Ceremonial and events across the UK

List of ceremonies and events taking place across the UK to allow people to pay tribute to the life of Her Majesty The Queen and mark the Accession of His Majesty King Charles III:

Scotland

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Council will be screening the State Funeral on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyrood House. More information can be found on the council’s website.

Scottish Canals

In partnership with The Church of Scotland, Falkirk Council will hold a service of reflection at the Kelpies this Sunday 18th September 2022 at 7.30pm. Further details can be found on their Facebook page.

London

You can view guidance on Her Majesty’s Lying-in-State at the Palace of Westminster here. Details of accessibility arrangements are available here.

In the evening, the grandchildren of Her Majesty The Queen will conduct a vigil at the Lying-in-State.

Other Events

The following public events are taking place in towns and cities across the UK during the period of National Mourning. For more information about local events in your area please check your local authority’s website.

Moments of Reflection – Sunday 18 September, 8pm

Blackpool

The Blackpool Tower Illuminations- which have been changed to red, white and blue throughout the period of mourning in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – will turn off for the Moment of Reflection at 8pm. You can find more information here.

Cheltenham

A Moment of Reflection will be held outside Cheltenham’s Municipal Office, led by the Mayor of Cheltenham, at 8pm on Sunday 18 September. For more details please visit the Cheltenham Borough Council website

Luton

The National Moment of Reflection will be observed in a special event at 7.30pm on the steps of Luton Town Hall to commemorate the life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Please visit the Council’s website for more details.

Southend

In the City of Southend-on-Sea, the Mayor will lead a moment of silent reflection at 8pm on Sunday 18 September, to reflect on a lifetime of service which Her Majesty devoted to the United Kingdom, the Realms and Territories and the Commonwealth. For more details please visit the Southend-on-Sea website

Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent will hold a commemoration service on the eve of the funeral, at 6.30pm on Sunday 18 September at Stoke Minster. It will be followed by the observation of the national moment of reflection at Stoke Cenotaph at 8pm. For more details please visit the Stoke-on-Trent council website.

Swindon

The National Moment of Reflection will be observed on Sunday, 18 September with a short service on the steps of Swindon’s Town Hall. Members of the public are asked to arrive by 7.45pm for the service to begin at 7.55pm. For more information, please visit the Council’s website.

Ceremonial events

Northern Ireland

Coleraine

Coleraine Town Hall will broadcast the National Moment of Reflection on Sunday 18 September. On Monday they will also show the State Funeral.

Lisburn

The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II streamed from Westminster Abbey will be shown on the screen in Lisburn City Centre on Monday 19 September from 10.00am.

East of England

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth Borough Council will hold a civic service of thanksgiving and remembrance for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 6pm on Sunday 18 September at Great Yarmouth Minster. For further information visit the Council’s website.

Ipswich

A big screen will be showing the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the Cornhill, Ipswich on Monday 19 September.

The screening of the funeral at Westminster Abbey will start at 10am. You can find further information on the council website.

Norwich

The funeral of HM The Queen will be live streamed in the Nave of Norwich Cathedral.  All are welcome to watch the live broadcast from 9am, free of charge.  No ticket is required. You can find more information on the Cathedral website.

Norwich Theatre Royal will also broadcast the live coverage of the State Funeral of HM The Queen, free of charge.  Please book tickets in advance here.

Midlands

Bedford

Bedford Borough Council will be holding a public screening of Her

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday 19 September at Bedford Corn Exchange. Residents must book their place to watch the proceedings in advance. For further information visit the Bedford Borough council’s website.

Birmingham

The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on a big screen in Centenary Square on Monday 19 September. For further information visit the Birmingham council’s website.

Coventry

The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be screened live in Coventry city centre on Monday 19 September. A large screen is to be set up in University Square – between the Cathedral steps and Coventry University – to help people watch the 11am service and pay their respects. For further information visit the Coventry council’s website.

Lichfield

Lichfield Cathedral will be holding a service of commemoration at the Cathedral at 3.30pm Sunday 18 September. There will also be a minute’s silence and outdoor vigil at the Memorial Park at 8pm, Chasetown. You can find more information can be found on the Cathedral’s website.

Lincoln

The grounds of Lincoln Castle will remain open and a large screen will be displaying the funeral for those wishing to pay their respects.  Please check local information for details.

