London’s most in-demand areas are outside the so-called banana zone, according to data from Rightmove.
The banana zone, a curved stretch from the South West to the North East, has been popular online, but eight out of the top 10 hotspots for buyers were found outside it.
Rightmove’s research showed seven of these 10 areas have average prices below the London average of £666,983.
Docklands in Tower Hamlets came out on top, followed by Hackney and Sutton.
Islington in North London and Battersea in Wandsworth were the only two hotspots inside the banana zone.
The rest, including Walthamstow, Orpington, Romford, Croydon and Bromley, all fall outside.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, said: “While the viral banana map has captured imaginations, our recent data shows that buyers are drawn to areas outside its curve.
“Affordability is a key driver, with many of the most in-demand locations offering better value than the London average.
“It’s a reminder that buyer interest doesn’t always follow the trend, it follows the opportunity.”
Mary-Lou Press, president of NAEA Propertymark, said: “Affordability is a key driver for buyers, especially given the current economic climate, and with Stamp Duty having risen across England and Northern Ireland, this is testing even more people’s finances.
“Buyers are moving outside of busier towns and cities across many areas in the UK, and London is no different.
“However, its inflated house prices cause it to be more prevalent and amplify the need for buyers to offer more consideration and flexibility to their home moves in order to find a more affordable place to nest.”
