How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
In recent years, several UK towns and cities have been transformed through exciting regeneration and development projects.
With new homes, jobs, and office spaces, as well as improved transport links and green spaces, many of these areas are becoming increasingly appealing to live in. And even better news is that in areas of ongoing development, house prices often haven’t caught up.
With this in mind, here’s our rundown of 11 up-and-coming places to live in the UK.
1. Dundee, Scotland
While other Scottish cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow often take the limelight, Dundee has undergone some serious regeneration recently.
Scotland’s fourth-largest city is currently enjoying the results of its award-winning £1.6 billion waterfront redevelopment, which has resulted in the construction of swanky new flats and bistro-style restaurants.
It’s hoped that this, paired with other regeneration schemes – such as the opening of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2018 (the first outside of London) – will put Dundee on the map, both culturally and in business terms. This will hopefully pave the way for further economic and social development.
Over the last year, property prices in Dundee averaged £182,376.
2. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Bolton is one of the 10 boroughs that make up Greater Manchester. The town’s regeneration continues to gather momentum – with several major developments currently underway and more in the pipeline, expected to be completed this decade.
Awarded an additional £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund in 2023, Bolton has invested in modernising its market, refurbishing the Central Library and transforming a 4.5-acre former bus station site into new homes, shops, and green spaces. The refurbishment of the council-owned Wellsprings office building was also finished last year, providing a modern workspace for companies.
Bolton benefits from being close to the economic powerhouse of Manchester, around 10 miles southeast. This makes Bolton a popular choice for those who work in the city – a commute made more convenient by the 2017 £48 million Bolton Interchange project, which connects Bolton railway and bus station.
Despite its proximity to Manchester, Bolton still offers properties that could be seen as a bargain. The overall average property prices in Bolton over the last year were £230,931.
3. Reading, Berkshire
Reading has experienced exponential growth over recent years and, with several developments currently in the works, it’s not set to slow down.
As one of the UK’s best-connected towns, Reading has excellent transport links. It takes just 23 minutes to reach London Paddington, while direct journeys to several major cities, including Manchester, Southampton, Exeter, Bristol, and Birmingham, are also available.
In 2022, the town became the western terminus of Crossrail, boasts an award-winning bus service, is connected to all major London airports, and sits conveniently on the M4 corridor.
Upcoming regeneration in the town centre is set to include a new market square for the high street that’ll host Christmas markets, street food vendors, and live theatre events. Plus, an ongoing major construction project, Station Hill, will create over 1,300 new homes, 625,000 square feet of offices, and a 95,000-square-foot lifestyle-led space for retail, restaurants, and cafes.
The overall average property prices in Reading were £412,114 over the last year.
4. Hull, East Yorkshire
After Leeds, Sheffield, and Bradford, Kingston upon Hull (or simply ‘Hull’) is the fourth-largest city in the Yorkshire and Humber region, and it’s been on a swift upward trajectory since 2012.
Hull hasn’t always had a good rap, but ever since German engineering company Siemens built a wind turbine factory in the city in 2016, its economy has boomed. Hull is now recognised as a hotspot for renewable energy production and has attracted many huge businesses, including BP, KCOM Group, and Ideal Standard.
As well as being named the ‘UK City of Culture’ in 2017, nearly 800 new jobs have been created, encouraging significant investment. This included £25 million for art installations, pedestrian streets, and city centre refurbishment.
When it comes to transport, the city aims to become carbon neutral by 2030 by creating greener travel options, minimising pollution, and tackling congestion. These plans include the introduction of a bus service improvement plan.
Despite its growth, Hull remains one of the most affordable places to live in the UK, with an average property value of £172,776 over the last year.
5. Chepstow, Monmouthshire
Several Welsh towns are soon to undergo major regeneration as a result of the Welsh government’s £100 million Plan for Neighbourhoods.
This came after a survey which, among other things, revealed that only 3% of people in Wales felt their high street was thriving. The regeneration’s primary aim is to boost the Welsh economy, create new jobs, and improve the places where people live, work, learn, and socialise.
Among the towns undergoing development is Chepstow in Monmouthshire, which has its own Transforming Chepstow Masterplan.
The plan outlines its goals to make the town more vibrant, attractive, and suited to both existing and future residents. This includes building new homes, improving transport and traffic volume, and providing access to high-quality green spaces.
Properties in Chepstow had an overall average price of £354,136 over the last year.
6. Inverness, Scottish Highlands
Located in the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is increasingly being recognised as an up-and-coming city, combining strong transport links with access to some of Scotland’s most striking landscapes.
The city’s infrastructure has received significant investment, making it easy to reach both the Highlands and southern Scotland by train and bus. And, with the construction of a new airport train station, Inverness Airport is now directly linked to the main city.
For outdoorsy people, Inverness is a haven for adventure and activity. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty and situated beside the world-famous Loch Ness, it’s home to medieval ruins, prehistoric sites, and natural landscapes.
Over the last year, properties in Inverness had an overall average price of £237,998.
7. Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Half an hour’s drive outside Bath lies the small town of Trowbridge in Wiltshire. Like many other towns surrounding Bath, Trowbridge benefits from beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture.
The neighbouring towns of Frome, Corsham, and Melksham underwent a huge resurgence in recent years, housing quaint coffee shops, independent cafes, and lively pubs and bars.
While Trowbridge continues to fly below the radar, it’s got a lot to offer. For example, it boasts excellent transport links – with regular trains taking fewer than 20 minutes to Bath, 25 minutes to Bristol, and five minutes to Bradford-on-Avon. Direct trains are available to London, Swindon, Gloucester, and even Cardiff. Plus, the M4 motorway is just around the corner.
Despite this, house prices in Trowbridge remain well below the average of neighbouring areas, and over the last year, properties in Trowbridge had an overall average price of £290,563.
8. Derby, Derbyshire
Derby is one of the UK’s most central cities. It’s home to some of the country’s first factories and spinning mills, which were responsible for setting Britain’s Industrial Revolution in motion.
The recent growth of Derby’s population (increasing by 5.1% between 2011 and 2021) has helped put it on the map as an up-and-coming, desirable place to live – as well as an economic centre.
More and more regeneration projects and housing plans continue to pop up across the city. This includes the 2030 Derby City Centre Master Plan, which is set to pump a £3.5 billion investment into the city – creating 4,000 new jobs and 1,900 new city centre homes.
Derby has always been a great transport hub, providing excellent road, rail, and air access across the UK – and this is only set to improve. One example of this is the electrification of the Midlands Main Line, which will lead to smoother, more reliable, and more sustainable journeys to cities such as London and Sheffield.
Property prices in Derby had an overall average of £250,047 over the last year.
9. Derry, Northern Ireland
For the last 100 years or so, the city of Londonderry (or ‘Derry’, for short) in Northern Ireland has suffered a range of economic and social pitfalls – including below-average incomes and a worryingly high proportion of its population living in poverty.
However, as part of the government’s mission to level up the area, millions of pounds have been invested in transforming Derry. A whopping £18 million is devoted to infrastructure, community sports, and skill development alone. There are also big plans to transform the Central Riverfront, remodelling it to bring together old and new parts of the city.
Employment growth rate in Derry is expected to triple, with an additional 7,000 jobs planned by 2032. The council will also be investing in improved transport links, public services, and green spaces. Plans for a major residential development were also approved in 2024, which will build over 700 new homes by the end of the year.
Houses in Derry had an overall average price of £168,486 over the last year.
10. Slough, Berkshire
Slough is one of the original commuter towns, and it’s got a lot going for it.
Benefiting from the construction of Crossrail in 2022, Slough’s transport links mean London and Heathrow are just 20 minutes away by train. The town is also accessible via the M25 and M4.
Slough has also undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, with new apartments and office blocks popping up across town, and is now home to several large businesses. And, because it’s still developing, property prices are relatively low compared to other areas in Southern England that offer similar perks.
The average property price in Slough over the last year was £415,925, though flats in the area sold for an average of £233,133.
11. Ipswich, Suffolk
The town of Ipswich, situated near the Suffolk coast, has suffered from a reputation as one of England’s worst places to live.
However, following significant investment in recent years, the town’s development has gone from strength to strength. While officially still a town, Ipswich is known as one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the UK.
In 2020, Ipswich was the only UK destination to make it onto TripAdvisor’s list of top emerging destinations in the world, and in October 2023, funds of £7.9 million were approved to develop the town centre and address empty retail space.
There are also plans for a new development that’ll see 173 new homes, shops, restaurants, and bars built between the River Gipping and Cardinal Park, located in the town centre. This is accompanied by ambitions to create new green spaces that offer habitats for insects and birds. Alongside this is the CLAY 1A, a £2.28 million Towns Fund project to restore the historic former grainhouse and kickstart a regeneration of Ipswich’s waterfront.
Ipswich also boasts impressive transport links to Norwich, Cambridge, London, and beyond. And with London just over an hour away by train, Ipswich is one of the most affordable commuter towns in the UK, with average property prices standing at £267,631 over the last year. And there’s also the added draw of local beaches, which can be found just a short walk away.
Final thoughts…
From the creation of green spaces and new homes to impressive transport services, it’s interesting to wonder what many of these areas could look like in just a few years.
We hope you enjoyed reading our list of 11 up-and-coming places to live in the UK. Naturally, with so many regeneration projects across the country, this list is by no means exhaustive.
For more inspiration, check out our articles: 20 happiest places to live in Great Britain and 15 of the best places to retire in the UK. Or, if you’re looking to explore more of the country, why not check out our staycation holiday deals?
Do you live in any of these areas? What other locations would you include on this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
Start your new chapter abroad with this free retirement guide
With Your Overseas Home, you will receive honest guidance, expert advice and a helping hand every step of the way.
Download the free guide to find out how to cut everyday living costs, get tax, pension and visa checklists, and discover top tips from the expat community.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines