Where in the UK Has the Best Internet Connections?

When prospective buyers are examining what they want when buying or renting their next home, they’ll weigh up a whole host of different factors. They’ll want to know what the crime rate is, how much the property will cost to heat, what rate of council tax they’ll have to pay, how close it is to local amenities, how long it takes to commute to their place of work, and what parking conditions are like.

While most of these factors are questions buyers have been asking for decades, a more recent factor many now must consider is what the broadband speeds are like in the area.

Internet speeds have increased exponentially since many of us first started getting online. In the 1990s, you’d be lucky to have a 56 Kbps dial-up modem with most people having to make do with speeds of just 28 Kbps. But as broadband has become more widespread, those speeds have doubled and doubled, reaching an average of more than 50 Mbps (over 900 times faster than in the 1990s).

These lightning speeds have made it possible for us to do much more online. Almost all of us shop from our computers and smartphones, communicating with loved ones has become much easier, and many of the TV shows and movies we watch today reach us over the internet.

Online gaming has also exploded in popularity, with something on offer for everyone. Many of today’s most popular titles, including Fortnite, Hearthstone, and Call of Duty, have either exclusively online functionality or are heavily focused on internet-based multiplayer modes. Online casinos are also another popular choice, especially in the UK, with a mix of classic and contemporary titles available. This includes modern video slots and games that add a unique twist to older options; for example, 21+3 blackjack uses the standard mechanics and rules but introduces a side bet that’s inspired by three-card poker.

So with the internet being such an important factor for homebuyers, you may be wondering where in the UK you can find the fastest download speeds.

The Fastest Place in Britain

The absolute fastest place for internet, at least at the end of 2021, was on Haul Fryn, in Birchgrove, Swansea. Houses on that road could achieve eye-watering speeds of up to 882 Mbps – more than 17 times more than the national average.

But only a handful of people will be able to buy property here, so we need to look at towns and cities as a whole, as this is more representative of what you’ll experience.

Liverpool

With a population of 1.3 million people, Liverpool ranks as the sixth-largest city in the UK. There are many reasons to want to move there, including a lower cost of living, beautiful architecture, and great transport connections. But if your biggest priority is internet speed, then the city should also go to the top of your list.

Its aggregate median download speed is the fastest in the UK, with 43.6 Mbps. It’s also home to Hall Road East, the street with the 8th fastest connections in the country, with tests topping out above 700 Mbps.

Birmingham

Birmingham is next on the list. As the second-biggest city and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the UK, it’s home to more than 2.3 million Brummies. As well as being one of the best-connected parts of the country thanks to its central location, motorway links, large railway infrastructure, and giant airport, Birmingham is also a communications hub.

The iconic BT Tower stands tall in the city’s skyline, broadcasting signals to almost all of your wireless devices. Aside from this, using Birmingham’s underground cable network, residents can achieve median average download speeds of 40.2 MBps.

Hull

Hull is a unique city in many regards, but for the purposes of this comparison, it stands out because it’s the only place in the UK that doesn’t have BT and Openreach infrastructure. Due to some decisions made by local politicians over 100 years ago, the city has a completely independent network.

While this has some downsides, it means that everyone in the KCOM region has access to full-fibre. That’s helped Hull to become the third-fastest part of the UK with median speeds of 37.7 Mbps.

For all of these cities, the speeds decrease when you head into the outskirts, but they all still rank higher than many other parts of the country, making them ideal for anyone that wants to live somewhere with a fast connection to the internet.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Housing market’s summer surge dampened by soaring stamp duty costs

Housing market activity has surged, with buyer demand up 11 per cent and agreed sales up eight per cent year-on-year, defying typical summer slowdown National house price inflation has slowed to 1.3 per cent, driven by a 12 per cent increase in homes for sale and higher stamp duty costs for many buyers Higher stamp…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rents reach another new record as tenants pay £400 more than five years ago

The average advertised rent of homes outside of London has risen to another new record this quarter of £1,365 per calendar month (pcm), but the yearly pace of rent growth continues to slow: London rents also reach a 15th consecutive new record of £2,712 pcm this quarter Five years on from the pandemic, new tenants…
Read More
Breaking News

Six UK vineyards where homebuyers avoid the 84% premium

Six affordable UK vineyards where homebuyers avoid the 84% house price premium and toast a better deal The latest research from Yopa has revealed that living close to one of the UK’s top vineyards will set homebuyers back an average of £494,739, 84% more than the current UK average house price. However, there remain a…
Read More
Breaking News

Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars

Communities and town centres across the UK are set to benefit from a wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining options, as the Government slashes red tape to breathe new life into the high street. Government to overhaul planning and licensing rules to make it quicker and easier for new cafes, bars…
Read More
Breaking News

London’s prime parks command 86% property premium

The latest research from Jefferies London has found that buyers hoping to live within arm’s reach of one of the capital’s royal parks will need to stump up a serious property price premium, with the average price of property around these green spaces coming in 86% higher than the average London house price. Jefferies London…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Breaking News

Padel Boom Sparks 113% Surge in Planning Applications

17,000 UK Sites Ripe for Development New insight from Searchland reveals that planning applications for padel courts surged by more than 113% in 2024, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout 2025. The explosive growth of the sport in the UK has unlocked a wealth of potential for developers and investors, with Searchland estimating…
Read More