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Welcome to the fun rabbit holes of family history!! 
It can be hard to pinpoint an exact reason but I think there were probably lots of different factors why people went to London - economic opportunities probably being the biggest. Lopen was close to the main Exeter to London road and better transportation probably played a part, along with events like the industrial revolution.

Lopen was a fairly small village and largely agricultural. It was also know for twine, rope and sail cloth making in the 1800s. Interestingly, your George was a shoemaker and so was John in this thread. John moved from Lopen to London to join the Met but I have no idea why the police?! He came back to the village to take up shoemaking again a couple of decades later. 

Sometimes it's useful looking in the census records - I have relatives (not just the Druce's) who went to London to be domestic servants or work in trade (one went to work as a hackney carriage driver) and went on to live/marry there. In some cases, relatives then appear in the records, lodging with them to work in London.

Good luck with your research and happy to share information. I think our common ancestor is Robert Druce/Mary Shore?

Thanks for this info. Really interesting as John and Elizabeth's first born is Jane Hazlewood Druce. I did wonder where that came from as their first son is Walter Bishop Druce, which made more sense on the presumption that Elizabeth's maiden name was Bishop. I'll definitely look into this.

Hi, thanks again for your help with this. I'm reviewing again so just to update the thread in case anyone else researches... I still haven't found John in the 1851 census but when John is discharged from the police in 1856, it says he is currently residing at 12 Cheapside, London.

In 1851 census, John's wife Elizabeth is employed as a nurse in household of William Mott in Ealing. WM is a "land proprietor".

John Druce witnesses a theft from the jewellery shop of William G Mott in 1856 and states in the old bailey evidence that he's Mr Mott's porter. Mott's will in 1857 shows he owns 12 Cheapside, so I think that there's a connection there at least.

could this be Elizabeth in 1851?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG5R-7NS

That does look extremely likely given the birthplace of Seavington. Thank you.

Is this his death?
Western Chronicle May 29th 1891
Deaths
Druce   May 18th at Lopon , Mr John Druce  formerly of the Metropolitan Police Force, aged 83.
Cathy

Hi Cathy, thanks for the reply. I believe this is his death.