For many Londoners, the dream of moving out of the capital is slowing down.
A mix of sluggish house price growth in the city and the return to office-based work has made homeowners think twice before leaving London.
According to estate agent Hamptons, only 31,620 Londoners purchased homes outside the capital in England and Wales during the first seven months of 2025.
That’s just 5.3 percent of all homes sold outside London—the lowest proportion since 2013 and a sharp decline from the peak of 8.2 percent in 2022, when the pandemic sparked a widespread race for space.
Why Fewer Londoners Are Moving
While the pandemic’s influence on migration patterns is slowly fading, other factors are keeping people in London.
Slower house price growth in the city has reduced buying power, and with more people returning to offices, the incentive to relocate further afield has decreased.
Hamptons’ research shows that over the last five years, home prices outside London have risen 26 percent—triple the 8 percent growth seen in the capital.
This has made it harder for Londoners to trade up or move to bigger homes elsewhere, particularly when borrowing costs remain high.
Inner London Movers Are Still Seeking Value
Interestingly, weaker price growth in central London is prompting more inner-city homeowners to move out.
Inner London buyers now make up a record 30 percent of those relocating outside the capital, up from 25 percent a decade ago.
These buyers are spending an average of £417,660 on their new homes outside London—a 25 percent increase compared to 2015.
Outer London leavers, where prices have held up better, spent 34 percent more than ten years ago.
Even with these challenges, moving out of London still allows families to get significantly more space.
For example, an Inner London household selling a property for £655,580 could double its home size, gaining 1,178 square feet.
However, that’s nearly a third less space than buyers could secure in 2016.
Outer London Movers Face Less Dramatic Changes
For Outer London sellers, the drop in extra space is less severe.
A household selling for £509,800 this year could expand their living area by 55 percent, down from 72 percent in 2016.
Overall, London’s housing stagnation is reshaping migration patterns, encouraging shorter moves and a stronger focus on affordability.
Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, explained: “The return to the office has played a role in curbing the appetite for long-distance moves, but it’s the lack of price growth in the capital that’s really clipped the wings of would-be leavers.
Many homeowners simply haven’t built up enough equity to make the leap to where they want to go.”
Where Are Londoners Moving To?
The geography of London outmigration is also evolving. In 2025, Londoners make up over half of buyers in only five local authorities, down from seven in 2015 and 2020.
Traditionally popular commuter towns like Broxbourne, Sevenoaks, and Welwyn Hatfield topped the lists in 2015.
By 2020, areas like Dartford, Epsom & Ewell, and Epping Forest became hotspots as buyers sought more space.
Now, affordability is the main driver. While Dartford, Epping Forest, and Tandridge remain popular, more affordable areas such as Thurrock, Hertsmere, and Basildon are rising in demand.
Beveridge said: “The pandemic pushed buyers into leafier, more lifestyle-driven locations, but today’s movers are more pragmatic.
Places like Dartford and Thurrock offer better value, particularly for first-time buyers.”
Even Inner London leavers are staying closer to the capital, adjusting their expectations as the chance to double their space is no longer guaranteed.
Mortgage Considerations for Movers
For anyone looking to buy or remortgage, it’s essential to explore mortgage options early.
Borrowers finishing a fixed-rate deal, first-time buyers, and buy-to-let landlords should compare rates, speak to a broker, and be ready to act.
Many mortgage deals allow arrangement fees to be added to the loan, meaning buyers can secure a rate without paying upfront.
However, interest will accrue on the fee over the loan term, so careful planning is needed.
London & Country Mortgages (L&C) partners with This is Money to provide fee-free expert advice, helping buyers and homeowners find the right mortgage deals to suit their needs.