New data shows that Americans’ inquiries about buying homes in the UK are eight years high, with Edinburgh topped the list.

In the figures, our application for UK citizenship is at a record level, the property website rightMove said the number of inquiries for UK homes by North Americans since the beginning of the year has increased by 19% in the same period last year.

Some of this is related to Donald Trump’s attack on academia, civil society and political opponents, and the uncertainty on his economic policies, such as his trade tariffs. Real estate agent John D Wood & Co said it is seeing “many politically motivated relocations – Americans seeking higher stability abroad.”

But if growing interest in the UK reflects a desire to escape from the US president, some may be surprised to find that Scotland has replaced London as the most popular inquiry location.

Trump has a strong connection with Scotland: his mother is only a few miles from Stornowy, Lewis Island outside Herbredan; he owns Trump International Scotland, a golf resort in Aberdeenshire; he has previously announced: "I think I do feel Scots."

Edinburgh is the most popular destination in Rightmove's 2025 top ten, pushing London's Westminster to second place. Meanwhile, Glasgow has risen to fourth place, second only to Camden and surpassed London's Kensington and Chelsea. Other parts of Scotland in the top ten include the Highlands, Argyll and Bute and Fife.

Cotswolds have long been popular among wealthy Americans: it’s called “The Hamptons of England”, while former chat show star Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi were the ones who moved there recently. But this is worth noting in the top 10 in 2025.

Some of the interests in the United States may come from people who see the UK as an investment opportunity. Rightmove, the UK’s largest real estate website, said its data includes people asking people who moved from the US to the UK and those who want a second home or buy real estate.

Rightmove said London has received the biggest inquiries from the United States over the past 10 years, but in early 2025 it turned to Scotland, “probably due to its lower prices.

Colleen Babcock, a real estate expert at Rightmove, said some of the promises of Trump's tariff announcement and the UK's real estate market are beginning to feel global economic uncertainty.

“Whether it’s because the UK is seen as a more stable investment opportunity or some buyers are considering taking permanent action on the Atlantic Ocean, we’ll see an increase in inquiries in the U.S.,” she said.

Glynn Gibb, regional director of John D Wood & Co, said the broker saw a steady rise in inquiries from US buyers interested in "Prime" central London.

"London's cultural and global connectivity make it an ideal springboard for Europe and beyond. Many people are here for the time being based on themselves - often with friends - and they figure out how long they intend to stay. We expect in the coming months - spring and summer - spring and early summer building activities are often busy - with more buyers' lifestyles and financial decisions shaped the United States by the political climate of the United States," he said.