An analysis of data from the Land Registry and Hometrack shows that cities in the northern United Kingdom are currently driving property price growth, with Belfast emerging as the strongest-performing market. The ranking reveals a clear geographic divide, with gains concentrated in the north, while cities in the south and suburban areas are recording weaker performance.
Since mortgage rates rose in 2022, cities such as Glasgow, Bradford, Belfast, and Liverpool have posted strong double-digit increases supported by higher transaction volumes. However, Hometrack data indicates that momentum has recently slowed, with annual growth limited to around 2–3% in most of these cities.
Over the long term, comparisons with inflation since 2005 show that many regional cities have not achieved real gains. Meanwhile, London and southeast England continue to outperform, alongside Manchester as the top city outside the capital. Some markets have also yet to fully recover from the 2008 financial crisis.
The analysis is based on government data and Zoopla/Hometrack figures, highlighting the contrast between short-term activity in the north and long-term property wealth accumulation in London and the southeast.
