10 most-searched areas for home-hunters in 2025
- London, Manchester, and Glasgow were the UK’s most searched-for locations in 2025
- Bournemouth, Brighton, and Eastbourne topped the list for coastal location searches
- Spain, France, and Dubai were the most popular overseas destinations searched for
Our annual data has lifted the lid on where Britons were dreaming of moving in 2025.
From the country’s top property hotspots to London neighbourhoods, coastal escapes and overseas destinations, we’ve been digging into the numbers to see the trends around where people have been searching this year. This year’s trends tell an interesting story, shaped by lifestyle changes, shifting priorities and economic influences that are reshaping demand.
“With billions of minutes spent on Rightmove each year, we have a unique window into the nation’s passion for property,” says our property expert Colleen Babcock. “Our review of the year spotlights some of the most popular trends from 2025. From coastal escapes to urban hubs, this year’s most popular locations show where Britons are focusing on for their next move, while our search data also reveals the features buyers and renters really want in their next home.”
The UK’s top property hotspots
Major cities dominated UK property searches in 2025, with London naturally continuing to lead the way as the country’s leading urban hub. With close to 10 million people calling the English capital home, it unsurprisingly claimed the top spot when it came to area searches.
Manchester claimed second place with Glasgow in third, while Bristol and Edinburgh rounded out the top five. Cities continued to claim the spotlight in other areas, with York, Bath, Liverpool and Sheffield all making the top 10. The only outlier to this trend was Cornwall, sneaking in at eighth place.
Top 10 most searched-for locations in the UK in 2025
| Rank | Location |
|---|---|
| 1. | London |
| 2. | Manchester |
| 3. | Glasgow |
| 4. | Bristol |
| 5. | Edinburgh |
| 6. | York |
| 7. | Bath |
| 8. | Cornwall |
| 9. | Liverpool |
| 10. | Sheffield |
London’s most popular neighbourhoods
Within London itself, Wimbledon was the most searched location by buyers in 2025, with leafy suburbs attracting significant attention across the board. West London proved to be particularly popular among buyers, with Fulham, Chiswick and Chelsea all landing in the top five. The only exception was Hampstead in North London that took fourth place.
Renters showed a mix of demand for both green spaces and city living. Canary Wharf was the most searched location by renters in 2025, with Clapham and Fulham completing the top three.
Top 10 most searched-for locations in London for properties to buy in 2025
| Rank | Location |
|---|---|
| 1. | Wimbledon |
| 2. | Fulham |
| 3. | Chiswick |
| 4. | Hampstead |
| 5. | Chelsea |
| 6. | Clapham |
| 7. | Canary Wharf |
| 8. | Walthamstow |
| 9. | Richmond |
| 10. | Battersea |
Top 10 most searched-for locations in London for properties to rent in 2025
| Rank | Location |
|---|---|
| 1. | Canary Wharf |
| 2. | Clapham |
| 3. | Fulham |
| 4. | Battersea |
| 5. | Wimbledon |
| 6. | Marylebone |
| 7. | Chiswick |
| 8. | Notting Hill |
| 9. | Chelsea |
| 10. | Hackney |
Coastal living
Bournemouth, Eastbourne and Worthing topped the list for the most-searched seaside spots for those enticed by the fresh air, scenic views and a slower pace of life.
Among buyers specifically, the five most searched coastal locations were Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Worthing, Scarborough and Weymouth.
Top 10 most searched-for coastal locations for properties to buy in 2025
| Rank | Location |
|---|---|
| 1. | Bournemouth |
| 2. | Eastbourne |
| 3. | Worthing |
| 4. | Scarborough |
| 5. | Weymouth |
| 6. | Brighton |
| 7. | Blackpool |
| 8. | Hastings |
| 9. | Southport |
| 10. | Poole |
Overseas dreaming
Spain, France and Dubai led the way for overseas area searches on Rightmove in 2025, with Portugal and Italy close behind.
For some, the idea of sunny terraces and Mediterranean beaches being a more permanent fixture appeals. For others, it’s the buzz of a new city and culture with modern comforts. From Spain’s laidback charm to France’s timeless appeal and Dubai’s promise of luxury and opportunity, the data shows there’s a growing appetite for a different kind of life outside of the British Isles.
Top 10 most searched-for overseas locations for properties to buy in 2025
| Rank | Location |
|---|---|
| 1. | Spain |
| 2. | France |
| 3. | Dubai |
| 4. | Algarve |
| 5. | Portugal |
| 6. | Italy |
| 7. | Bulgaria |
| 8. | Cyprus |
| 9. | Paphos |
| 10. | Alicante |
What buyers and renters want
Our search data also shows exactly what the top priorities were among buyers and renters in 2025.
For those looking to purchase a property, a garage has emerged as the top feature that movers have been searching for this year. An annexe was second, and a garden third, while “rural” and “land” also appear in the top five searches, indicating a strong preference for green space.
For renters, the most important features were homes that are pet friendly, have a garage, and are furnished, according to data from Rightmove’s keyword sort tool. Gardens were also a priority, featuring in the top five, while many renters were also searching for homes that had bills included.
Top Features Searched for by Buyers and Renters
| Rank | Top searches for home-buyers in 2025 | Top searches for renters in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Garage | Pets |
| 2. | Annexe | Garage |
| 3. | Acre | Furnished home |
| 4. | Garden | Garden |
| 5. | Rural | Bills included |
