Visitors from the United States now account for nearly half of all bookings across professionally managed short-stay homes in prime London postcodes, according to new data from Veeve, the rental network operating across many of the capital’s most sought-after residential neighbourhoods.
The figures illustrate how demand for short-term accommodation in the most valuable areas of the capital is increasingly being driven by internationally mobile, high-spending travellers, while also revealing evolving patterns in how homeowners are using and generating income from residential property assets.
Travellers from the US represent 44.1 per cent of stays, significantly ahead of domestic visitors at 11.3 per cent. Australia (4.2 per cent), France (3.7 per cent), Canada (3.5 per cent) and Germany (3.2 per cent) make up the next largest international guest groups.
On the supply side, second homes account for the largest share of listings at around 40 per cent. Many of these properties are owned by families based in the Home Counties who use them as London pieds-à-terre and choose to rent them when not in residence. Typically, these homes offer two to three bedrooms and are located in well-established west London districts such as Kensington, Chelsea and Notting Hill. These properties achieve average nightly rates of £300 upwards, peaking at over £500 on average in high summer.
Primary residences represent approximately 30 per cent of listings and are generally larger family houses in sought-after London residential areas including Hampstead, Putney, Fulham, Islington, and Wimbledon. With three to four bedrooms, these homes typically command the high average nightly rates in the network at £450 upwards across the year, peaking at over £600 a night in summer.
A further 20 per cent of homes are smaller one- to two-bedroom apartments in the most central locations including Covent Garden, Sloane Square, Chelsea and Hammersmith. These properties are most commonly used by internationally based professionals and business travellers and average of over £300 per night depending on location, size and distinctive features.
Across the Veeve network, the most common guest age groups range from the mid-30s to mid-60s, suggesting demand is being driven by established professionals and families seeking greater space, flexibility and a more residential experience compared with traditional hotel stays.
Merilee Karr, CEO of Veeve and UnderTheDoormat Group, said:
“We are seeing London’s luxury short-term rental market increasingly shaped by globally mobile travellers seeking the flexibility and comfort of staying in a real home. US visitors continue to show particularly strong demand, often staying for longer periods, travelling with family and combining business and leisure.
At the same time, many homeowners are becoming more strategic about how their London property fits within their wider financial planning. Professionally managed short-term arrangements can provide a straightforward way to generate income from homes that might otherwise sit empty, particularly at a time when borrowing and ownership costs remain elevated.”
