Dartford has been named the most popular destination for homeowners looking to leave London, a new study has found.

This year, more than 90,000 Londoners left the capital, the largest number to leave for "at least a generation", according to research carried out by estate agent Hamptons.

While St Albans in Hertfordshire was more popular with first-time buyers, Dartford appeared more desirable to existing homeowners looking for a change, or buying a second home outside the M25.

The report, published in The Times, found there were three major factors in fuelling the trend.

The first was lockdown, the second was the ease of working from home, and lastly, cheaper mortgages.

Of the total of 112,780 Londoners who bought property outside the city this year, 82% were moving permanently.

Around 15% were landlords looking to buy-to-let and 4% were second home buyers.

On average, those leaving London spent nearly £500,000 on a new home making a total of £55 billion on homes outside the capital.

Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, said Covid had increased the trend adding: “2021 is likely to mark the largest migration from London for at least a generation.

"Over the last 20 years, more homeowners have bought outside the capital than those who own in London today."

Those buying outside the capital bought an average of 34.7 miles away, with 76% buying in southern England making Kent a hotspot for those on the move.