UK Property's Highest Growth Areas together with the Most and Least Expensive Areas

Zoopla’s monthly House Price Index reveals the districts, cities, and regions where house prices are rising the fastest, along with the cheapest and most expensive places to buy a house on average.

The UK cities with the highest house price growth:

Of the UK’s major cities, Nottingham has recorded the biggest house price growth in the last year of 7.8%.

It’s followed closely by Birmingham (7.4%) and Leicester (7.3%), with these cities playing a part in the West Midlands’ strong regional price growth.

These include Manchester (6.9%), Cardiff (6.5%), Liverpool (6.5%), Portsmouth (6.2%), Sheffield (6.0%) and Leeds (6.0%).

At the other end of our city’s index, the lowest house price growth can be seen in Aberdeen (0.2%), Glasgow (2.7%), Oxford (2.8%) Edinburgh (3.1%) and Cambridge (3.2%).

The UK regions with the highest house price growth:

Zoopla House Price Index, February 2023

When we look at the UK’s regions, house prices have risen the most in Wales over the last year, with the country recording a 7.1% rise.

It’s followed by the West and East Midlands, then the Northwest and the Southwest - in all these regions house prices are rising faster than 6% over the last year.

On the other hand, house prices in Scotland (4.4%) and Northern Ireland (4.5%) are rising the slowest out of all UK regions, with the Southeast (4.7%) and East of England (4.8%) only slightly ahead.

Where are the cheapest house prices in the UK?

Zoopla House Price Index - February 2023

The cheapest areas to buy a home in the UK right now are all located in Scotland and the North of England.

The prominence of Scottish regions is down to a greater balance between property and wage growth than the rest of the UK.

"Scotland dominates the most affordable areas list, with modest pricing and stronger relative earnings making a home move more accessible for many,” says Izabella Lubowiecka, Researcher at Zoopla.

"For home movers on average salaries, mortgages are more affordable in these lower-value locations, especially if they have built up some equity in their current property.”

Where are the most expensive house prices in the UK?

Zoopla House Price Index - February 2023

When it comes to the most expensive places to buy a home, it’s all about London and the Southeast.

Kensington and Chelsea is the only place where the average house price pips the £1 million mark.

House prices in Richmond, Camden, Hammersmith, and Fulham, and Elmbridge all sit above £700,000. Price growth is low in these areas, with stretched affordability for London buyers limiting the scope for price increases over the last five years.

The leafier boroughs of Richmond, Elmbridge, South Buckinghamshire, and Chiltern are faring better in price growth but still sit below the national average price growth of 5.3% over the last year.