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Cottagecore demand is booming: Why now is the perfect time to sell your cottage

With cottagecore demand soaring, now’s the time to see what your home could fetch. Discover where cottages are selling fastest and how we can help you stand out.

Words by: Chiara Diacciati Townsend

Digital Content Manager

If you’re lucky enough to own a cottage, now could be the perfect time to find out just how much it’s worth.

Our latest research shows that demand for cottages is still booming, with ‘cottage’ being one of the most searched-for terms on our site in 2024.

Whether it’s the romantic appeal of exposed beams or the promise of a garden big enough for chickens, cottagecore living isn’t going anywhere.

Our data reveals that buyer appetite for cottages is strong across the country. Areas like Southampton, Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen are seeing some of the highest numbers of buyer enquiries. That means if you’re a cottage owner in these areas, you could be sitting on a property that’s at the top of many buyers’ wish lists.

The cottagecore movement isn’t slowing down

Buyer appetite for cottages is strong right across the country. Our analysis reveals key hotspots where cottages attract the most buyer enquiries:

Region

Area

Median asking price of a cottage

Scotland

East Renfrewshire

£100,000

Wales

Neath Port Talbot

£170,000

Yorkshire and The Humber

Bradford

£200,000

London

Sutton

£450,000

South East

Southampton

£280,000

North East

Sunderland

£115,000

West Midlands

Stoke-on-Trent

£238,000

South West

Plymouth

£248,500

East of England

Hertsmere

£485,000

East Midlands

Leicester

£325,000

North West

Blackburn with Darwen

£157,500

This level of demand means cottage owners in these areas are especially well-placed if they’re considering selling.

The appeal of cottages goes beyond bricks and mortar. The cottagecore trend, amplified during the pandemic, has reshaped how many buyers think about home. With over 6.2 million posts on Instagram and 2.1 million on TikTok celebrating this lifestyle, it’s a cultural movement as much as a property trend.

For sellers, this means your cottage isn’t just another home on the market - it’s part of a wider lifestyle dream buyers are actively pursuing.

Charming cottages are appealing at any price

While location often plays a role in property prices, our research shows that the unique charm of a cottage can be just as valuable.

In the South East, Slough tops the list as the most expensive place to buy a cottage, with an average asking price of £824,500.

In contrast, North Lanarkshire in Scotland offers the most affordable cottages in Great Britain, averaging just £83,500. Sunderland in the North East follows closely at £115,000, proving you don’t need a big budget to own a character home.

For sellers, this highlights an important point: even if your cottage isn’t in a premium area, its character, rarity and lifestyle appeal could make it highly sought-after. 

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Top areas for cottage buyers and sellers

Some regions have a particularly high concentration of cottages for sale, giving buyers more choice but also signalling strong regional demand. Here’s an overview of areas where cottages make up the largest portions of homes for sale:

Region

Area

% of for sale homes that are cottages

Median asking price of a cottage

East Midlands

Derbyshire Dales

21.4%

£310,000

Wales

Gwynedd

19.0%

£244,000

Wales

Ceredigion

16.6%

£292,500

South West

Forest of Dean

16.3%

£380,500

South West

Cotswold

15.4%

£525,000

North West

Eden

15.3%

£275,000

Yorkshire and The Humber

Ryedale

14.5%

£365,000

East of England

North Norfolk

13.5%

£350,000

Yorkshire and The Humber

Craven

13.3%

£330,000

South West

South Hams

13.1%

£350,000

If you own a cottage in one of these areas, your property is part of a rich local cottage market that continues to attract national interest.

Why now could be the perfect time to sell

Cottages are enjoying a golden moment. From Northumberland to North Wales, buyers are chasing homes with character and charm. Prices may vary across regions, but the one constant is demand.

Whether you own a modest stone cottage or a chocolate-box beauty, there’s likely a buyer waiting.

How we help put your cottage in front of buyers

We are proud to be the only property portal where buyers can filter their search specifically for ‘cottages’. That means your home won’t get lost among new builds and townhouses and it will land directly in front of the buyers who are already searching for exactly what you’re offering.

If you’re planning to sell, the first step is finding the right estate agent to guide you. In My Home, you can compare top local agents and get a feel for market activity and buyer demand in your area. That way, you’ll know what’s happening locally and can set realistic expectations before you make your move.

The right agent will also make sure your home is visible in our dedicated cottage search filter, so it lands directly in front of buyers who are specifically looking for a home like yours.

Selling a cottage is never just about putting it on the market - it’s about telling the story of your home in a way that makes the right buyers fall in love with it, before they’ve even walked through the door.

Ready to find out what your cottage is worth?

If you’ve been wondering whether now’s the right time to sell, the numbers speak for themselves: demand for cottages is soaring and buyers are actively searching for homes just like yours.

With Zoopla, it’s never been easier to see how much your property could fetch. Use our free online valuation tool to get an instant idea of your cottage’s value, then connect with trusted local estate agents who know how to showcase your home to the right buyers.

Start your cottagecore journey today: explore, list and win at selling.

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We try to make sure that the information here is accurate at the time of publishing. But the property market moves fast and some information may now be out of date. Zoopla Property Group accepts no responsibility or liability for any decisions you make based on the information provided.