New analysis from Rightmove has revealed the ten most in-demand property hotspots across London – and most of them fall outside the now-famous “London banana” map of sought-after neighbourhoods.
The banana map, shared widely on X earlier this year by author Saul Sadka, traced a curved corridor of popular areas running from the south-west to the north-east of the capital. But Rightmove’s latest data shows that eight out of the ten top locations for buyer demand sit beyond this curve.
The findings suggest affordability is driving demand, with seven of the top ten hotspots recording average asking prices below London’s average of £666,983.
Rightmove property expert Colleen Babcock said: “While the viral banana map has captured imaginations, our data shows 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. Buyer interest doesn’t always follow the trend – it follows the opportunity.”
Mary-Lou Press, president of NAEA Propertymark, added that affordability pressures are particularly acute in London: “With Stamp Duty having risen across England and Northern Ireland, finances are being tested further. Buyers are moving outside busier towns and cities across the UK – and in London, inflated prices make this shift even more prevalent.”
The top ten London hotspots
According to Rightmove, the most in-demand neighbourhoods are:
1. Docklands (Tower Hamlets) – £551,551
2. Hackney (Hackney) – £671,717
3. Islington (Islington) – £818,293
4.Sutton (Sutton) – £496,748
5. Walthamstow (Waltham Forest) – £534,159
6. Orpington (Bromley) – £593,478
7. Romford (Havering) – £424,076
8. Croydon (Croydon) – £395,423
9. Bromley (Bromley) – £575,922
10. Battersea (Wandsworth) – £992,370
Only Islington and Battersea fall within the banana zone. Docklands, Hackney and Sutton top the list of sought-after areas outside the curve, highlighting how buyers are balancing aspiration with affordability.
The research reinforces the importance of value for money in a market where interest rates, Stamp Duty, and rising living costs are stretching budgets. With prices continuing to diverge sharply across the capital, demand is shifting toward boroughs where homes remain accessible to first-time buyers and families.
