Birmingham is the top choice for relocation
One of the underlying reasons behind this apparent exodus from London is the affordability of living in the capital, a particular challenge for people in their 20s and 30s trying to get on the housing ladder.
The average house in London would cost the typical worker in London 724 weeks of wages, up from 460 weeks' worth in 2010, according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and the Land Registry.
In Birmingham, the most popular destination for people leaving London, housing is much more affordable, with just 312 weeks' wages required to buy the average house.
On the move
As many as 6,510 people moved from London to Birmingham in 2016, while Bristol and Manchester also made the top ten destinations. This indicates that many people are choosing to abandon London life completely, rather than moving slightly outside the city and elongating their commute.
However, the option of moving to London's outskirts is also proving very popular with the remaining seven destinations in the top 10 all being in traditional commuter areas such as Dartford and Thurrock.