Bath’s Royal Crescent has been named the UK’s most Instagrammable street, topping a new ranking that combines social media popularity with property market data.
Research by Lloyds found the famous Georgian crescent generated more activity across Instagram and TikTok than any other street in Britain, with homes on the street carrying an average value of £590,786.
The study analysed how frequently streets appeared on Instagram and TikTok, as well as the number of location tags they attracted, highlighting the destinations proving most popular with photographers, visitors and homebuyers alike.
London’s Portobello Road ranked second, with average property values of more than £1.66 million, while The Street in the picturesque Wiltshire village of Castle Combe completed the top three.
WELL KNOWN LOCATIONS
Edinburgh featured twice in the top 10 through Victoria Street and Circus Lane, while other well-known locations included Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Mermaid Street in Rye and Arlington Row in Bibury.
The research also shows that some of Britain’s most photographed streets are considerably more affordable than their online popularity might suggest.
While London’s Portobello Road and Kynance Mews command average house prices in excess of £1.4 million, homes on Pier Road in Luss, overlooking Loch Lomond, average £158,559. Elm Hill in Norwich (£235,822) and Eastgate Street in Chester (£263,811) also sit below the current UK average house price.
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
Amanda Bryden (main picture, inset), Head of Mortgages at Lloyds, says: “Social media is changing how people discover new places, and even where they start to picture themselves living.
“What really stands out about these streets is their character. Whether it’s colourful homes, heritage buildings or a standout setting, they’re the kind of places people can’t help but share.”
Bryden says the research demonstrates that distinctive homes and historic architecture continue to attract buyers across a wide range of price points.
She adds: “While some are among the UK’s most premium streets, others are far more accessible, which shows you don’t need a huge budget to find somewhere that genuinely feels special.”
The findings also highlight the growing influence of social media on housing and travel trends, although Lloyds urged visitors to respect local communities as increasingly popular streets attract higher numbers of tourists throughout the year.
BLOGGERS AND VLOGGERS NIGHTMARE
Nigel Bishop of buying agency Recoco Property Search says: “The era of social media has had a considerate impact on the peace and quiet of certain villages and specific streets.
“Bloggers and vloggers who rush to capture the most captivating images to boost likes, shares and follower numbers interrupt the very tranquillity that has made these places special in the first place.
“For many house hunters, the idea of opening their front door to a herd of social media influencers is a nightmare and triggers them to exclude such places from their property search.
“Others are less bothered and accept that the popularity of their potential new home comes with a stream of visitors. These buyers focus on the fact that every day, they will wake up to Instagram-worthy views.
“Surprisingly, property prices have not really been impacted by the social media hype. A lot of the most instagrammable places are rural destinations and have a limited number of properties for sale. This means prices are more dependent on general market conditions such as supply and demand levels.”
SENSE OF PLACE AND COMMUNITY
Ian Harris, NAEA Propertymark President, says: “Social media is playing an increasingly important role in how people discover locations and properties, helping to showcase the character, heritage and lifestyle appeal of places across the UK.
“While a street’s online popularity can generate interest and increase visibility, buyers ultimately base their decisions on factors such as affordability, transport links, local amenities, employment opportunities and the long-term suitability of an area for their needs.
“Estate agents are seeing growing interest in locations that offer a strong sense of place and community, and social media can be a valuable tool in highlighting these attributes.”
TOP 20 INSTAGRAMMABLE STREETS
