“Mass exodus” as more people leave the biggest cities than move into them

The Office for National Statistics has revealed that more people have moved out of England’s big cities than last year. The data, which only takes into account those relocating to the country and not immigration from abroad, showed a clear trend of urban exodus.

In 2023, London saw around 860,000 residents leave to live elsewhere in the UK, a figure that outnumbered the 730,000 who chose to move to the capital by 130,000. This pattern was mirrored in other major cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds, Leicester, Coventry, Bristol and Sheffield.

In contrast, rural and coastal regions experienced a net increase in residents due to internal migration. Cornwall, Yorkshire, Somerset, Cheshire, Dorset and Northumberland saw the most significant increases.

In total, around 3.7 million people moved to England and Wales in 2023.

Every London borough saw more departures than arrivals. However, the council area with the biggest exodus was Birmingham, reports MyLondon.

Last year, while around 56,000 people moved to Birmingham, 74,000 left, resulting in a net loss of around 17,500 residents.

After Birmingham, Newham in London, Coventry, Nottingham, Manchester and Leicester also experienced high levels of net migration. Among the top 30 areas with the highest net migration, all were either London boroughs or large cities, with the exception of Luton and Slough – two of the UK’s largest cities.

Cardiff was the only major city in England and Wales to experience a net increase in residents due to internal migration, gaining around 2,500 people. It follows recent trends that suggest English cities may be losing their appeal, potentially due to high rental and housing costs, despite cities such as Coventry and Nottingham being priced below the national average.

Cornwall saw the largest net migration, with almost 20,000 people leaving, but 25,000 moving. The allure of the surf, beaches, and stunning scenery could have been a draw, along with lower-than-average rents and home prices.

After Cornwall, the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire recorded the next highest net migration figures, probably due to the combination of countryside and dramatic coastlines. Cheshire East has also seen significant migration, with villages such as Alderley Edge and Wilmslow popular with wealthy Premier League footballers.