London’s most in-demand areas lie outside the banana zone – London Wallet

New data from Rightmove reveals the top ten most in-demand London hotspots.

The so-called ‘banana zone’ running through the centre of the London map may be appealing but the real action is happening outside the peel.

The property portal says eight out of ten hotspots currently fall outside the banana zone – a curved corridor of highly desirable areas stretching from South West to North East London.

Affordability could be a key factor. Seven of the ten hotspots have average asking prices below the London average of £666,983, suggesting buyers are prioritising value alongside location.

Islington in North London and Battersea in Wandsworth are the only two hotspots located in the banana zone.

The top three most in-demand neighbourhoods outside the peel are Docklands and Hackney in East London, followed by Sutton in the South.

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property commentator, said: “While the viral banana map has captured imaginations, our recent data shows that buyers are drawn to areas outside its curve. Affordability is a key driver, with many of the most in-demand locations offering better value than the London average.

“It’s a reminder that buyer interest doesn’t always follow the trend, it follows the opportunity.”

Top 10 most in-demand locations for homebuyers in London

Reflecting on the research, Mary-Lou Press, President of NAEA Propertymark (National Association of Estate Agents), commented: “Affordability is a key driver for buyers, especially given the current economic climate, and with Stamp Duty having risen across England and Northern Ireland, this is testing even more people’s finances.