The 16 best places to invest in property in Britain: Estate agents say prices will soar in these towns – here’s what you can get NOW for as little as £218,261

We’ve all heard the stories of people investing in a deprived area, only for it to be transformed into the latest property hotspot and their house values to multiply, sometimes as much as four times in as little as ten years.

Yet, despite years of rising taxes and uncertain house prices, it’s still possible to turn a significant profit through investing in property – especially if you know where to look.

There are still dozens of villages, towns and cities across the UK that are on the up and set to see a huge increase in house prices over the next few years.

We’ve consulted property experts and estate agents to bring you a list of 16 top places to invest and, fingers crossed, turn a significant profit.

Whether you’re looking for a bargain doer-upper in a city, holiday let on the coast or to modernise and resell, here are the very best investment opportunities across the country.

St Mabyn, Cornwall

This picture-postcard village is surrounded by rolling countryside and is just 20 minutes from the highly prized (and higher priced) north Cornish coast.

‘Inland villages offer excellent value for money, and St Mabyn has everything a village needs to make it a thriving all-year-round community including great pub, church, primary school, post office, and community shop. The ripple effect is driving value for money as you move inland from the coast,’ says Josephine Ashby, of John Bray Estates.

Average price: £524,500

Investment opportunity: Gorgeous two-bed stone cottage, stylishly refurbished with a wood burner and modern kitchen. It’s already a holiday let and is selling with forward bookings. £425,000 through John Bray, 01208 862601, johnbrayestates.co.uk.

Harborne, Midlands

The area is a prime spot for renting with Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Birmingham University close by, and Selly Oak and University train stations within walking distance. Long-term this will remain a strong investment location for those studying or working in Birmingham.

Average price: £366,177

Investment opportunity: Five flats are going to auction for just £325,000 combined, and have a track record producing £40,000 annual rental income. The block has a communal entrance and the different units let for between £595 and £750 per calendar month, totalling £3,320 per month or £39,840 a year. The flats share a communal garden outside. Through Bond Wolfe, 0121 312 1212, bondwolfe.com.

Coventry

‘The city is currently going through a huge reinvention having been City of Culture, being so well placed geographically and having two well-respected universities within the city,’ says estate agency Knight Frank.

Average price: £232,996

Investment opportunity: Rodborough House is a new development of 24 flats from Oakwood Residential Developments, with the block behind security gates and with CCTV. Each flat has a car charging point and cycle storage. One bed apartments from £245,000 from Knight Frank, 01789 206971, knightfrank.com.

Salford, Greater Manchester

A fantastic and futuristic location filled with digital start-ups alongside global media brands. Amenities include the Lowry Theatre, Imperial War Museum and Manchester Utd’s Old Trafford ground. Trams every five minutes to the city centre and the airport shows this is a hotspot in the making.

Average price: £218,261

Investment opportunity: New scheme called High Definition, with one, two and three-bedroom flats with floor-to-ceiling windows, integrated appliances and open-plan interiors. Ideal for owner occupation or buy to let. From £295,000 but incentives available, says Savills, 0161 524 6449, savills.com.

Ludlow, Shropshire

This historic market town has the densest collection of listed houses in England and hosts annual food and music festivals. The surrounding Shropshire Hills form an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty while the town boasts private schools and countless community activities.

Average price: £280,010

Investment opportunity: Two-bedroom Grade II-listed townhouse dating from the 16th century with stone elevations, sash windows, original fireplaces and stripped wooden floor-boards. Requires modernisation but would become sought-after right in the town centre. £275,000 through Strutt & Parker, 01584 707605, struttandparker.com.

Hawick, Scottish Borders

‘Hawick is an important Borders town lying on the River Teviot. The surrounding countryside offers an excellent range of walks and biking trails as well as many other country pursuits. The area is also rich in wildlife and an excellent lo-cation for the keen bird watcher,’ says Kathleen McIntee of estate agency Galbraith.

Average price: £323,409

Investment opportunity: Eight miles from town and set in a forest clearing one mile from the main road, this off-grid traditionally-built cottage gets all its power from ground-based solar panels backed up by a generator. There are three bedrooms, a decking area, and stunning views of surrounding woodland. £495,000 from Galbraith, 01573 224244, galbraithgroup.com.

Central Birmingham

It’s played second-city second-fiddle to Manchester but HS2 is likely to end all that. ‘It’s one of the best places to invest in the UK with a low entry price point, higher than average rental yields paired with the highest projected capital appreciation of all UK cities,’ says Liam Smith of Knight Frank.

Average price: £244,461

Investment opportunity: Large 102-flat block in the Jewellery Quarter, with residents enjoying an on-site wellness studio, co-working lounge and roof-top garden, plus high-end specification in each home. From £245,000, Knight Frank, 0121 233 6435, knightfrank.com.

Ogbourne St George, Wiltshire

Just two miles from Marlborough (but much better value) this village sits in the beautiful Marlborough Downs with a community-run pub and a string of local resident groups. A national cycle route on a disused rail line plus its proximity to beauty spots makes this a great place for a holiday let or second home, too.

