Top 10 UK Property Hotspots: House Prices Up 63% Since 2016

Across the UK, house prices have soared, with some areas experiencing significantly higher increases than others. Rightmove has identified the hotspots where asking prices have grown the most over the past decade. Surprisingly, London does not top the list; instead, Manchester has emerged as Britain's leading city for price growth.

Manchester Tops the List

Manchester has seen an average asking price increase of 63% since 2016, reaching £261,891. This sharp rise has boosted property wealth for many homeowners but may also push home ownership further out of reach for first-time buyers in the vibrant northern city.

North-South Divide

Rightmove's analysis reveals a longer-term north versus south divide. No cities in southern England appear in the top 10 for fastest growth, while the south dominates the list for slowest growth. Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, commented: "Manchester is a big winner of the past decade, with strong price growth underlining its growing popularity among buyers. By contrast, London has seen much slower growth over the same period, reflecting how higher prices in the capital have limited how much further buyers can stretch."

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Affordability and Working Patterns

Babcock added: "Looking at the bigger picture, affordability has been a central theme shaping these trends. Areas with lower starting price points have had more room for growth, which has contributed to a widening north-south divide in price growth trends over the last 10 years. Some of the shifts behind this are continuing to play out, particularly changes in working patterns. Greater flexibility through hybrid and remote working is still influencing where people choose to live, supporting demand in cities that offer better value and a different lifestyle balance."