Nottingham

A multi-faith event remembering Queen Elizabeth II will take place in the Old Market Square from 7pm, incorporating the national Moment of Reflection at 8pm. More information can be found on the Council’s website.

Stoke-on-Trent

The City of Stoke-on-Trent Council will be holding a service of commemoration (with procession) for Her Majesty The Queen at 6.30pm on Sunday 18 September at Stoke Minster. For further information visit the Stoke-on-Trent council’s website.

West Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire Council will be holding a remembrance service for Her Majesty The Queen at 11am on Sunday 18 September at All Saints Church, Northampton. For further information visit the West Northamptonshire council’s website.

A service of commemoration for Her Majesty The Queen at 3.30pm on Sunday 18 September at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Market Place, Kettering. For further information visit the West Northamptonshire council’s website.

Wolverhampton

A screening of the State Funeral will take place on Monday at Queen’s Square. Visit the council’s website for further information.

Worcester

A service of thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Worcester Cathedral on Sunday 18 September at 4pm. You can find further details on the Cathedral’s website.

North East

Durham

Durham Cathedral will hold a special Service of Reflection to give thanks for Her Majesty The Queen’s life. This event will be ticketed, and the service will also be live streamed on Durham Cathedral’s Facebook page. For further information, please visit Durham Cathedral’s website.

The National Moment of Reflection will be marked with an event at 8.00pm on Sunday 18 September in Durham Market Place. More details are on the council’s website.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Live coverage of the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on a screen in Old Eldon Square, Newcastle on Monday 19 September. Further information on the screening can be found on the council’s website. A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place at 4pm on Sunday 18 September. Further information on the service can be found on Newcastle Cathedral’s website.

North Tyneside

North Tyneside Council will hold a service a service of remembrance to commemorate the distinguished service of Her Majesty The Queen at 6pm on Sunday 18 September at the Christ Church in North Shields. For further information visit the North Tyneside council’s website.

North West

Blackburn

A service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday 18 September at 2pm. The service will also be live streamed.

Blackpool

A moment of reflection for Her late Majesty The Queen by the Blackpool Standard Bearers will take place at 11.00am, at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum on Moor Park Ave. Please refer to the Council’s social media and website.

Carlisle

A live screening of the State Funeral will be shown on a big screen in Carlisle’s Bitts Park on Monday 19 September. You can find further information on the council’s website.

Chester

Church services will take place on various dates across Chester, including at Chester Cathedral, Neston Parish, St Thomas Ellesmere Port and St Chad’s Winsford. For further information visit the Chester council’s website.

Liverpool

The official civic service of Remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 18 September at 3pm. Doors will open for members of the public at 2pm. For further information visit the Cathedral’s website.

Manchester

A requiem mass giving thanks for the life of the Queen will take place at 10:30am Sunday 18 September at Manchester Cathedral. A Service of Thanksgiving will also be held at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday at 2.30pm. More information can be found here.

On Monday 19 September, big screens will show coverage of the State Funeral at three locations from 9am: Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and inside Manchester Cathedral. Each site will be open to the public without the need for tickets. More information can be found here.

North Yorkshire

York

York Minster will hold a service a service of commemoration for Her Majesty The Queen (with a respectful procession of City of York Council members and the civic party, between York Mansion House and York Minster) at 4pm on Sunday 18 September at York Minster. For further information, visit the City of York council’s website and York Minister’s website.

South

Chichester

Special services of Choral Evensong with Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Chichester Cathedral at 3.00pm on both Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September. Further details on the Saturday and Sunday services can be found on the Cathedral’s website.

Reading

Live coverage of the State Funeral and procession to Windsor will be shown in Reading’s Forbury Gardens. There will also be a church service at Reading Minster on 18 September from 2pm. Further information can be found on the Visit Reading website.

Winchester

Winchester Cathedral will be hosting a one-hour service of commemoration at 6pm on Saturday 17 September. On Monday 19 September, a screening of the State Funeral will be held at 11am, with doors opening at 9am. The day will end with a ‘Closing Act of Remembrance’ at 7.30pm. Details for Saturday and Monday can be found on the Cathedral’s website.

South East

Canterbury

A special Civic Service will take place at Canterbury Cathedral at 11am on Sunday 18 September to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The service will also be streamed live on the cathedral’s website and YouTube channel. For more information, visit Canterbury Cathedral’s website.

