Data reveals Londoners want a driveway and a home office in 2025

Forget period features, underfloor heating, and carpeted bathrooms. New research from national housebuilder St. Modwen Homes uncovers the top features Londoners want in their homes as they look ahead to 2025.

Analysing Google search trends[1] across London, the research highlights which home features are soaring in demand and which are falling out of favour. Some of the results might surprise you – spoiler: pine kitchen cabinets are all the rage.

What’s Hot?

Topping the list is driveways, with a massive 238% spike in search demand. Also high on the list is pine kitchen cabinets (+200%), a home office (+173%), and proximity to a butchers (+124%).

Modern Londoners are also on the hunt for homes with smart lighting (+108%), a downstairs cloakroom (+100%) and energy-efficient appliances (+67%). Quartz worktops (+52%), hardwood flooring (+30%), hot tubs (+22%), and trendy outdoor kitchens (+21%) – fuelled by TikTok’s popularity – are also seeing a surge in interest.

Other rising favourites include south-facing gardens (+52%), built-in storage (+40%), garden rooms (+23%), herringbone flooring (+23%), and a hot water tap (+14%).

What’s Not?

On the flip side, some once-loved home features are losing their appeal – and quite drastically. Demand for open plan kitchens has plunged (-133%), along with a drop in popularity for underfloor heating (-19%), home gyms (-19%), and garages (-18%).

Carpeted bathrooms (-29%), period features (-33%), and spiral staircases (-23%) are also falling out of favour, while boot rooms (-19%), wet rooms (-17%), and a walk-in pantry (-21%) are no longer must-haves for today’s buyers.

As those in London embrace contemporary living, searches for ‘modern home’ have increased by 23% year-on-year, highlighting the demand for more new-build homes.

Jo Winston, who looks after the sales at St. Modwen Homes, sheds light on the shift in homebuyer priorities:

“It’s clear from our recent research that London residents have moved away from simply seeking out traditional aesthetics or heritage-inspired features. Instead, they are focusing on practical, future-proofed elements that align with their day-to-day needs and evolving lifestyles. Homebuyers today are looking for spaces that not only look good, but also enhance how they live. Features like home offices and smart tech reflect this shift toward a more functional, forward-thinking approach to home design.

“Overall, we’re witnessing a transition where homeowners want their living environments to be adaptable, multifunctional, and reflective of their values – whether that’s convenience, sustainability, or the desire for a more connected and comfortable lifestyle.”

THE TOP 10 HOME FEATURES LONDONERS ARE LOOKING FOR

1. Driveway +238%

2. Pine kitchen cabinets +200%

3. Home office +173%

4. Local butches +124%

5. Smart lighting +108%

6. Downstairs cloakroom +100%

7. Semi-detached property +100%

8. Nearby farm shop +83%

9. Energy-efficient appliances +67%

10. Quartz worktops +52%

THE BOTTOM 10 HOME FEATURES LONDONERS NO LONGER WANT

1. Bike storage area -100%

2. Attic storage -46%

3. Heat pump -45%

4. Garden space -43%

5. Solar water heating -33%

6. Period features -33%

7. Open plan kitchen -33%

8. Carpeted bathroom -29%

9. Electric car charging point -28%

10. Spiral staircase -23%