9 house-hunting hotspots you'll want to invest in NOW!

1. Forest Hill, London
As property prices rise in neighbouring areas such as Dulwich and Peckham, Forest Hill is set to become just as desirable. The area is home to the stunning Horniman Museum, plenty of picturesque Victorian houses and acres of green space. It’s definitely worth putting down roots in this pretty part of the capital.

Average one bed flat: £281,785

2. Manchester
It’s not just the BBC’s relocation to Salford that makes this a vibrant city. The Metrolink tram service has recently doubled in size and the fashionable Northern Quarter, home to plenty of bars and resturants, is as popular as ever. It’s also home to several universites, museums and the massive Trafford Centre, not to mention the Rovers Return!

Average one bed flat: £112,594

3. Limehouse, London
If you want to bag yourself a super fashionable pad in East London you can forget Hoxton or Hackney. These areas have become so expensive it’s worth branching out into less well-known locations to save on cash. Limehouse is located next to the picturesque Wapping and has benefitted from the combination of a recovering financial sector in the City and improved infrastructure due to the nearby Olympics facilities.

Average one bed flat: £386,635

4. Woking, Surrey
After undergoing a huge town centre redevelopment, Woking has had a renaissance. The town has frequent half-hour commutes into the capital making it one of the best connected places in Surrey. Woking has homes from almost every era, from period properties in the villages, to Victorian and Edwardian houses built in the Arts & Crafts style. Mercedes-Benz World is a major tourist attraction and Woking is home of the McLaren Group, of Formula One racing fame.

Average one bed flat: £204,607

5. Cambridge
Cambridge is a stunning medieval city packed with young professionals, many of
whom have escaped from the capital’s fraught rental market to live in the gorgeous university city. Cambridge is incredibly pretty, bike friendly and highly walk able, with plenty of open space, brilliant shops, cosy pubs and a thriving cultural scene.

Average one bed flat: £229,811

6. Brighton

The Victorian seaside city of Brighton is fun, quirky and bohemian. Its laid-back air and vibrant nightlife has attracted many young residents and professionals in search of a better life by the sea. The pebble beach and seafront buildings make it a beautiful location, while the compact layout of the town means that it's easy to get around without a car and London is under an hour away by train.

Average one bed flat: £205,486

7. York
York is renowned for its beautiful architecture, and in particular the famous winding tangle of quaint, cobbled, narrow, medieval streets known as the Snickelways. One of the most famous parts of the city is The Shambles - a narrow, flag stoned, medieval street. With a pretty shopping area and an open air market York has something for everybody.

Average one bed flat: £134,782

8. Leyton, London
The spillover from trendy east London areas has reached Leyton. Located near Stratford and easily accessible on the central line, the area is affordable and well connected. Plenty of Victorian properties and colourful shopfronts add character to the area and, while the busy A12 can be loud, there are plenty of green spaces at nearby Hackney Marshes or Wanstead Flats.

Average one bed flat: £245,431

9. Birmingham
Currently benefitting from an economic boom, Birmingham is set to be completely transformed with the launch of HS2, the high-speed link to London. With a vibrant city centre, great shopping and a busy nightlife scene, Birmingham is a great place to buy. There are lots of leafy areas just outside the city for young families, too.

Average one bed flat: £102,600