AnyVan analysed over 169,000 of its home removals across the UK to see where people chose to stay local or move further away. Following several years of people moving further afield and remote work making escapes to the country possible, the national average distance moved fell to 42 miles in 2025.

While London fell in line with the national average, there was significant variation across the UK. Northern Ireland, as well as parts of Essex and Norfolk saw the largest drop in distance moved in 2025, whereas a small number of areas including the East Riding of Yorkshire, Solihull and Liverpool bucked the trend and moved further in in 2025 than the previous year.

2025 brought plenty of change for buyers and renters. There was the rush in March to beat stamp duty changes, two interest rate cuts and uncertainty ahead of the November Budget. While those shifts affected when people moved, a quieter change throughout 2025 has influenced where they moved. Across sectors, companies have increasingly encouraged people back into the office: from tech players like Amazon and Microsoft, to financial firms such as HSBC and Goldman Sachs, and retailers including John Lewis.

Angus Elphinstone, owner of AnyVan, commented: “The rise of remote and hybrid work over the last five years made moves further afield and work from the other side of the country popular, but companies are reprioritising working collaboratively face-to-face in the office, so it makes sense that the trend reversing now as they settle closer to work, schools and community commitments.”