Sheffield named in top 10 UK cities with the quickest home sales, according to new study

Factors like local demand, population growth, commuter connections and housing stock all play a part in how quickly that “for sale” sign turns into “sold”. But have you ever wondered which UK cities are seeing homes snapped up at lightning speed in 2025?

A new study by conveyancing-solicitor.co.uk has analysed housing data across 100 towns and cities in the UK to reveal where homes are selling the fastest. The findings shed light on some expected hotspots, but also a few under-the-radar surprises.

To rank the cities, the study focused on median selling times: the number of days it typically takes for a property to go under offer once listed. Unlike average (mean) times, which can be skewed by a few sluggish sales, the median offers a more realistic snapshot of what sellers can expect. Still, the study also looked at mean selling times to highlight how consistent (or inconsistent) each market really is. The data was sourced from Home.co.uk.

Sheffield follows closely in sixth place, with a median of 31 days and a mean of 69. As one of the UK’s greenest cities and home to two universities, Sheffield's blend of lifestyle perks and strong rental yields make it a consistent favourite with both families and investors.

Meanwhile, Glasgow comes out on top with a median of just 14 days and a mean of 37. Dundee ranks second with a solid 18-day median and 44-day mean, followed by Edinburgh in third (24 median, 95 mean). Belfast lands in fourth, where homes typically sell in 28 days, with an 82-day mean, while Newcastle ranks fifth with homes selling in 30 days (mean: 75).

Seventh place is shared by Redditch, Stockport, and Sunderland, all with 33-day medians but varying mean times: 90, 73, and 78 respectively. The top ten is rounded out by Crawley and Warrington in joint tenth, each with a 34-day median and average sale times of 72 and 71 days.

While the top ten may be speeding through house sales, not every city is quite so brisk.

Leeds, for instance, came in 25th with a median of 40 days and a mean of 98.

Bristol and Derby tied in 30th place with a median of 41 days; Bristol’s mean is 76, while Derby is slightly slower at 80.

Liverpool landed in 44th with a median of 46 days, and Birmingham came in 48th at 47 days.

York ranked 63rd (51 days), and Nottingham was 70th (53 days).

Even London, with all its market activity, lagged in 84th with a median of 59 days, proof that a busy market doesn’t always mean a fast one.

At the other end of the table, Slough was the slowest of them all, with a median selling time of 81 days. Brentwood, Canterbury, Worthing, and Bournemouth rounded out the bottom five, all taking between 64 and 77 days. Whether it’s higher prices, more selective buyers, or just local market quirks, selling a home there requires a bit more patience.

Top 20 list of UK cities with the fastest home sales in 2025: