A leap in the number of Americans snapping up second homes in London has been recorded. According to property website Rightmove, our transatlantic cousins are most obsessed with Westminster, followed by Camden, and then Islington.
In fourth came Kensington and Chelsea, and last was East London’s Tower Hamlets. Surprisingly however, nowhere in London was in the UK-wide top spot.
Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, came first, with Glasgow in fourth place. The figures are based on the number of inquiries stemming from the US about homes for sale in the UK since the start of the year.
They cover 2025 so far up to the first week of May, and are nineteen per cent higher than the same period last year, Rightmove reports. Rightmove suggested that the impacts of global economic uncertainty are now being seen on the UK property market, following US President Donald Trump’s announcements about tariffs.
The number of US-based inquiries for the period is the highest that Rightmove has recorded since 2017 – the year President Trump took office for the first time. The data includes people inquiring about relocating to the UK from the US or purchasing a second home or buy-to-let property in the UK.
However, Rightmove said the US-based inquiries it is seeing are mainly relating to smaller homes with two bedrooms or fewer, suggesting that Americans are seeing UK properties as a possible opportunity for an investment or holiday home, rather than a permanent relocation. The website also said that the US house hunter focus on Scotland marks a departure from the longer-term trend, with London having typically generated the most interest from US buyers over the past 10 years.
It suggested that lower property prices in Scotland may be attracting some potential buyers. Toby Leek, president of NAEA Propertymark, said: “Political and economic uncertainty in the US may potentially be playing a role in the current uptick in US buyers. However, areas across the UK are picturesque and affluent, and come at an affordable price for many overseas buyers, providing the perfect balance.
“Scotland is likely to be particularly popular due to its scenic landscapes and the fact that the average home is around £100,000 less compared to that in England. In some ways, those who are looking for a rural escape may see this as providing more for their money.”
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “President Trump’s tariff announcements have led to more economic uncertainty globally, and we’re starting to see some of the effects of this on the UK property market.
“Whether it’s because the UK is seen as a more stable investment opportunity, or whether some buyers are considering a permanent move across the Atlantic, we’re seeing an increase in inquiries from the US. While a really interesting trend, it’s important to note that only a very small percentage of all UK inquiries come from the US.”
Toby Leek, president of property professionals’ body NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark, said parts of the UK “come at an affordable price for many overseas buyers”, as well as being picturesque.
He said: “Scotland is likely to be particularly popular due to its scenic landscapes and the fact that the average home is around £100,000 less compared to that in England.
“In some ways, those who are looking for a rural escape may see this as providing more for their money.”
The top 10 UK locations for inquiries from US house hunters
Here are the top 10 UK locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove, with the top locations for 2025 so far followed by the 2014-2024 long-term average in brackets:
1. Edinburgh, Scotland (Westminster, London)
2. Westminster, London (Edinburgh, Scotland)
3. Camden, London (Kensington and Chelsea, London)
4. Glasgow, Scotland (Camden, London)
5. Islington, London (Glasgow, Scotland)
6. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Cornwall, South West England)
7. Highland, Scotland (Highland, Scotland)
8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland (Argyll and Bute, Scotland)
9. Fife, Scotland (Fife, Scotland)
10. Tower Hamlets, London (Tower Hamlets, London)
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