less time getting to work if she takes the train from Upminster to Fenchurch St and then underground to Euston, than if she got on the underground at Upminster and travelled to Euston with a change at Barking or Aldgate, on the same tracks!

LTS