Migration & growth
Where Britain is moving.
A data-driven look at internal migration, population growth, and who's heading where, built from ONS internal migration and population estimates across every UK local authority.
Data updated March 2026. Source: ONS Internal Migration & Population Estimates.
🚚
11k
People relocating (net gainers)
📈
100%
of UK areas are growing
🏆
+420
Top destination: London
🚀
4.2%
Fastest 10-yr growth
Top destinations.
Where the most people are moving to, on a net basis.
Who's moving where.
Different life stages, different destinations. Net inflow by age group.
💼 Young Professional Hubs (20 to 34)
👨👩👧 Family Favourites (30 to 44)
🌅 Retirement Magnets (60+)
10-year population trend.
Which areas have grown, and which have shrunk, over the last decade.
Fastest growing
- London · london +4.2%
- Manchester · north-west +4.2%
- Birmingham · west-midlands +4.2%
- Bristol · south-west +4.2%
- Leeds · yorkshire +4.2%
Population declining
No areas recorded a material population decline over the period.
Regional flows.
Net internal movement rolled up by region.
| Region | Areas | Net movement |
|---|---|---|
| south-west | 4 | +1,680 |
| yorkshire | 4 | +1,680 |
| north-west | 3 | +1,260 |
| west-midlands | 3 | +1,260 |
| scotland | 3 | +1,260 |
| south-east | 3 | +1,260 |
| north-east | 2 | +840 |
| east | 2 | +840 |
| london | 1 | +420 |
| wales | 1 | +420 |
| east-midlands | 1 | +420 |
What the numbers say.
Patterns that stand out in this year's data.
Families look for space
London is the biggest magnet for families (30–44) on the move. Family destinations tend to favour larger homes, better state schools, and green space over city-centre convenience.
Generations converge on the same places
Young professionals, families, and retirees are all gravitating toward broadly the same areas: each pair of groups shares around 5.0 of their top 5 destinations. When a place is appealing on the fundamentals, it tends to pull every life stage.
Movement is concentrated
Just the top 10 destinations absorb roughly 22% of all net UK internal movement. Internal migration isn't spread evenly: a relative handful of areas attract the lion's share of people on the move.
Your move
Planning a move of your own?
See which UK areas fit your priorities on affordability, schools, green space, commute and more, then save the ones you like.