Average price: £499,993

Investment opportunity: A modern house with a period look, and planning consent to extend to add further value. Three bedrooms, off-street parking, with a low-maintenance garden with privacy from neighbouring properties. Ideal for a holiday let. £650,000 from Fine & Country, 01672 511211, fineandcountry.co.uk.

Newmarket, Suffolk

Known, of course, for its racing pedigree (the National Stud, National Horse Racing Museum, Jockey Club HQ and Tattersalls Sales Rooms), Newmarket is also becoming a hot location for good value property as an alternative to uber-expensive Cambridge. There’s also excellent access to the A14 and A11 (M11).

Average price: £322,377

Investment opportunity: This classic three-bedroom end of terrace Victorian house has a cellar and off-road parking space at the back. It’s just a short walk from the High Street. £339,000 through Jackson-Stops, 01638 597214, jackson-stops.co.uk.

Canary Wharf, London

This area has lost its gloss with companies moving out, offices boarded up and hospitality struggling since Covid, but new schemes are trying to reverse this trend. Sophie Davies, of Knight Frank, says the area ‘offers the excitement of city living with the convenience of a carefully planned neighbourhood, whose accessibility has been made all the easier following the recent arrival of Crossrail.’

Average price: £555,671

Investment opportunity: At £895,000, it’s a hefty price but flats in the area are let out for circa £3,000 per month. 8 Harbord Square offers one bedroom, one bathroom Manhattan-style loft apartments through Knight Frank, 02081 155399, knightfrank.com.

Belford, Northumberland

Just a few miles from the stunning coastal village of Bamburgh (and its castle), the village of Belford is off the tourist track but close to popular visitor destinations like Berwick upon Tweed and Alnwick. Its proximity to sandy beaches make it a great location for a holiday let.

Average price: £575,833

Investment opportunity: Who wouldn’t want to rent a holiday flat in the former servants’ quarters of Grade I-listed Belford Hall? It’s now a two-bedroom apartment with barrel ceilings, stone doorways and original doors, but modernised to maximise comfort. There are 28 acres of communal gardens and grounds too. £350,000 from Fine & Country, 01665 661699, fineandcountry.co.uk.

Wolverhampton, West Midlands

The city has been down on its heels of late, losing its famous Beatties department store and overshadowed by Birmingham, but now a £150million, 17-acre canal development looks set to breathe new life into the old industrial city.

Average price: £222,361

Investment opportunity: Ideal for a buy-to-let project or return to a family home, this double-fronted house hosts three self-contained flats, each on one floor of the property. Gurpreet Bassi, chief executive of sales agent Bond Wolfe, says: ‘This is offered with vacant possession and stands in a popular area of the city and is sure to attract considerable attention from investors from across the UK and overseas’. £291,000 through Bond Wolfe, 0121 312 1212, bondwolfe.com.

Port Isaac, Cornwall

This is where Fishermen’s Friends, of music and movie fame, come from, but these days villages like Port Isaac are hot investment locations. A multi-million-pound A30 road improvement, the prospect of a new cross-Cornwall rain service and the Superfast Broadband Extension scheme have made this the perfect sort of place to live, work and play.

Average price: £483,056.

Investment opportunity: Absolutely delightful two-bedroom property meticulously renovated with two double bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen/dining room leading into the sitting room with a wood-burning stove. £415,000 through John Bray, 01208 862601, johnbrayestates.co.uk.

Windsor, Berkshire

Of course it’s already a hotspot but a new investment market is opening up here – Airbnb letting. The trick is to get a normal home and refit it to optimise rental returns. Sporting and leisure facilities are varied with horse racing at Windsor and Ascot, polo and horse riding in Windsor Great Park, golf at Sunningdale and Wentworth, and rowing/boating on the River Thames.

Average price: £587,950

Investment opportunity: This three-bedroom house has a track record of £50,000 annual income from year-round Airbnb letting. The living room has a stunning period feature fireplace and herringbone flooring and there’s a fabulous conservatory overlooking the garden. Three bedrooms make this an easy-to-let investment. £650,000 through Hamptons, 01753 415117, hamptons.co.uk.

Kippford, Dumfries and Galloway

This is one of Scotland’s prime tourist destinations, sitting on the Urr Estuary. Marion Currie, of local agency Galbraith, which is selling two waterside homes, says: ‘These present an extremely exciting opportunity for new owners as they have both been built in what was the last available space in the main part of this coastal village. Kippford is an ideal holiday base and the properties lend themselves perfectly to high-end holiday lettings or as private deluxe escapes.’

Average price: £483,750

Investment opportunity: The main living accommodation is on the first floor in both properties with glazed balcony areas over waterside views. Coastal walks, a nature reserve and forest trails can be accessed on foot from each property. From £695,000 through Galbraith, 01556 505346, galbraithgroup.com.

Bournemouth, Dorset

Although 30 per cent of the population is 65-plus, the town is shedding its retirement image thanks to two universities and a hospitality sector strongly recovering from Covid. Consequently more homes are being converted for student and younger professional residents providing strong investment opportunities for shrewd buyers.

Average price: £361,839.

Investment opportunity: Needing modernisation this detached house has two double bedrooms and a single, and boasts plenty of off-street parking and no onward chain. A classic doer-upper. £375,000 through Connells 01202 984233, connells.co.uk.