New research from Rightmove suggests eight out of the top ten most in-demand London hotspots fall outside of the areas highlighted recently in the now viral ‘London banana’ map, originally posted on X by author Saul Sadka.

The ‘banana’ is a curved corridor of highly desirable areas stretching from South West to North East London.

Rightmove suggests that affordability could be a key factor, since seven of the ten hotspots have average asking prices below the London average of £666,983, suggesting buyers are prioritising value alongside location.

Islington in North London and Battersea in Wandsworth are the only two hotspots located in the banana zone. The top three most in-demand neighbourhoods outside the peel are Docklands and Hackney in East London, followed by Sutton in the South.

Affordability is key

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, says: “While the viral banana map has captured imaginations, our recent data shows that buyers are drawn to areas outside its curve. Affordability is a key driver, with many of the most in-demand locations offering better value than the London average.”

“It’s a reminder that buyer interest doesn’t always follow the trend, it follows the opportunity.”

Mary-Lou Press, president of NAEA Propertymark (National Association of Estate Agents), agrees affordability is key, especially given the current economic climate. “With Stamp Duty having risen across England and Northern Ireland, this is testing even more people’s finances,” she says.

“Buyers are moving outside of busier towns and cities across many areas in the UK, and London is no different. However, its inflated house prices cause it to be more prevalent and amplify the need for buyers to offer more consideration and flexibility to their home moves in order to find a more affordable place to nest.”

Top 10 most in-demand locations for homebuyers in London