Hastings

The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen on Monday 19 September will be shown on a big screen in Alexandra Park on the top lawn (nearest entrance is in Dordrecht Way).

Hastings Borough Council is organising the event, in partnership with Love Hastings, the Business Improvement District for Hastings. Visit the council’s website for more details

Hatfield

On Monday 19 September from 10.00am, Hatfield Park will be showing live coverage of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on a large screen in Palace Green outside the Old Palace. Please refer to the website for more details.

Rochester

There will be a Requiem Eucharist at Rochester Cathedral at 3.15pm on Saturday 17 September, attended by representatives from across the Diocese and the civic life of Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley. All are welcome to attend this service. The service is not ticketed, and seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

South West

Bath

A Memorial Service of Evensong will be held at Bath Abbey on Saturday 18 September at 3.30pm. Find more information on the Abbey website.

Bristol

Bristol Cathedral will offer a ticketed screening of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Please check Bristol Cathedral’s website for further information.

Exeter

The funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September is being screened at Northernhay Gardens and Sandy Park at the Exeter City Football Club. Further details are available at Exeter City Council’s website.

Gloucestershire

Gloucester Cathedral will be holding a service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at 1500hrs on Sunday 18 September. This is a ticketed event for both local officials and members of the public. The expected attendance is around 1,100 people. All tickets are applied for via the Gloucester Cathedral website.

Plymouth

There will be a church service held on Sunday 18 September at the Minster Church of St. Andrew, Royale Parade at 3pm.  Her Majesty’s funeral will be screened on Monday 19 September at the Lyric Theatre. More information can be found on the Plymouth council website.

Salisbury

Salisbury Cathedral will be live streaming the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September at 11:00. The Funeral service will be shown on a large screen and seating will be available in the Nave. No booking is required. For more details, visit Salisbury Cathedral’s website.

Truro

Truro City Council, working with Truro Cathedral, has arranged for a large screen to be placed within Truro Cathedral on the day of the State Funeral for those wishing to attend a public viewing. Further information can be found on Truro City Council’s website.

South Yorkshire

Doncaster

A Service of Commemoration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Doncaster Minister on Saturday 17 September at 6.00pm. More details can be found on the website.

Sheffield

Sheffield Cathedral will hold a commemorative service on Sunday 18 September at 6pm, with a National Moment of Reflection at 8pm. The service will also be shown on a large screen outside the cathedral on the forecourt, and streamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Head to the Cathedral’s website for more details.

Sheffield Cathedral will also be screening the funeral of The Queen inside and outside the Cathedral. The Cathedral doors will open from 8:30am with morning prayer at 8:45am. Please refer online for more details.

West Yorkshire

Bradford

There will be a Civic Service at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 18 September. The Cathedral will also be screening the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. Further details are available on Bradford Cathedral’s website.

Leeds

Live coverage of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on Leeds Big Screen in Millennium Square on Monday 19 September between 10am – 6pm (times subject to confirmation of TV broadcast schedules). Further details are available on the Leeds City Council website.

Scotland to go from strength to strength following formation of Mixed Martial Arts Federation

As the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation continues to expand, Scotland has become the latest nation to establish a federation. 

The idea of setting up a federation was something that had been considered for some time. Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Scotland representative Iain Feenan discussed how the creation of the federation came about and the role in which the success of IMMAF ultimately played in making the final decision.

With the progression of the federation, Feenan also hopes that Scotland can play their part in securing Olympic recognition of Mixed Martial Arts. He said: “It’s something a number of people in the Scottish MMA scene have spoken about for a while now.

“However, seeing the emergence of IMMAF and the affiliated organisations is a driving factor. As a country, we want to be part of growing the sport and help with the goal of being recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

“It’s been challenging and a slow process, but we are making headway, and in the end, it will be well worth it.”

A huge factor for a federation finding success is having clear, attainable goals, something the MMA Scotland appears to have in abundance.

Feenan explained that there are numerous things the federation will look to achieve in order to progress the safety & level of mixed martial arts across all levels of the sport: “Our goal is to build an organisation that develops the sport of MMA in Scotland from grassroots to professional level through education, training and safeguarding of young people, competitors and coaches in MMA.”

Scotland will be sending sole competitor Kunle Lawal to the European Championships. Feenan believes being able to have representation at a tournament so early after the inception of the federation is a monumental step in the right direction.  

