Charlie Biggs-Thomas

Research commissioned by property-management software provider Alto found that Glasgow is the UK’s fastest-moving city for home sales, with offers agreed in as little as 11 days, compared with a national average of 30 days. Wakefield was the slowest, at 63 days. Flats and apartments now take 39 days to secure an offer, while one-bedroom and studio properties take 42 days. Terraced and semi-detached homes are the fastest-selling property types, whereas retirement housing, park homes and detached properties take longer. Alto’s CEO and a Glasgow estate-agency executive attributed the city’s strong demand to limited supply, accessible prices and accurate pricing by experienced local agents.

A OnePoll survey of 2,000 British adults found that 26% believe they could beat a professional athlete, while 38% of men said they could potentially meet the qualifying standard for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with coaching and disciplined training. Football and tennis were viewed as the most realistic sports, while gymnastics and diving were considered the hardest to master. The poll also found that 67% believe competitiveness improves performance, although confidence differed sharply by gender, with 38% of men rating themselves above average athletically compared with 49% of women who rated themselves below average. Vauxhall commissioned the research to promote its Team GB partnership and highlighted its return to motorsport.

A survey of 2,000 UK music fans found that 70% repeatedly listen to the same songs and artists, with many citing comfort and habit as reasons for avoiding new music. National Rail commissioned a new track called Track Rest, created by DJ Adriano Desire with input from music psychologist Dr Ruth Herbert, to help listeners reset their listening patterns using white‑noise‑based audio. The findings show many fans want to explore new music but lack time, with train journeys highlighted as opportunities for discovery. Festivals and travel continue to influence music exploration, and National Rail’s campaign emphasizes using travel time to refresh listening habits.

Survey results show many over‑50s feel more motivated to travel but are held back by health concerns, work pressures and finances, leaving a quarter feeling in “travel limbo.” Newmarket Holidays promotes “pretirement sabbaticals” to help older Britons take extended breaks and partners with Race Across The World winners Mark and Margo, who share guidance encouraging flexibility, shared experiences and confidence in later‑life travel.