The UK’s Most Expensive Property Hotspots Revealed
November 6, 2026
More than one in three homes sold in Camden last year fetched at least £1 million, making it the UK’s leading million-pound property hotspot in a new study of England and Wales.
But despite London’s dominance at the top of the rankings, the research reveals a surprising trend: median sale prices in several expensive London boroughs are falling, while more affordable areas are recording some of the strongest growth.
New research from Seymont found that 35.2% of Camden’s property sales reached £1 million or more in 2025, the highest proportion of any area analysed.
Yet Camden’s overall median sale price fell 2.5% compared with 2024, highlighting the contrasting fortunes of Britain’s property markets.
Key Findings
- Camden tops the UK’s million-pound property rankings, with 35.2% of sales reaching £1m or more and an index score of 91.6 out of 100.
- Richmond upon Thames ranks second, with 30.5% of sales at £1m or more, followed by Wandsworth (24.6%).
- Elmbridge is the highest-ranked area outside London, taking fourth place with 26.8% of sales reaching £1m or more.
- Prime London prices are under pressure, with median sale prices falling in Southwark (-3.6%), Camden (-2.5%), Lambeth (-0.6%) and Wandsworth (-0.3%).
- More affordable areas recorded stronger growth, including North Tyneside (+10%), Dartford (+9.1%) and Calderdale (+8.3%).
Methodology
Seymont’s Million-Pound Property Index analysed actual property sales across 303 local authorities in England and Wales using HM Land Registry Price Paid Data for 2024 and 2025.
Areas were ranked using five measures: the proportion of sales worth £1m or more (33%), median sale price (22%), median detached house price (22%), median flat price (11%) and annual change in median sale price (11%).
Each measure was normalised to a score between 0 and 100 before being combined into an overall index score.
Areas with populations below 50,000 were excluded, alongside 12 locations where required data was unavailable.
Camden Leads Britain’s Million-Pound Property Market
Camden recorded the highest proportion of million-pound property sales in the study, with more than one in three homes selling for at least £1 million.
The borough also had the highest overall median sale price at £780,000, while its median detached property sold for an extraordinary £3,672,500.
That’s more than double the £1.63 million median detached price in Richmond upon Thames, which ranked second overall with an index score of 70.8.
Wandsworth followed closely in third with 70.4, while Elmbridge took fourth place, making it the highest-ranked area outside London.
St Albans also featured in the top 10, with 18% of its property sales reaching £1 million or more.
London’s Most Expensive Areas Are Seeing Prices Fall
Despite dominating the luxury property rankings, several prime London boroughs recorded falling median sale prices between 2024 and 2025.
Southwark saw the biggest decline among the areas highlighted, falling 3.6%, followed by Camden (-2.5%), Lambeth (-0.6%) and Wandsworth (-0.3%).
Meanwhile, some less expensive areas recorded much stronger growth.
North Tyneside’s median sale price increased by 10%, followed by Dartford at 9.1% and Calderdale at 8.3%.
Among the top 20 million-pound hotspots, Sevenoaks (+6.1%) and Hertsmere (+5.7%) were among the strongest performers.
The figures suggest Britain’s most expensive property markets aren’t necessarily the ones experiencing the fastest growth.
The top 15
| Rank | Area | Region | Score | £1m+ sales | Median sale price | Median detached | Median flat | Change 2024-25 |
| 1 | Camden | London | 91.6 | 35.2% | £780,000 | £3,672,500 | £690,000 | \\-2.5% |
| 2 | Richmond upon Thames | London | 70.8 | 30.5% | £725,000 | £1,632,500 | £475,000 | 1.4% |
| 3 | Wandsworth | London | 70.4 | 24.6% | £650,000 | £2,851,250 | £535,000 | \\-0.3% |
| 4 | Elmbridge | South East | 60.6 | 26.8% | £660,000 | £1,300,000 | £370,000 | 0.8% |
| 5 | Haringey | London | 57.4 | 17.8% | £575,000 | £2,160,000 | £470,000 | 2.2% |
| 6 | Merton | London | 56.8 | 16.8% | £550,000 | £2,580,000 | £408,750 | 1.5% |
| 7 | Barnet | London | 48.7 | 17.2% | £581,750 | £1,250,000 | £405,000 | 0.3% |
| 8 | Ealing | London | 47.2 | 14% | £532,000 | £1,500,000 | £419,000 | 2.3% |
| 8 | St Albans | East of England | 47.2 | 18% | £620,000 | £1,000,000 | £335,000 | \\-0.8% |
| 10 | Lambeth | London | 47.1 | 13.7% | £545,000 | £1,617,000 | £470,500 | \\-0.6% |
| 11 | Southwark | London | 45.8 | 14.3% | £540,000 | £1,700,000 | £460,000 | \\-3.6% |
| 12 | Waverley | South East | 43.9 | 17.2% | £555,000 | £865,000 | £290,000 | 1.2% |
| 13 | Hertsmere | East of England | 43.8 | 12.5% | £560,000 | £985,000 | £315,000 | 5.7% |
| 14 | Three Rivers | East of England | 43.7 | 14.4% | £550,000 | £1,050,625 | £320,000 | 2.6% |
| 15 | Mole Valley | South East | 42.5 | 14.8% | £584,724 | £920,000 | £277,738 | 0.8% |
Expert Analysis
Nicolas Diez, CEO at Seymont, says Camden’s position reflects the concentration of expensive properties in some of North London’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
“People hear Camden and think of the market. The money is in Hampstead, Belsize Park, Primrose Hill. A detached house up there is a £3m or £4m purchase before you’ve looked at the garden. That’s what drags the detached median to £3.67m.”
However, Nicolas says even London’s wealthiest property markets are facing pressure.
“The top end has been sticky since the stamp duty changes. Sellers in Southwark and Wandsworth are taking longer to accept that 2025 prices aren’t 2022 prices.”
He recalls one Wandsworth property that eventually sold for 6% below its original asking price.
“We had a house in Wandsworth come off at 6% under the first asking price. The owner was unhappy, but it sold.”
Outside London, Nicolas says Elmbridge remains attractive to buyers looking for more space without leaving the capital’s commuter belt.
“Esher and Cobham have always competed with south west London. A family who can’t get a detached house in Richmond for £1.6m looks at Elmbridge and gets one for £1.3m with a bigger plot.”
He believes some of the most interesting changes are happening in outer London and nearby commuter towns.
“Bromley is up 5%, Sevenoaks is up 6.1%, Hertsmere 5.7%. That’s where the next million-pound streets are. Not Hampstead, which is already there.”
Takeaways
For homeowners and buyers, the research highlights why looking at local sale prices is more useful than relying on broad property market headlines.
- Check sold prices, not just asking prices. Recent comparable sales give sellers a more realistic indication of what their home could achieve.
- Be realistic in expensive London boroughs. Falling median prices in Camden, Southwark and Wandsworth show why older valuations should be treated carefully.
- Compare nearby areas. Buyers may find very different properties for their money in St Albans, Elmbridge or Three Rivers compared with central London.
- Don’t assume rising median prices mean every home is gaining value. Changes in the types of properties sold can also influence the figures.
Nicolas says buyers should consider what their budget can actually secure in different locations.
“A million pounds buys a detached house in St Albans, a terrace in Wandsworth and a flat in Hampstead. Same money, three different lives.”
The findings reveal a divided property market, with million-pound homes heavily concentrated in London and the Home Counties, while several less expensive areas recorded faster growth in median sale prices.
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