Scottish town known for its art trail and 'hippos' named UK's 'most affordable' place
A Scottish town just an hour from Edinburgh has been crowned the most affordable place in the UK to buy a family home, according to a new property report by Zoopla.
Glenrothes, located in the heart of Fife, topped the online property portal's latest affordability index, with three-bedroom homes averaging just £136,900. That equates to monthly mortgage payments of around £540, making it a standout choice for house-hunters looking to get the most for their money, Scottish Daily Express reports.
The analysis, which looked at property prices, income-to-affordability ratios and search interest, also revealed that buyers would need a household income of just £72,200 to comfortably afford a typical family home in the town.
Three other Scottish towns also featured in Zoopla's top 10 most affordable list: Wishaw (£168,600 average house price), Leven (£164,600), and Larkhall (£177,600). Monthly mortgage payments in those areas range between £650 and £700.
Scotland dominated the list with four entries, followed by Wales with another four and two more in the South East of England.
Glenrothes may be a modern town, but it has a rich and unusual history. It was one of Scotland's first post- war new towns, planned in the late 1940s to support the nearby Rothes Colliery coal mine.
When the colliery later closed, the area pivoted to technology and manufacturing, gaining a new nickname, 'Silicon Glen', thanks to a wave of electronics and tech firms setting up shop. Major employers in the town include Bosch Rexroth, fibre optics firm Leviton, and defence giant Raytheon.
The town is also home to one of Scotland's largest shopping complexes, the Kingdom Shopping Centre, which remains a busy retail hub throughout the week.
Beyond its economic appeal, Glenrothes is also known for its unique public art trail, featuring 172 outdoor artworks scattered across the town's parks and green spaces.
Its most iconic installation is a whimsical family of hippos that has become a symbol of the town. The sculptures were created by the father of actor Mark Bonnar, best known for his role in BBC's Guilt.
The hippos are most famously seen lounging in the paddling pool at the Town Park, 'heading for a drink' as they wade through the shallow water.
The installation has attracted visitors from around the world and even inspired a BBC Scotland documentary titled Meet Me at the Hippos.
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Other striking sculptures on the Glenrothes Art Trail include a circle of carved standing stones, a ring of dancing children, and giant mushrooms.
The trail weaves through scenic parks such as Riverside Park, which features woodland walks, children's play areas and manicured gardens.
The town has also produced several well-known Scots, including Mission Impossible actor Dougray Scott, former First Minister Henry McLeish, and economist Douglas Mason, known as 'the father of the poll tax.'
With strong transport links to Edinburgh via train or the A92 trunk road, Glenrothes offers families an affordable and well-connected place to settle.
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