When you think of sky-high rents in the UK, London’s exclusive neighbourhoods probably come to mind first, we’re talking Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, you get the gist…
However, new research reveals a surprising twist: the priciest postcode for renters in Britain is actually outside the capital.
What’s Britain’s most expensive postcode?
It is the affluent commuter town of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
Located just 23 miles northwest of central London, Beaconsfield commands an average monthly rent of £5,920 – surpassing even the famously expensive South Kensington and Knightsbridge (SW7), where the average rent is around £5,438.
This makes Beaconsfield’s rents about 8% higher than these elite London postcodes. To put this in perspective, rents in Beaconsfield are 279% higher than the South East regional average and 358% above the national average.
Why is this Britain’s most expensive postcode?
The high rental prices are largely driven by the area’s abundance of large family homes and country mansions, especially on the outskirts near the picturesque Chiltern Hills. For example, a six-bedroom detached contemporary home in the village of Penn, near Beaconsfield, is listed at a staggering £86,667 per calendar month.
The research, conducted by property platform Cohab, also highlights the most expensive rental postcodes across other UK regions. In the South West, for instance, the TR11 postcode covering Falmouth in Cornwall – known for its sailing community – tops the list.
While Beaconsfield leads in average rent per property, London remains the most expensive place to rent per square foot, reflecting its concentration of smaller, high-value properties.
According to Rightmove’s latest data, London rents have hit a record high for the 14th consecutive quarter, with the average rent now at £2,698 per month, up 2.5% year-on-year.