“It’s great to see Scotland represented for the first time at this event. Scotland has a wealth of talent who I’m sure we will see compete in IMMAF events more regularly in the future.”

Although this will be the federation’s first IMMAF tournament, they are no strangers to the Championship format. In June, Scotland took a sizable team to the inaugural EMMAA Four Nations Tournament, taking home eight medals, and the aforementioned Lawal was named Athlete Of The Tournament. 

Watch the 2022 IMMAF European Championships live and exclusively from Bella Italia Efa Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy) from 27 September and 1 October 2022 at immaf.tv with the tournament draw taking place on 26 September.

Dutch Vet is taking a Big Stroll at Edinburgh Kiltwalk for award winning Clowndoctor charity!

Gepco Van Bokhorst is a vet in the Netherlands, but he is also an Ambassador for CliniClowns, a European Clowndoctor organisation. His role as an ambassador is to support clowning organisations across Europe by taking part in fundraising events to raise money and spread the word about the fantastic work of Clowndoctors. 

Hearts & Minds were delighted when Gepco contacted them to say he and his wife Angelique had signed up to do The Big Stroll at the legendary Edinburgh Kiltwalk on 18 September to raise money for their Clowndoctors. They are hoping to raise £2500 and this will be boosted by 50% by the generosity of Sir Tom Hunter.

Gepco explains why they wanted to come and support the Edinburgh charity:

“My role with the CliniClowns in the Netherlands: I am one of the ambassadors. These are volunteers who go into the country to receive cheques, supervise, and start sponsor activities and give presentations.

“The policy is that (paid) clowns should be with the children or people with dementia. So, most of the money can be destined for the clowns working in the field. I have felt involved in the founding of the CliniClowns organization and have seen it grow to its current size with 40 people working in the office and more then 100 clowns employed.

“I have also been closely involved with the CliniClowns Circus for 6 years. This circus was meant for families with a multiple disabled child. So, the whole family had a fun event. This was a very special and valuable time for me to experience the impact of Medical Clowning up close. I have seen miracles happen. (See the photo a friend took with me and a girl who does not respond to people and could hardly move her arms according to her caretakers). Every time it gives me goosebumps and I realize how important medical clowning is.

“In 2017 after giving a presentation for the European Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organisations (EFHCO) I heard about Hearts & Minds and immediately adopted Dr. Wallop. Your charity is a bit smaller and reminded me of the earlier days of the CliniClowns.

“Scotland: I have been visiting the Highlands since my last year in university. I have also spent holidays in Scotland with my family and children. It feels like coming home. I received once a Gordon kilt as thanks for saving a dog (I am a vet). The kilt belonged to the lady’s late husband. Once I had worn this kilt, it again felt like coming home. Last year, I had a red kilt (Ramsay) made so that I could marry the love of my life in it: Angelique.

“The Kiltwalk is a challenge we like, not only the walk but also everything that has to do with fundraising (t-shirt, leaflet, video etc.) and the most important reason is you as a small charity can use it very well, especially when Sir Tom Hunter tops it with 50%. And of course, I can wear my wedding kilt again!!”

Sean Donnelly Interim CEO, Hearts & Minds said: “We are so grateful to Gepco and Angelique for coming all the way from the Netherlands to support our Clowndoctors and I am looking forward to joining them on The Big Stroll in my kilt and red nose too!

If people would like to show their appreciation and support Gepco and Angelique donations can be made via this link: https://edinburgh.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/EdinburghKiltwalk2022-GepcoVanBokhorst

These funds will go directly to Clowndoctor visits to hospitals and schools and will bring moments of joy and laughter that last long after the Clowndoctors have been.

Service of Reflection at The Kelpies

All welcome

Service of Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Ahead of the State Funeral for Her Majesty The Queen, Scottish Canals in partnership with The Church of Scotland, will honour the memory of The Queen by holding a Service of Reflection at The Kelpies, the gateway to The Queen Elizabeth II Canal on Sunday 18th September 7:30pm – 8:30pm.

The Service of Reflection will be led by The Church of Scotland’s Ex-Moderator, The Very Reverend Martin Fair.

At 8pm mourners will join people across the nation in observing the minutes silence.

