Stoke-on-Trent, a West Midlands city often described by locals as having 'no redeeming features', has been crowned the best place in the UK for young buyers to get on the property ladder, according to Savills' 'starter cities' index. The index scored cities on property affordability, rent-to-income ratio, population growth, and workplace earnings. Guardian Money also contributed to the analysis.
Affordability and Connectivity
The average flat price in Stoke-on-Trent is £88,448, while average annual earnings sit at £35,079, resulting in a price-to-income ratio of just 2.5. For those preferring a house, a three-bedroom semi-detached home starts at around £250,000, below the UK average of £270,000. The city is well-connected, with the fastest train to London taking under 90 minutes and 35 minutes to Manchester, and the Peak District nearby.
Mixed Reputation
Despite these positives, Stoke-on-Trent has a mixed reputation. Time Out's 2025 list of best UK places to visit ranked it third, calling it 'unfairly dismissed' and a 'trove of odes to pottery-making'. However, Reddit users have been less kind, with one saying 'I honestly find it to be a place of almost no redeeming features' and another calling it 'bleak, terrible and pointless'. TikToker Luke Hamnett admitted his hometown was a 'sh*t hole'. The city beat runners-up Hull, Derby, and Milton Keynes.
History and Culture
Stoke-on-Trent has a rich pottery history dating back to the 17th century, earning it the nickname 'the Potteries'. The Gladstone Pottery Museum, the only complete Victorian pottery factory, offers demonstrations and hands-on activities. Emma Bridgewater's factory, known for colourful polka dot ceramics, moved to the area in the mid-1990s, featuring a Decorating Studio and Kitchen Café. The Barewall Gallery sells works by local artists.
Urban Renewal
The city centre, located in Hanley (one of six towns that make up Stoke), has seen investment since 2018 through a Business Improvement District, introducing festivals like The Big Feast and Beats & Eats, as well as artwork projects and murals. The Goods Yard, a new neighbourhood near the railway station, offers 174 rental homes, independent bars, eateries, and a public square. Further out, the Trentham Estate provides 725 acres of parkland, gardens, and an outdoor shopping village. Nearby attractions include Cannock Chase, the Peak District, and Alton Towers.
Investment Potential
In 2022, the Sunday Times named Stoke-on-Trent one of the best up-and-coming areas in the UK to invest in. Guardian Money's top 10 cities for first-time buyers lists Stoke-on-Trent first, followed by Hull, Derby, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Plymouth, Southampton, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Norwich.
