‘Fantastic’ market town named the UK’s cheapest for first-time buyers

Choosing your first home can be a trade-off between location and affordability — but not if you head to the Staffordshire Moorlands.

In a recent report by Lloyds Banking Group, Leek was named the UK’s cheapest market town for first-time buyers, beating Chesterfield and Boston to take the crown.

Market towns are a popular choice for househunters, but they can be expensive, with a home in one of these historic locations costing a first-time buyer £280,582 on average.

But it seems to be a case of knowing where to look. Among the study’s top 10 most affordable, six are in the Midlands, with Yorkshire and the Humber also boasting sub-£200,000 properties.

In contrast, Hitchin came in as the most expensive place to get on the ladder, followed by Altrincham and West Malling.

House prices in these spenny spots are at more than double those in Leek, where a starter home currently averages £191,359.

So if you want charm without blowing your budget, Leek is definitely worth a look. And here’s everything you need to know about life there.

Things to do in Leek

Situated at the foot of the Peak District, Leek is a great base for outdoorsy types. Within the town itself, Brough Park has stunning woodlands and meadows to stroll through as well as a children’s play area, bowling green, skate park, and tennis courts.

Alternatively, test out your hiking boots at the Roaches, just a few miles away, or head to nearby Rudyard Lake for range of activities like fishing, canoeing and paddleboarding, alongside a ridable miniature railway.

From Deep Hayes Country Park to Tittesworth Water and the Peak Wildlife Park – renowned for its large collection of birds – there are all sorts of nature-focused activities on Leek’s doorstep.

But if that’s not your thing, never fear.

The town’s stone-cobbled streets are packed with architecture history, which you can explore at the Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery; its collection includes paintings, textiles, ceramics and items representing everyday life for people in the Staffordshire Moorlands throughout the centuries.

Elsewhere, the Foxlowe Arts Centre puts on regular exhibitions and shows, while Brindley’s Mill is ideal for a family day out.

Leek has a busy schedule of markets too, with stalls lining the square each Wednesday and an indoor market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the restored Victorian Butter Market. On Saturdays, the antique and collectors’ market is held, as well as a monthly farmers market and ‘Totally Locally’ Sunday Supplement market.

After all that, you can enjoy a well-deserved pint and something to eat at one of Leek’s pubs, restaurants and cafes — try Duck Goose for real ale and hearty English fare or Mill Street Kitchen for the local delicacy, oatcakes.

Transport links

Leek doesn’t have its own railway station, but the nearest in Congleton — just over 10 miles away. From here, you can get to Stoke-on-Trent in around 15 minutes or Manchester in 40 minutes, with regular direct services throughout the day.

Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield and Buxton are also nearby, with trains to London, Birmingham, Bristol, Ofxord and Bournemouth via Crosscountry and Avanti West Coast.

Although there are a selection of local bus routes to and from Leek, some services only run on weekdays or at certain times of day, so depending on your needs, travelling by car may be more convenient.

What residents say about Leek 

Although every town has its issues, people who live in Leek have a lot of great things to say.

When one househunter posted to the Stoke-on-Trend Reddit page looking for opinions on Leek, NicDraconis calling it ‘a fantastic town to live in,’ adding: ‘I love it and wouldn’t ever leave… Always something going on.’

Another commenter, SmartDiscussion2161, described it as ‘a great little town’, while Odgeham wrote: ‘It’s lovely here. Slow paced, but the people are nice and the amenities are good for the town of its size. Nice independent shops and food places, market, monthly larger market – good all round.’

Over on Mumsnet, MissLemon18 shared their experiences after moving to Leek, praising it’s ‘really nice sense of community’ and the fact ‘you get a lot of house for your money.’

‘Leek is awesome!’ replied rbe78. ‘You have all of the benefits of living in the countryside, but living in a town that has most things you need on a day-to-day basis.’

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