Where are the most expensive places to buy a home in England and Wales? Using over 30 million transactions from the HM Land Registry, we’ve ranked every town and county by average sold price.
The most expensive counties
Greater London tops the list by a wide margin, with an average property price of £810,495 across nearly 4 million recorded sales. But several Home Counties aren’t far behind:
| County | Average Price | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £810,495 | 3,922,404 |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | £718,071 | 82,583 |
| Surrey | £659,135 | 689,581 |
| Buckinghamshire | £587,843 | 300,164 |
| Hertfordshire | £565,340 | 646,001 |
| Oxfordshire | £551,485 | 374,497 |
| Brighton and Hove | £534,486 | 169,328 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | £513,827 | 97,686 |
| West Berkshire | £501,493 | 80,451 |
| West Sussex | £466,919 | 533,851 |
The pattern is clear: the South East dominates, with a ring of wealthy commuter counties encircling London.
The priciest towns
At the town level, the numbers become even more striking. Several towns in the Surrey and Buckinghamshire stockbroker belt have average prices above £1 million:
| Town | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Virginia Water | £1,946,744 |
| Cobham | £1,272,119 |
| Beaconsfield | £1,209,771 |
| Esher | £1,100,820 |
| Weybridge | £1,096,349 |
| Ascot | £1,044,420 |
| Brockenhurst | £1,028,388 |
| Salcombe | £1,015,953 |
| Gerrards Cross | £1,006,416 |
| London (average) | £970,743 |
Virginia Water in Surrey leads the pack at nearly £2 million on average — driven by its proximity to both London and Windsor Great Park, with large detached homes on generous plots.
Interestingly, Salcombe in Devon breaks the Home Counties pattern entirely. This small coastal town in the South Hams has become one of the most sought-after locations in England, with second-home demand pushing prices above the £1 million mark.
What’s driving these prices?
Several factors combine to push prices up in these areas:
- Commuter access — fast rail links to London (Virginia Water, Beaconsfield, and Gerrards Cross are all under 40 minutes from Paddington or Waterloo)
- Outstanding schools — many of these towns sit within catchment areas for top-rated state and grammar schools
- Green space and character — large period homes, village greens, and proximity to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Limited housing stock — tight planning restrictions in Green Belt areas restrict new development, keeping supply low
The affordability gap
The gap between the most and least expensive places in England and Wales is stark. While Virginia Water averages nearly £2 million, towns like Ferryhill in County Durham average under £100,000 — a 20x difference.
You can explore prices for any town on our towns page or search for a specific property on our property search.
Data source: HM Land Registry Price Paid data, covering all residential transactions in England and Wales. Prices reflect historical averages across all recorded sales.