London

London is really a patchwork of villages, from stucco terraces in the west to converted warehouses in the east and Victorian suburbs in the south. Each has its own high street, market and pub, which is why buyers tend to choose a neighbourhood first and a property second.

The Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail make most of the city reachable without a car, and a door-to-door commute of 30 to 45 minutes into the centre is typical from Zones 2 and 3. Driving is slow and the Congestion Charge and ULEZ apply across a large area.

In 2026 the median sale price is about £750K, roughly £8,600 per square metre, and a typical 2-bedroom rental costs about £2,900 a month. Prices are up 1.5% on a year ago and homes take around 52 days to sell, which points to strong demand.

Noise and air quality vary sharply street by street, so view at rush hour and at night. State primary schools are generally strong, but admissions are catchment-driven and a few streets can make the difference.