People looking to buy a house in the UK this year and beyond, we’ve got good news and bad news.
Whether your heart sinks or floats all depends on where you currently live, where you plan on purchasing a property, and crucially, when.
Research from Savills has revealed where house prices are rising the most – and the answers might surprise you. While London continues to be the most expensive region to buy a home (the average property in Kensington and Chelsea will set you back £1,136,900), the capital’s growth rate isn’t the fastest.
Now, if you’re ready to buy a home immediately (say, you’ve got your deposit and mortgage offer sorted), you’ll ideally want to snap up a house in the region with the highest growth rate, because if the trajectory continues, you’ll make more money in the long run should you decide to sell up.
Areas with high growth rates are also good news for current home owners (obviously), but not so great for those currently saving, as your dream home might be getting further and further out of reach.
So, if homeownership is on the agenda, here’s where you should and shouldn’t put down an offer.
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Where are house prices rising the slowest?
According to Savills, the forecast between 2024 and 2029 expects London to be the area with the slowest rate of growth, with only a 17.1% value increase.
Just behind the capital is the South East, at 17.6%. The region encompasses major cities like Brighton and Hove – which was recently voted the most walkable city in the UK – Canterbury, Chichester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Winchester.
The East of England comes in third, with a growth rate just over 2% higher. The East, which includes places such as Bedford, Luton, Basildon, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Cambridge, will see house prices rising by 19.9%.
In fourth place for the slowest increase title is the South West, for which the estate agent predicts a 21.6% rise. Major towns and cities in this region include Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, Exeter, Gloucester, Plymouth and Swindon.
Finally, making up this category is the East Midlands, where the four-year forecast predicts a 24.6% increase in property prices. The main cities in the region are Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham.
For the UK as a whole, Savills predicts a general increase of 23.4% for average house prices by 2029.
What to do in London
London is one of the most exciting cities in the UK. From classic sights like Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben, to creative hubs like Brixton, Camden and Shoreditch – all of which have their own personality – you’ll never be short of things to do.
So, if you fancy being a tourist in your own city, Metro has picked 14 things to do in London on a budget, or completely free.
Because even though property prices are predicted to grow at the slowest rate, we all know London living isn’t the cheapest.
Where are house prices rising the fastest?
Interestingly, it’s properties in the North West that are expected to see the biggest jump in price over the next four years. Specifically, 29.4%. So, if you live in any of these counties – Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside – and you currently own a home, you might want to think about putting it on the market in the near future.
Jokes aside, if you’re considering buying a property in these areas, now might be the best time to do so. Not only will you narrowly avoid the price hikes, but you’ll also bag yourself a guaranteed money maker.
In second place is the North East, which comprises Newcastle upon Tyne, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Gateshead, Darlington, Hartlepool and Durham. Savills expects prices to increase by 28.2% as of 2029.
Yorkshire and the Humber received the same percentage prediction. Prominent towns and cities include Leeds, Bradford, York, Wakefield, Sheffield, Ripon, and Kingston upon Hull, to name a few.
What’s interesting about these figures is that the north of England has long been viewed as the cheapest area to buy a property.
While that might be true to some extent (places like Cheshire, Harrogate and Knaresborough all feature high property price tags – as do many other affluent Northern towns and cities), it’s clear that these parts of the UK are becoming more attractive to potential homeowners.
This comes during a time when more people are moving out of London than in.
But away from the north now, and trailing a little behind Yorkshire and the North East, is the West Midlands. Here you’ll find Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Worcester, where property prices are expected to rise by 26.4%.
Less than a percentage point behind is Scotland, at 25.8%, while finally, Wales sits in the middle at 25.2%.
What to do in the North West
Different pockets of the North West all have their own personalities. For example, Manchester isn’t just about the Industrial Revolution. It’s also one of the most creative and vibrant cities in the UK.
Manchester’s music scene is renowned, from indie legends like The Smiths and Joy Division originating from the city, to the legendary nightclub, The Haçienda, which birthed bands like the Happy Mondays, New Order, The Stone Roses and Inspiral Carpets. The latter of whom made up the iconic Madchester movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Once you’ve explored the nostalgia-soaked streets, Liverpool is just a 37-minute train ride away. Explore landmarks like Anfield Stadium and the Royal Albert Dock, take a Mersey Ferry ride, and immerse yourself in Liverpool’s famous musical history. If you’re a Beatles fan, no trip to the city is complete without a trip to the dynamic Cavern Quarter.
Of course, it’s not just about major cities in the North West. Cumbria is home to the famous Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site National Park, famed for its breathtaking lakes, rugged mountains, and historic literary associations.
If you’re looking to unwind for a few days, this is the place to do it.
This article was first published on June 1, 2025.
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