Slightly south of Rochdale lies the Greater Manchester town of Heywood, famous for its historical connections to both the cotton and mining trades.
Fast forward to 2025, though, and it’s become the number one UK hotspot for property sales, with prices well below the average (£63,029, to be precise).
Over the last year, the housing market has been booming in Heywood, with an 88% increase in sales in the last 12 months alone.
In fact, May 2025 was the busiest month for house purchases in more than three years, as figures like these haven’t been seen since March 2022.
It isn’t just Heywood that’s thriving, though, as Pudsey in West Yorkshire was given second place with an 85% increase, while Wilmslow in Cheshire came in at 66%, Irvine in Ayrshire 63%, and Rushden in Northamptonshire 61%.
Just for good measure, the study also crunched the numbers in London, where it was Barnet that came up trumps with a 68% increase.
Ready to start your homebuying journey?
You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:
– Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker
– Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week
– Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market
Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice.
Find out how much you could borrow online
Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Naturally, the average asking price was painfully more expensive than Greater Manchester at £735,218, according to Rightmove’s figures.
There was also representation from Kingston-upon-Thames with a 52% increase, while Tottenham and Mitcham came in at 51% and 49%.
Things to do in Heywood
Thinking of relocating? Heywood is steeped in history and even has the impressive East Lancashire Railway, where train enthusiasts can ride a steam train.
The line spans 12 miles and seven stops, with a hop-on, hop-off policy allowing travellers to explore the nearby market towns.
Heywood is also inundated with green spaces, including Queen’s Park, a Grade II-listed area that was awarded a Green Flag in 2020.
If you fancy a longer walk, there’s also the Hopwood Woodlands Circular or the Thirlmere Way, which even features an aqueduct along the route.
Perfect for foodies, local businesses congregate at Heywood Market – touted as the ‘heart of the community.’
There are more than 30 independent stalls on offer here, from local butchers to fishmongers and bakers.
House prices in Heywood
It’s positive news on the housing front, as according to Rightmove, the average home in Heywood went for £201,102 over the last year, while the asking prices tend to reach £205,221.
That’s miles below the typical going rate across the UK, which is currently £268,250, as data from Zoopla shows.
What locals are saying about Heywood
Heywood might’ve gathered some mixed reviews over the years, but there are plenty of locals singing its praises.
Over on the r/Manchester Subreddit, @ziradael shared that they grew up in the area – and they still live just down the road.
They note that there are some ‘very nice’ areas with plenty ‘going for it.’
‘Bearded Baristas is a fab coffee shop. There are some great independent clothes shops and a couple of supermarkets, and I actually go to a couple of the local pubs every so often,’ they penned.
‘The town is quite diverse and people on the whole [are] very friendly. You may occasionally encounter some muppets but they are everywhere…also close to brilliant hikes and countryside.’
Over on Facebook, local Damien Greenhalgh said that Heywood has ‘strong community spirit’ and ‘decent outdoor green areas,’ while it’s been described as ‘eclectic’ elsewhere.
As for neighbouring Rochdale, one Redditor described the town as ‘beautiful from a nature perspective,’ referencing the surrounding hills and dales.
@atbenny added that the ‘outskirts are lovely’ and a mere ’10 minutes into the wilderness of the Pennines,’ while @CityofNorden said despite its ‘bad rep,’ there are ‘plenty of decent areas and pubs.’
‘Some of my favourite places are Greenbooth Reservoir and the moors around it,’ they penned, further recommending Ashworth Valley Waterfall and Hollingworth Lake.
Transport links in Heywood
Wondering about commuting in from Manchester?
There’s a direct bus from Heywood all the way through to Piccadilly Gardens. Simply hop on the 163, and you’ll be there in just over 30 minutes.
There’s also the option of taking the bus to Rochdale train station and taking the train to Manchester Victoria in 15 minutes.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
