Top 10 UK housing ‘hotspots’ unveiled as prices rise by 12.6% | Personal Finance | Finance
Plymouth, Stafford and Wigan have emerged as the ‘housing hotspots’ of 2025 as property values rise by double digits.
The Devon port city topped the league table with average house prices rising by 12.6% last year, according to mortgage data from Lloyds. Stafford and Wigan followed closely behind, recording increases of 12% and 10.5% respectively. Wakefield, Mansfield, Woking, Liverpool, Rugby, Falkirk and Hull round out the top 10. Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Lloyds, said: “Our customers’ dream homes are available in pockets across the UK and this year we have supported thousands of people to take their next home buying step.
“While real estate prices play a role, choosing where to live is also about finding a place that feels right — a community you connect with, a commute that works for you, and a lifestyle that suits you.”
The sharpest declines in house prices were seen in the South East; Crawley and High Wycombe recorded annual declines of 8.9% and 7.4%.
Although Wales as a whole recorded modest growth of 2.3%, values also fell in Cardiff, falling 5.2%.
A 6.4% drop in average property values was also recorded in Chester. However, the North West of England recorded a 3.7% growth in property values overall, reinforcing the region’s ongoing appeal for buyers looking for more for their money.
Ms Bryden added: “If you’ve decided on a particular location it’s worth taking the time to do some research and see what prices are there because fluctuations in value at a local level can make a big difference to how much you might need for a deposit, stamp duty or wider conveyancing costs.
“If you’re open to exploring, you can find places where your money is better spent. The north and Scotland are generally more affordable than the south of England, with so much to offer in terms of culture and history as well as some of England’s most beautiful parts.”
Most housing markets across the UK recorded growth in 2025, according to Lloyds data. Northern Ireland led the way with an increase of 5.8%, while London saw a marginal decline of 0.1% on average.
For its research, Lloyds compared the 12 months to October 2025 and the same months to October 2024. Only areas with at least 150 Lloyds mortgage offers (excluding hire purchase and shared ownership deals) were included.
The top 10 locations with the biggest percentage increase in average house values recorded by Lloyds, with average house value in 2025 and cash and percentage increase on the previous year:
- Plymouth, South West, £278,808, £31,229, 12.6%
- Stafford, West Midlands, £321,248, £34,516, 12.0%
- Wigan, North West, £249,562, £23,740, 10.5%
- Wakefield, Yorkshire and Humber, £286,268, £22,887, 8.7%
- Mansfield, East Midlands, £243,251, £19,444, 8.7%
- Woking, South East, £560,499, £42,046, 8.1%
- Liverpool, North West, £254,550, £17,686, 7.5%
- Rugby, West Midlands, £374,653, £25,450, 7.3%
- Falkirk, Scotland, £238,512, £15,794, 7.1%
- Hull, Yorkshire and Humber, £199,348, £12,206, 6.5%
The top 10 locations with the biggest percentage decline in average house values recorded by Lloyds, by average house value in 2025 and cash and percentage change on the previous year:
- Crawley, South East, £372,202, minus £36,317, minus 8.9%
- High Wycombe, South East, £436,379, minus £34,994, minus 7.4%
- Chester, North West, £340,415, minus £23,114, minus 6.4%
- Solihull, West Midlands, £390,292, minus £25,976, minus 6.2%
- Worcester, West Midlands, £331,977, minus £21,724, minus 6.1%
- Cardiff, Wales, £310,577, minus £17,079, minus 5.2%
- Cheltenham, South West, £411,593, minus £21,616, minus 5.0%
- Brighton, South East, £404,874, minus £20,254, minus 4.8%
- Barnsley, Yorkshire and Humber, £215,552, minus £10,624, minus 4.7%
- Stockport, North West, 330,654, minus 16,289, minus 4.7%
According to Lloyds, here are the average house values in 2025, followed by annual increases or decreases in cash and percentage terms:
- Northern Ireland, £240,486, £13,255, 5.8%
- Scotland, £257,399, £9,302, 3.7%
- North West, £281,722, £9,933, 3.7%
- Yorkshire and Humber, £270,856, £9,501, 3.6%
- South West, £360,317, £9,278, 2.6%
- East Midlands, £297,588, £6,953, 2.4%
- Wales, £262,854, £5,961, 2.3%
- East of England, £417,897, £8,853, 2.2%
- West Midlands, £304,640, £3,856, 1.3%
- North East, £224,725, £1,787, 0.8%
- South East, £452,961, £3,507, 0.8%
- London, £574,514, minus £342, minus 0.1%.
