The ‘eyesore’ named the most popular London borough for first-time buyers

Whether renting or buying, navigating the property market in London is no easy task.

Now, new research has named the most popular London borough for first-time buyers – and it’s Brent in the northwest, which spans the likes of Willesden, Wembley, Kensal Green and Queen’s Park.

According to figures from Hamptons Estate Agents, a whopping 77% of homes in this northwest London location have been snapped up by first-time buyers in the first half of 2024, followed by Greenwich (72%), Newham (69%), and Tower Hamlets (63%).

The likes of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Waltham Forest similarly featured, at 60%, 59% and 54% respectively.  

The research also showed that while it’s not all roses in the London property market, first-time buyers accounted for a record-breaking 48% of homes sold in the Big Smoke this year alone – up from 41% in 2023 and 28% in 2014.

However, though it’s taken the crown as the most popular destination, Brent hasn’t been met with an abundance of enthusiasm, described as an ‘eyesore’ of a borough by a particularly brutal Reddit thread.

‘For me [the worst area], it’s Brent. Overcrowded…no interesting areas. Just grim,’ @whyamihere189 added elsewhere, while @AberRosario noted that ‘North Brent is very residential and suburban, not much going on.’

But on the other end of the spectrum, Brent has plenty going for it – from proximity to nature to thriving community spaces.

And, previously named the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture for 2020, it’s also been home to the likes of Lily Allen, George Michael and Lenny Henry over the years.

Things to do in Brent

Without a doubt, Brent’s most famous attraction is Wembley Stadium – AKA, the home of English football (and, in recent months, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour).

There doesn’t need to be an event on for you to experience it, either – why not consider a stadium tour and make yourself at home in the dressing rooms?

Nearby, there’s also Wembley Arena, which has famously hosted Queen, Madonna and Adele over the years.

There are green spaces aplenty too, including Roundwood, Gladstone and Fryent Country Park. Welsh Harp Reservoir, comprised of 170 hectares of wildlife, is also a stone’s throw from Wembley Stadium.

And, for a community feel, you can shop around for locally sourced produce at the weekly Queen’s Park Farmers Market, attended by around 40 stalls every Sunday.

Transport links in Brent

It might be in Zone 3, but Brent is well connected with a solid 21 Tube stations.

To the east of the borough, Willesden Green is on the Jubilee line, with direct trains to Waterloo taking around 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, North Wembley is served by the Overground and Bakerloo lines, as are Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, and Queen’s Park.

House prices in Brent

Despite its popularity among first-time buyers, Brent unfortunately isn’t immune to London’s hefty property prices. According to data from Rightmove, homes in the area went for an overall average of £703,211 over the last year.

The majority were flats, which came in at £448,628, while terraced properties fetched the heftiest amount of coin at £985,396.

By comparison, in July, figures from Zoopla placed the UK-wide house price average at £266,400 – significantly lower than the numbers in Brent specifically.

But all in all, there’s both culture and community to be found here – so it’s little wonder that first-timers are choosing to settle in this northwest London hub. Why not shoot your shot?

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