Northern England and Scotland are expected to lead the way as the UK’s top property hotspots in the upcoming year. Zoopla, a housing website, utilized various factors such as affordability, average time to sell a home, percentage of long-standing properties for sale, and the likelihood of price reductions to identify the areas with the most promising prospects for 2026.

Scotland emerges as a dominant force in the rankings, claiming nine out of the top 10 spots based on these criteria. The top spot is projected to be Motherwell (ML), where prices are anticipated to rise by 3.4% to £134,700. Glasgow follows closely behind, with an average property price of £163,600 and a 3% forecasted increase.

In England, the North West, particularly Wigan’s WN postcode, stands out as a hot property market. Wigan boasts an average property price of £175,800, with a predicted 3% rise this year. However, homes in Wigan take around 32 days to sell on average.

Liverpool ranks 11th on the list, with a forecasted 3.5% increase in property prices. Other English cities expected to have strong property markets include Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle, and Northampton.

Conversely, areas that previously experienced surging house prices now find themselves at the bottom of the list. London’s West Central (WC) area is expected to see a 1.8% price decrease this year, despite its high average property price of £797,600.

Neighboring areas like West London (W postcode), East Central London, and South West (SW) London also rank low in terms of property market strength. In Wales, Cardiff is anticipated to be a prime property destination due to a low percentage of homes on the market for an extended period.

Northern Ireland has witnessed significant house price inflation over the past year, with average prices increasing by 6.5%. Belfast ranks 25th out of 120 on the national list for the current year.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, emphasizes the importance of considering local housing market conditions for informed housing decisions in 2026. While Scotland and Northern England show the strongest potential for growth, opportunities exist across the UK where demand and affordability align well. It is recommended for sellers and buyers to seek local insights from agents tailored to specific market conditions for successful transactions.