Concluding the service a local lone piper, Euan Thomson, will play `A Salute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’ as crowds disperse.

https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/…/all-welcome-service…/

NSPCC issues advice for parents and carers to help support children with grief following the Queen’s death

Following the news about The Queen’s death children and young people have turned to Childline counsellors for support. They have discussed a range of different things, including:

  • Sadness for the loss of The Queen
  • Past bereavements that this has reminded them of (family members or friends passing away)
  • Issues around mourning in public and school’s announcements/assemblies
  • Feeling overwhelmed with all the news at the moment – with The Queen’s passing being one more sign of “how the world is getting worse”
  • The monarchy’s legacy
  • What the new King will do

Advice – for parents and carers

Following a huge and public loss like that of Queen Elizabeth II, it is normal for children and young people to feel the impact of the grief in their communities.

This may have raised questions for them about loss or remind them of their own experiences of bereavement.

There are a number of ways that adults can support children at this time:

  • Let them know that you’re there to listen to them and remind them that sharing how they feel can really help. Equally, give them space if they wish to be alone to process how they are feeling
  • Remind them that there are lots of small ways to let their feelings out. This could include expressing their feelings by doing something creative such as writing a letter to that person or keeping a diary of how they’re feeling
  • If they are upset about someone who has died, encourage them to think of the happy times they had with the person who died and share this with you so you can talk about them together
  • Remind them that it can take a long time to feel better if they have experienced a bereavement and that this is normal
  • If they are finding it hard to talk to you, let them know they can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk

Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said: “It is not surprising that the death of Her Majesty The Queen has brought up different feelings for children and young people. When big world events take place such as this, we often see them being raised by children in Childline counselling sessions.

“Those that have turned to our counsellors have talked about a range of things including sadness about her death, questions about loss and grief, and for some young people, The Queen’s death has reminded them about a bereavement they have experienced in their own lives which will feel very difficult for them.

“Others have highlighted that it feels like another piece of very overwhelming news at the moment.

“Death is a very natural and inevitable part of life, but its also a very overwhelming topic for children to process and understand. It is important that children know there is someone they can talk to if they are feeling worried or upset. Remind them that there are trusted adults who can listen to them and that they can always contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice.”

Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC, said: “Everyone at the NSPCC is devastated by the death of Her Majesty The Queen. She was our Royal patron for more than 60 years, which was just one of the countless ways she made a huge difference to the lives of children in the UK. Our thoughts go out to her family, including our current patron the Countess of Wessex.

“Her Majesty The Queen supported the NSPCC in a number of ways, including attending our centenary thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1984, visiting our national training centre in 1989 and hosting a reception at St James Palace in 2007 to mark the end of our FULL STOP appeal. The NSPCC’s Royal patron is currently the Countess of Wessex.  

“We know that during this moment of national shock and mourning, many children will be feeling anxious. Support is available for children struggling with anxiety at Childline: Worries about the world | Childline”

Colony of Artists holds 17th Arts Festival this weekend

ABBEYHILL 17 & 18th SEPTEMBER 11am – 6pm

What are you up to this weekend? Come along to our 17th annual arts and music festival!

Over 75 artists, from a huge variety of disciplines, will throw open doors to their homes & gardens over the weekend – so lots to see and discover … also visit our Campervan Brewery pop up bar, chow down food from @The Safari Lounge & listen to live music at the Hive!

Man sentenced to 15 years for sexually abusing children at Edinburgh home

A 75-year-old man has been ordered to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing children more than 40 years ago.

Brian Dailey (below) was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday, 15 September) after carrying out the crimes while employed at a school in the Colinton area of Edinburgh.

He subjected boy and girls, aged between 7 and 12, to sexual abuse over several years between 1969 and 1979, and was convicted in August at the High Court in Glasgow.

Detective Inspector Jim McLauchlan, from the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “I cannot underestimate the courage and patience with which the victims have waited for justice.

“Dailey may have thought he was safe from prosecution but today’s sentencing is the culmination of a lengthy and complicated investigation.

“It does not matter how much time has passed, victims can be reassured that they will be listened to and we will thoroughly investigate any reports to ensure perpetrators are held to account.”

Scotland’s house price growth continues to 9.1% Walker Fraser Steele’s latest House Price Index

Walker Fraser Steele’s latest House Price Index

  • 11 Local Authorities in July experiencing record average prices
  • Argyll and Bute has highest annual growth rate at 18.1%
  • Semi-detached properties have highest price growth over the year
  • Average Scottish house price now £224,035, up 0.8% on June, 9.1 annually

Table 1. Average House Prices in Scotland for the period July 2021 – July 2022

Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments: “The average price paid for a house in Scotland in July 2022 is £224,035, establishing yet another record price for the country – the thirteenth occasion that this has happened in the last thirteen months.

This price is some £18,600 higher than that seen in July 2021, indicating that prices have risen by 9.1% on an annual basis. This annual rate has slowed from the 10.6% growth seen in June, but that month was assisted by a near £3,000 fall in prices which occurred twelve months earlier in June 2021, meaning that the base point for measuring June’s growth rate started from a particularly low level. On a monthly basis, prices in July increased by some £1,725, or 0.8%, which was close to £500 higher than the increase seen in June – continuing the bi-monthly oscillation in prices in 2022 that can be seen in Table 1 above.

Figure 1. The average house price in Scotland over the period July 2020 to July 2022

While prices continue to increase, there is some evidence that the number of housing sales in Scotland is beginning to slow – although a number of surveyors in Scotland believe this to be a regular feature of June and July’s housing market, coinciding as it does with the school holidays, when families are likely to be distracted by matters other than buying a property. It is therefore difficult to draw conclusions from the observed shortfall of sales in June, and to a lesser extent July.

Looking at Table 2 below, which illustrates the change in prices by property type, there is a far smaller difference between the property types in July 2022 than there had been in March 2022.

March 2022 shows a ‘pandemic-led’ increase in prices with detached properties having the highest growth in prices, and flats the lowest. However, in July this position has changed, with semi-detached properties seeing the largest increase in prices while detached properties are second lowest.

The change in growth rates of the different property types highlighted in Table 2 may suggest that the importance of ‘lifestyle-changes’ in the decisions involved in buying a property have shifted over the last few months, as the pandemic becomes less of an influence on peoples’ lives. Or alternatively it may just reflect a change in the mix of those who have purchased properties during the school holidays. We will have to wait and see what happens when the schools return this autumn, and families contemplate their next move.

Transactions analysis

Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period January 2015 to July 2022, based on RoS (Registers of Scotland) figures for the Date of Entry. (July 2022 totals are based on RoS Application dates.)

It can be seen that the June 2022 total is the second lowest transaction count of the eight years shown in Figure 2, with only the June 2020 total being lower. (June 2020 was only three months after the start of the pandemic). Although the July 2022 total shows a small increase in transactions compared to June 2022, the current figure for the month remains an estimate, so at this stage not too much weight should be given to the predicted rise in sales.

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), in its July 2022 Residential Market Survey, is pointing to an easing in sales market activity, with metrics on demand and sales remaining in modestly negative territory over the month. RICS add that for the time being at least – underpinned by the low levels of supply available for purchase – prices continue to rise across all parts of the UK.

Figure 2. The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date (RoS applications date for July 2022), for the period 2015 – 2022

Scotland transactions of £750k or higher

Table 3. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – July 2022

Table 3 shows the number of transactions per month in Scotland which are equal to or greater than £750k. The threshold of £750k has been selected as it is the breakpoint at which the highest rate of LBTT becomes payable.

Table 3 shows that there were 81 sales in excess of £750k during July 2022, and we anticipate that this number will increase as further sales for the month are processed by the Registers of Scotland. It is however doubtful that the July 2022 total will exceed the July 2021 total of 120 sales, which again suggests a slight cooling in the high-value sales market, consistent with the RICS Residential Market Survey quoted earlier. However, the total for July 2022 of 81 high-value sales still exceeds all the prior years’ July totals, except for 2021, indicating that the “lifestyle changes” associated with the pandemic – “working from home” and the “race for space” – are still features of the current housing market, even if their prominence is beginning to wane. This, as discussed on page 7, has resulted in strong competition for the properties that meet these requirements, with substantial price rises still being experienced at the top-end of the market.

A similar picture can be discerned from looking at the totals for the eight years covered by Table 3 above. It is clear that after seven months, the 2022 total already exceeds each full year from 2015 to 2018, with 2019 highly likely to be surpassed next month, and 2020 following suit shortly thereafter. It can also be seen that the sum of the first seven months of 2021 amounts to 590 sales, meaning that 2022 is not too far behind the previous year’s total at the same point in the year.

