UK’s top 10 hotspots (and cold spots) for homes with fireplaces – Is your area on the list?

Red hot: Top 10 local authorities with the highest percentage of for-sale properties featuring fireplaces

1. Ceredigion, Wales – 48.3%
2. Derbyshire Dales, East Midlands – 43.8%
3. Forest of Dean, South West – 42.3%
4. Rother, South East – 39.1%
5. Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands – 39.0%
6. Malvern Hills, West Midlands – 38.3%
7. Carmarthenshire, Wales – 37.1%
8. Herefordshire, County of, West Midlands – 36.6%
9. Denbighshire, Wales – 36.4%
10. Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands – 36.1%

The top 10 list is primarily made up of rural areas, with Wales taking the lead. In Ceredigion, located in the west of Wales, 48.3% of homes for sale feature a fireplace, while Carmarthenshire, in the Welsh southwest, follows with 37.1%.

These beautiful rural locations are hubs of fireplace culture. For instance, the average winter temperature in Ceredigion ranges from 4℃ to 6℃, which likely contributes to the area’s popularity of fireplaces.

The West Midlands also impacted the top 10, with regions like Staffordshire Moorlands (39%), Malvern Hills (38.3%), and Newcastle-under-Lyme (36.1%) rounding out the top rankings.

Rural locations are performing significantly better than their urban counterparts. For example, in Ceredigion, nearly half of for-sale homes feature a fireplace, compared to just 3.4% in Manchester, the lowest figure in the UK.

The bottom 10 local authorities named “cold zones”, where for-sale properties with fireplaces are frozen out 

1. Manchester, North West – 3.4%

2. Liverpool, North West – 6.6%

=2. Medway, South East – 6.6%

3. Dundee City, Scotland – 7.4%

4. Slough, South East – 7.7%

5. Halton, North West – 7.8%

6. Bracknell Forest, South East – 8.1%

7. North Lanarkshire, Scotland – 8.2%

8. Salford, North West – 8.4%

9. St. Helens, North West – 8.7%

Urban areas with more modern properties dominate the bottom 10. Manchester and Liverpool, both bustling North West cities, are at the bottom of the pile, with less than 6% of homes for sale featuring fireplaces.

Although these areas have few fireplaces, their average winter temperatures are 4°C. This suggests that other factors, such as limited space and buyers’ preferences for energy-efficient heating solutions, contribute to the absence of traditional fireplaces.

But it isn’t just big cities struggling to stoke the fire. The Southeast also shows fewer properties with fireplaces. Locations like Medway, Slough, and Bracknell Forest also have low numbers: 6.6%, 7.7%, and 8.1%, respectively.

Scotland ranks low on the list regarding homes for sale with fireplaces. Only a small percentage of properties in Dundee City and North Lanarkshire feature this amenity. For instance, less than 8% of homes for sale in Dundee City have a fireplace, despite winter temperatures averaging around 6°C during the day and dropping to about 0.7°C at night.

As traditional fireplaces become less common in urban areas, bioethanol fireplaces offer a practical solution.

Although fireplaces are an attractive home feature, many homeowners do not use them regularly. A significant number are either non-functional or purely decorative, and only a small percentage are actively used.

Biofires offer a clean-burning, eco-friendly alternative that is easy to install and ideal for use when it suits you. They are especially well-suited for urban homes, where space and practicality are key considerations.

In addition to their convenience, bioethanol fireplaces provide a comforting, warm glow, adding between 3°C and 5°C to the average living room—similar to the effect of an electric heater on a medium setting.

Mike Rawles, Customer Services Director of Imaginfires, comments:

“The data found in partnership with Zoopla highlights that products like bioethanol fireplaces can bridge the gap for those looking to move to urban areas where traditional fireplaces aren’t an option. They’re stylish, efficient and perfect for modern living, offering all the ambience of a real fireplace without the space and integration constraints.”