London's market towns outpace the capital's average house price growth

This comes following research from Lloyds which found that the average house price in market towns across the UK was £363,456, up 5% in the past year and almost a quarter (24%) in the past five years.

“Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the average London home bought with a mortgage cost £555,000 in May 2025, up just 2.2% year-on-year,” says Nathan Khider, owner of Nathan K Real Estate. “In contrast, areas such as Barking, Bromley, Croydon, and Kingston have recorded annual price increases of up to 9%, driven by a mix of affordability, and lifestyle appeal.

“Buyers are drawn to these market towns not just for their heritage and atmosphere, but for their potential.”

Barking and Dagenham, home to Barking Market, saw prices rise 8.3% to an average of £371,000. Properties there range from a six-bed home at £1.4 million to one-bed flats as low as £73,750. Bromley prices surged 9% to £533,000, with homes ranging from £75,000 to nearly £8 million.

In Croydon, anchored by Surrey Street Market, average prices rose 4% to £407,000, while Enfield rose 3.6% to £470,000. Kingston upon Thames jumped 7.9% to £612,000, led by riverside living and strong family appeal.

“Kingston combines good schools, green space, and a lively centre,” said Nathan. “It’s no surprise demand is booming here.”

Even Woolwich, one of the more affordable areas, saw 2.7% growth, with homes ranging from shared-ownership studios at £72,813 to five-bed properties listed at £1.5 million.

Only Barnet bucked the trend, with prices falling 4.1% to £590,000 despite multi-million-pound listings. “Barnet is an exception, but its long-term fundamentals remain strong,” Nathan added.

"As market towns across the capital continue to grow in appeal, they’re fast becoming the focus for both buyers and investors looking for character, connectivity, and value.”