New analysis from eXp UK shows that buyer activity has increased across the majority of major UK cities in the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period last year. Newport, Leicester, and Liverpool are among the cities recording the highest levels of market growth.
The research examined buyer demand across 25 key UK cities and found that overall demand is up, with the average monthly level 2% higher than during the same months in 2024.
Newport led the list with a 6% rise in buyer activity. Leicester, Liverpool, and Newcastle followed, each recording a 4% increase. Other cities with year-on-year growth include Swansea, Sunderland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bradford, and Glasgow.
In total, 14 out of 25 cities posted an increase in buyer demand. London was the only city where activity levels remained unchanged compared to last year, while Belfast saw the sharpest decline, with demand down 10%.
“It’s been a busy start to the year, with both reductions to interest rates and the stamp duty deadline driving buyer market activity," said head of eXp UK & Europe Adam Day. “As a result, agents across the majority of major UK cities will have been busier during the first few months of this year when compared to last, and this heightened level of market activity is set to continue even with the increased cost of stamp duty incurred by some buyers.
“It’s shaping up to be a very good year indeed, and we’ve already seen strong and consistent growth with respect to mortgage approvals, buyer enquiries and house price growth as the market continues to shift through the gears.”
