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 increased by double-digits.

The Devon port city topped the league table, with average house prices rising 12.6% over the past year based on Lloyds’s mortgage data. Stafford and Wigan followed closely behind, posting increases of 12% and 10.5% respectively. Wakefield, Mansfield, Woking, Liverpool, Rugby, Falkirk and Hull completed the top 10. Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Lloyds, said: “Our customers’ dream homes are found in pockets around the UK, and we’ve supported thousands of people to take their next home-buying step this year.

“While property 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 fits you.”

The South East saw the steepest declines in house prices, with Crawley and High Wycombe recording annual drops of 8.9% and 7.4%.

Cardiff also saw a fall, with values down 5.2%, despite Wales as a whole recording moderate growth of 2.3%. 

A 6.4% fall in average property values was also recorded in Chester. However, the North West of England overall recorded growth of 3.7% in property values, reinforcing the region’s continued appeal for buyers seeking more for their money. 

Ms Bryden added: “If you’ve got your heart set on a particular location, it’s worth taking time out to do some research and see what’s happening with prices there, as swings in value at a local level can make a big difference to how much you may need for a deposit, stamp duty or wider moving costs.

“If you’re open to exploring, you might find places where your money goes further. Northern regions and Scotland are still generally more affordable than the south of England, with a huge amount to offer in terms of culture and history, alongside some of the most beautiful parts of the UK countryside.”

Across the UK, most housing markets recorded growth in 2025, according to Lloyds data. Northern Ireland led with a 5.8% rise, while London saw a marginal drop of 0.1% on average. 

Lloyds compared the 12 months to October 2025 with the same months running to October 2024 for its research. Only areas with at least 150 Lloyds mortgage offers – excluding buy-to-let and shared-ownership deals – were included. 

Here are the top 10 locations with the biggest percentage increases in average home values recorded by Lloyds, with the average home value in 2025 and the cash and percentage increase compared with the previous year:

1. Plymouth, South West, £278,808, £31,229, 12.6%
2. Stafford, West Midlands, £321,248, £34,516, 12.0%
3. Wigan, North West, £249,562, £23,740, 10.5%
4. Wakefield, Yorkshire and the Humber, £286,268, £22,887, 8.7%
5. Mansfield, East Midlands, £243,251, £19,444, 8.7%
6. Woking, South East, £560,499, £42,046, 8.1%
7. Liverpool, North West, £254,550, £17,686, 7.5%
8. Rugby, West Midlands, £374,653, £25,450, 7.3%
9. Falkirk, Scotland, £238,512, £15,794, 7.1%
10. Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber, £199,348, £12,206, 6.5%

Here are the top 10 locations with the biggest percentage falls in average home values recorded by Lloyds, with the average home value in 2025 and the cash and percentage change compared with the previous year:

1. Crawley, South East, £372,202, minus £36,317, minus 8.9%
2. High Wycombe, South East, £436,379, minus £34,994, minus 7.4%
3. Chester, North West, £340,415, minus £23,114, minus 6.4%
4. Solihull, West Midlands, £390,292, minus £25,976, minus 6.2%
5. Worcester, West Midlands, £331,977, minus £21,724, minus 6.1%
6. Cardiff, Wales, £310,577, minus £17,079, minus 5.2%
7. Cheltenham, South West, £411,593, minus £21,616, minus 5.0%
8. Brighton, South East, £404,874, minus £20,254, minus 4.8%
9. Barnsley, Yorkshire and the Humber, £215,552, minus £10,624, minus 4.7%
10. Stockport, North West, 330,654, minus 16,289, minus 4.7%

Here are average home values in 2025, followed by the annual increase or decrease in cash and percentage terms, according to Lloyds:

• 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 the 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%.