London neighbourhoods people are rushing to move to in 2021 according to Rightmove

Property experts Rightmove have reported January 2021 as a record month in terms of those looking to move home, with a 44 per cent increase in searches compared to January 2020.

We asked our friends over at the property website which areas of London were searched the most, to get the low down on the hottest boroughs of 2021.

Scroll down for the round up of the London destinations with the biggest annual increase in searches, making them some of the most desirable locations right now.

Buying

For those lucky enough to be looking to buy in the pricey capital, here are the borough’s top five locations with the biggest annual increase in buyer searches.

1. East Sheen

Annual % increase in buyer searches – 80.7%

The affluent suburb is situated in Richmond upon Thames.

Notable alumni from the town include Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, and heartthrob Tom Hardy.

2. Barnsbury

Annual % increase in buyer searches – 72%

A beautiful hidden gem of Islington is Barnsbury, a quiet, leafy corner of the borough lined with grand townhouses and beautifully kept squares, often with churches in the middle.

Barnard Park sits inside it, offering 10 acres and a large area of football pitches.

3. Soho

Annual % increase in buyer searches – 70.4%

Quite the opposite vibe to Barnsbury, Soho is third on the list for prospective buyers, which came as a slight surprise.

Perhaps people are planning for nights out once it’s allowed, and want to be at the heart of things when the return of the Roaring Twenties is finally among us.

Soho is famous for its excellent nightlife

4. Belvedere

Annual % increase in buyer searches – 69.5%

South East London’s Belvedere is in fourth, a pretty south east London town in the historic county of Kent.

Upper Belvedere and The Villa boast Victorian and Edwardian charm and character.

5. Hampton

Annual % increase in buyer searches – 67.0%

Another Richmond upon Thames spot comes in fifth place, as more and more Londoners opt for pastures greener.

Hampton is full of beautiful, decadent churches and of course also includes the royals’ Hampton Court Palace.

Notable alumni include code breaker Alan Turing and Queen’s Brian May was born in the area.

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Hampton Court Palace

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Renting

Here are the most popular areas to rent for Londoners at the moment, based on annual increase in rental searches.

1. De Beauvoir Town

Annual % increase in rental searches – 106.6%

De Beauvoir Town is a pretty district of east London, with a beautiful conservation area – so we can see why this got the top spot on the list.

Being in Hackney, expect cool shops, excellent pubs and arguably our city’s best coffee spots.

2. Battersea

Annual % increase in rental searches – 91%

Famous for its power station and Dogs and Cats home, Battersea was voted number two in The Times’ Best Places to Live Guide 2019.

It’s park hosts an excellent annual fireworks display, and having been converted, you can even live inside the infamous power station, where residents are being welcomed from spring 2021. We think this might just have something to do with Battersea reaching the second spot.

People enjoying the revamped Battersea Power Station at a recent river market

People enjoying the revamped Battersea Power Station at a river market

3. Clapham Common

Annual % increase in rental searches – 85.6%

Famous for its rugby lads, city boys and Aussie expats, Clapham is definitely a fun place to be for the young twenty-somethings of London.

Expect pub crawls through Clapham High Street when the Six Nations are on.

4. London Fields

Annual % increase in rental searches – 85.4%

Another gem of Hackney, London Fields is the home of what’s arguably one of London’s favourite green spaces, right next to the London Fields Lido and Broadway Market.

Despite being close to all the action, this quieter corner is full of good bookshops, cafés and makes an excellent place for dog spotting.

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Famous London Fields Lido is in the area

5. Nunhead

Annual % increase in rental searches – 83.6%

A suburb of Southwark, Nunhead takes a surprising spot in fifth place in Rightmove’s search increases.

The area has had a recent rejuvenation, making it a desirable location for both young professionals and families.

Could this be the end to one of London’s best kept secrets, as renters flock there?

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Nunhead Castle

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Have you been looking to move to anywhere on the list? Do you feel your area has been overlooked? Let us know in the comment section here.

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