Property in the country still soaring as London lags behind, but are cities fighting back?
The big story in the property markets over the past year has been the shift from city to country. Will it be permanent? Some say yes, others disagree — and there are signs that cities are changing in response to the desire for green space.

Of all the changes wrought in the world since the Covid-19 pandemic began early last year, the shift in the property market has been one of the most marked. The escape to the country — or the 'race for space' — has altered how and where we live and work, and that has shifted the property market.
'Without a doubt one of the key trends since the start of the pandemic has been the rise in the number of households looking for more space, and a significant part of that trend has been the rise of the number of households leaving cities,' said Lesley Cairns of Hamptons at their recent Town to Country roadshow,
The raw facts bear this out. HM Land Registry figures — the most accurate we have, albeit among the latest to arrive — showed last week that London has the slowest annual rate of house price rises in the country, at 3.3% compared to the national average of 8.9%. More recent figures even suggest a price dip, and a slowdown in the pace of sales in the capital.
Not everybody sees things this way, however. 'The escape to the country phenomenon, which has clearly taken place, has not come at the expense of London,' Stuart Bailey of Knight Frank told The Guardian, while the Berkeley Group's chief executive Rob Perrins is skeptical of the idea that people are leaving cities for good: 'We firmly believe that this does not represent a permanent structural shift that has the capacity to reverse urbanisation,' he said
Such crystal ball gazing is mostly of interest to speculators and investors, of course; those simply looking for a home for themselves and their families are probably best off not letting the future prices tail wag the dog. Equally, though, we're at a point in history where you no longer need to let the work tail wag the lifestyle dog; millions of us are able to be more flexible in how we live, and that can only be a good thing.
On top of that, it seems that cities are now finding ways to respond to the need for green space and outdoor lifestyle. Walking and gardening were numbers one and three on the list of new hobbies people discovered in the pandemic, according to Google Trends data. And while baking, which was in at number two, seems to have settled back down, the walking and gardening trends seem to be here to stay.
Dr Lauren Andres, associate professor of Urban Planning at University College London, believes that 'Covid-fuelled urban trends are likely to dramatically alter the shape of UK cities'. Dr Andres predicts that street parties and 'pocket parks' (small parks squeezed in to spare pieces of otherwise-unused land) will become more and more common. She also suggests, in research that's part of a, that disused urban spaces could become co-working areas, food halls and farmer's markets — as is happening with one old shopping centre in the centre of Worcester.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Her research is part of a Google campaign called 'Behind the Lens with Google Pixel', and technology is part of how these changes will happen, as people can use their phones and other devices to share ideas and spread the word. Google's campaign is showing how this can work: TV gardeners The Rich Brothers have fronted an online urban gardening in Bristol, using Google Lens to help identify plants; chef Andi Oliver has run a similar event for foodies in Liverpool; and First Dates' Fred Sireix has hosted a walking tour of London, showing his favourite views and routes.
Such schemes suggest that there is plenty of life in cities, and that they're changing to meet new needs. 'Cities have always been unique hubs that offer a high concentration of activities and possibilities for getting together,' says Dr Andres.
'They are diverse and dynamic places for culture, leisure and entertainment, thriving through their different rhythms. Cities, and particularly city-centres and high streets, were put on stand-by during lockdown, which triggered a significant transformation in how spaces like streets and parks were being used. Some of those changes will be temporary, others more permanent.'
Knightsbridge life: From a hotbed of taverns and thieves to one of the poshest parts of London
Today, Knightsbridge is home and host to the glamorous, but it wasn't always quite that way, finds Carla Passino.
Hackney's journey from bucolic open space to one of London's great melting pots: 'It's the friendliest place I know in London'
Over the centuries Hackney has morphed from a land of gardens and streams to a vibrant, artsy and welcoming community,
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Rogue sellers and puppy farmers are exploiting Government licensing loopholes at the expense of responsible dog breeders, says The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club launched a report in the House of Commons last week calling for an urgent review of current licensing regulations.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The real Bear Grylls: Country Life Quiz of the Day, July 2, 2025
Britain's longest pier is among the highlights of Wednesday's Quiz of the Day.
By Country Life Published
-
Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villas
Matthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
By Matthew Dennison Last updated
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the market
The Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A pristine Scottish island for sale at the price of a garage in Fulham
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come on to the market, where you'll be surrounded by sea, living off grid and be neighbours with the local seal colony.
By Toby Keel Published
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spots
The Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A 600-year-old National Trust property that you can call home
This blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London today
Deodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country Life
Our look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
By Toby Keel Published