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Waltham Forest is really having a moment. In the three years since Walthamstow was named London’s coolest neighbourhood by yours truly, the area’s thriving restaurant scene has gone from strength to strength, the neighbourhood has undergone several redevelopment projects and just last month it was named one of the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times. Leyton, meanwhile, was named London’s coolest area to live by Time Out last year.
And all that hype is reflected in the revelation that Waltham Forest is apparently the fastest place in England and Wales to sell a house right now. New research from property listing platform Zoopla says that so far in 2025 Waltham Forest homes have sat on the market for just 19 days on average before being snapped up.
That’s right, the average time a property in WFB waits between being listed and getting an offer accepted is just under three weeks. The England and Wales average, for comparison, is 36 days.
Zoopla describes Waltham Forest as a borough that is ‘accessible and enjoys good schools, low burglary and crime rates, and a large number of green areas’, noting its popularity with ‘families looking to stay within commuting distance of central London’. Zoopla says the northeast London borough’s average selling price is £525,000.
And it isn’t just Zoopla remarking on how quick Waltham Forest properties getting snapped up. OnTheMarket’s Under Offer Index tracks not just sales but lettings, too – and also reveals that the borough is among the most desirable places to live in the country.
OnTheMarket’s research notes that, when taking into account both sales and lettings, Waltham Forest properties are only on the market for an average of 49 days. Interestingly, when you take into account rentals Waltham Forest isn’t even the hottest market in London, never mind the UK: Havering (with an average of 44 days on the market) and Bexley (47 days) are shifting properties faster.
You can find out more about Zoopla’s research here and OnTheMarket’s here.
Time Out in Waltham Forest
Heading up northeast to see what all the fuss is about? Check out Time Out’s guide to Walthamstow’s best restaurants and drop-in to the breweries and taprooms on the Blackhorse Beer Mile, and have a nosey at our Leyton and Leytonstone area guide.
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