The five authorities with the largest number of the 578 high-value sales that have been recorded to date in 2022 are: Edinburgh (294); Glasgow City (37); Fife (32); East Lothian (28); and finally East Renfrewshire (20). From these figures can be seen that in 2022, Edinburgh accounts for just over half of this sector of the housing market

Local Authority Analysis

Table 4. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing July 2021, June and July 2022

Table 4 above shows the average house price and percentage change (over the last month and year) by Local Authority Area for July 2021, as well as for June and July 2022, calculated on a seasonal- and mix-adjusted basis. The ranking in Table 4 is based on the local authority area’s average house price for July 2022. Local Authority areas shaded in blue experienced record average house prices in July 2022.

Annual change

The average house price in Scotland increased by some £18,600 – or 9.1% – over the last twelve months, to the end of July. This is a near £2,800 decrease over the £21,400 growth in prices seen in the twelve months to the end of June 2022 – but we were advising last month that prices in June 2021, i.e., one year earlier, had fallen by £3,000 from May 2021, so the base point for measuring annual changes in value was starting from a low level.

In July 2022, 31 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland saw their average prices rise over the levels seen twelve months earlier – the sole exception being Inverclyde, where prices fell by -1.0. Inverclyde currently has the lowest average property value of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland, despite it having experienced a 7.4% increase in average prices in the month – discussed in more detail below.

The area with the highest annual increase in average house prices in July 2022 was Argyll and Bute, where values have risen by 18.1% over the year. This is the fourth month in succession that Argyll and Bute has recorded the highest annual change in prices, having been assisted in this process by a number of high-value sales achieving prices above their guide levels.

This occurred again in July, with the sale of a four-bedroom shipping magnate’s villa overlooking the Clyde, having an asking price of £650,000 but selling for £850,000. This is a classic example of how homes in attractive locations – this time in Helensburgh – can attract competitive bids, resulting in a significantly higher price for the property under offer.

In Table 4, it is noticeable that the top eight local authorities by value have all seen their average prices increase in the month, suggesting that the desire to move to larger properties in these areas has continued in Scotland over the summer months, despite the school holidays.

On a weight-adjusted basis, which employs both the change in prices and the number of transactions involved, there are five local authority areas in July that accounted for 44% of the £18,600 increase in Scotland’s average house price over the year. The five areas in descending order of influence are: – Edinburgh (13%), Glasgow (12%); South Lanarkshire (9%); Perth and Kinross (5%) and Highland (5%).

Monthly change

In July 2022, Scotland’s average house price in the month rose by some £1,730, or 0.8%, continuing the pattern of minor upward oscillations in property values on a monthly basis. The average price in Scotland now stands at £224,035, which sets a record level for the nation for the thirteenth month in succession.

In July 2022, 20 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced rising prices in the month, two more than in June. The largest increase in average prices in July, of 9.0%, was seen in Na h-Eileanan Siar, but we frequently make the point that the Islands have few sales in a month – in July there were just 12 in the Western Isles – which tends to result in large movements in average prices.

On the mainland, the highest increase in prices was in Inverclyde, up 7.4% in the month. Average prices in Inverclyde were assisted in the month by the purchase of an upmarket flat, in Greenock, being a lower conversion of a traditional 1870 Victorian blonde sandstone property, with 5 bedrooms, which sold for £370k – the second highest priced flat sold in Inverclyde in the calendar year.

At the other end of the scale the lowest increase in average prices in July, on the mainland, was Dundee City, at -3.7%. A number of new homes had been purchased in the Broughty Ferry area of Dundee earlier in the year – but the number sold diminished in July, resulting in the fall in average prices in the area.

Peak Prices

Each month, in Table 4 above, we highlight in light blue the local authority areas which have reached a new record in their average house prices. In July, there are 11 such authorities, two less than in June. We can also add that Scotland itself has set a record average price in July 2022 – the seventh of this calendar year.

Heat Map

The heat map below shows the rate of house price growth for the 12 months ending July 2022. As reported above, 31 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland have seen a rise in their average property values over the last year, the one exception being Inverclyde. The highest increase over the twelve months to July 2022 was in Argyll and Bute at 18.1%. 16 of the 32 local authority areas had price growth in excess of 10.0% – three less than in June 2022.

Comparisons with Scotland

Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-July 2022

Figure 4. A comparison of the annual change in house prices in Scotland, England and Wales, Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005–July 2022

Scotland’s Eight Cities

Figure 5. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities from May 2021–July 2022

Figure 6. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities July 2022