The UK's hottest destinations for first-time buyers have been named and Dartford made the list.

Created by the banking group Halifax, the team looked at mortgage approval data to calculate the findings, looking at the areas of Britain, excluding London, where first-time buyers account for the biggest proportions of home sales.

Coming in seventh place, Dartford was listed among Manchester, Slough, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Manchester took the top spot as first-time buyers accounted for three-quarters (75%) of home purchases with a mortgage last year, up from just under two-thirds (65%) in 2020.

With its music, arts and cultural scene, a vibrant shopping centre and leafy suburbs, Manchester has a wealth of attractions for people looking to move to the city. Halifax said that a combination of relatively affordable housing, a strong jobs market, transport links and ongoing urban regeneration make it an attractive location for many first-time buyers.

UK's first-time buyer hotspots 

  1.  Manchester, North West, 75%, £212,891
  2.  Slough, South East, 73%, £322,961
  3.  Sandwell, West Midlands, 73%, £179,058
  4.  Leicester/Oadby, East Midlands, 72%, £218,900
  5.  Reading, South East, 72%, £302,616
  6. Thurrock, Eastern England, 72%, £286,391
  7.  Dartford, South East, 71%, £314,090
  8.  Knowsley, North West, 71%, £157,139
  9.  Wolverhampton, West Midlands, 70%, £172,554
  10. Luton, Eastern England, 70%, £245,207

Britain's average (excluding London): 49%, £247,862.

The average first-time buyer property price is £212,891, which is around £35,000 below the average across Britain (excluding London), according to Halifax.

Slough in Berkshire was second on Halifax’s list. Halifax said Slough has become an increasingly popular location for first-time buyers, who represented 73% of all properties purchased with a mortgage last year, up from 54% in 2020, according to the bank’s estimates.

The average property price in the town for first-time buyers is £322,961.

While this is around £75,000 above the average across Britain, it is well below the average price tag in nearby London (£490,235).

With good rail connections into London, including via the Elizabeth line, Slough is an attractive option for professionals looking to commute, and for growing families after more space outside of the capital, Halifax said.

Dartford was given nods for its house prices and connections to London, with the average house price around £338,000 and first-time buyers price £307,000 according to the Office for National Statisitcs.

Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax Mortgages, said: “Deciding when and where to buy your first home is a deeply personal choice. While saving for a deposit and navigating higher interest rates pose a significant challenge for many prospective homeowners, life often intervenes and major milestones such as starting a new job or beginning a family can sway the decision.

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“First-time buyers are often more willing to relocate to new areas in pursuit of finding the ideal home within their financial reach. This flexibility opens up a broader range of possibilities and can lead to more affordable housing options.”

Lloyds Banking Group, which Halifax is part of, recently announced “first-time buyer boost”, allowing eligible first-time buyers to borrow up to 5.5 times their household annual income, up from a multiple of 4.49 times.

Halifax’s calculations excluded cash buyers. London was also excluded when looking for Britain’s biggest first-time buyer hotspots due to its distinct market dynamics, notably significantly higher property prices compared with elsewhere in Britain, the bank said.