New research from property portal, OnTheMarket tracks the most active or ‘hottest’ areas of the country – and Bradford retains the top spot for a second consecutive quarter.

It also topped the table in the first (January-March) and second (April-June) quarters of 2024. It was only in Q3 2024 when Newcastle, currently 6^th in the table, usurped Bradford as the hottest local market.

The OnTheMarket Hotspots Index looks at the number of available sales properties, comparing that against the volume of onsite activity, creating a score that represents the intensity of interest in that area.

Barnsley and Stoke-on-Trent were new entrants to the top ten, jumping to 8^th place from 13^th and 10^th from 17^th respectively in Q4 2024. Meanwhile, Derby and Blackburn moved the other way, dropping out of the top ten completely to 15^th and 24^th place respectively in Q1.

Q1 2025 Hotspots UK top 10

 Source: OnTheMarket

The north/south divide appears to hold firm, with the top of the list dominated by some of the most vibrant and cheapest locations in the north where there is the most heat in terms of housing market activity. Conversely, at the foot of the table the southern seaside towns are to be found, such as Brighton, Worthing and Bournemouth. The coolest hotspot once again was Southend-on-Sea which has maintained its position at the bottom of the table for the past year.

Jason Tebb, president of the OnTheMarket, says: “Affordability continues to be a concern for many, even following two base-rate reductions in the second half of last year and a further quarter-point cut in February. It is perhaps not surprising that buyers are seeking out better-value locations where their money will go further. Despite strong wage growth, average property values have also increased, making it difficult for many to bridge the gap. 

“It will be interesting to see whether the drive by employers to encourage more workers to return to the office will have an impact on activity in more remote locations where a longer commute is acceptable as long as it doesn’t have to be undertaken every day.”

Other notable big movers in the index are Luton, which climbed from 21^st in Q4 to 14^th in Q1, displacing Middlesborough, which fell the other way from 14^th to 21^st. Crawley jumped from 29^th to 20^th, while Gloucester climbed from 40^th to 28^th place as activity heated up.

In the London boroughs there was less fluctuation than nationally with the top two spots held by the City of London and Barking and Dagenham for successive quarters. Meanwhile, Newham dropped out of the top ten (3^rd in Q4 2024, now 14^th), as did Hounslow (10^th in Q4, now in 11^th place). New entrants to the top ten in Q1 were Harrow (11^th in Q4) and Waltham Forest (14^th in Q4).

Q1 2025 Hotspots London Top 10

Source: OnTheMarket