Legacy giving is often discussed in terms of demographics, wealth and long-term market growth, but geographical location is another important part of the story.

At last month’s Legacy Strategy Summit 2026, our session on location and legacy giving explored how legacy potential varies across the UK, and why recognising regional differences can help charities build a fuller understanding of the future market.

Our CharityTracker analysis highlighted that geography influences both the likelihood of someone leaving a charitable gift in their will, and the value of the estates from which those gifts are made. These factors are not distributed evenly, creating regional patterns that have important implications for legacy giving across the UK.

Looking beyond national trends

The UK legacy market continues to perform strongly, with legacy income reaching an estimated £4.4 billion in 2025. Forecasts suggest the market will exceed £5 billion by 2029 and could reach £10 billion by 2046.

Much of this growth has been driven by increasing estate values rather than an increase in the proportion of estates left to charity. In fact, the average residuary share left to charities has gradually declined over the past decade, while legacy income has continued to grow.

The principal reason is housing wealth. Rising house prices have increased the value of estates, making residential property the largest contributor to estate growth in recent years.

These national trends provide important context, but they do not tell the whole story. Housing wealth, estate values and charitable giving all vary considerably across the UK, meaning national averages can mask significant regional differences.

Regional differences can be complex

One of the key findings from the session was that charitable intention and estate wealth do not always align geographically.

Some regions have relatively high levels of charitable will intention among people aged 50 and over, while others have substantially higher average estate values. The areas with the greatest likelihood of charitable giving are therefore not always the areas where the largest gifts are likely to originate.

Average estate values also vary markedly between regions, reflecting differences in property markets and accumulated wealth. At the same time, charitable intention follows a different pattern, suggesting that generosity and wealth are influenced by different factors.

Considering both measures together provides a more nuanced view of legacy potential than either can offer on its own.

The role of property

Property emerged as one of the strongest themes throughout the analysis.

It has been the primary driver of estate growth over the past decade and remains closely associated with both estate value and charitable giving. Home ownership is linked with higher levels of charitable will intention, while regional differences in house prices continue to shape the value of estates entering probate.

This helps explain why legacy income has continued to increase even as the proportion of estates left to charity has remained relatively stable or declined slightly, with larger estates generating larger gifts.

As housing markets continue to evolve, recognising how wealth is distributed geographically will remain an important part of interpreting longer-term trends in legacy giving.

Geography and future opportunity

Regional analysis also becomes increasingly relevant when considered alongside demographic change.

The average person now makes their first will at around the age of 50, while their final will is typically made much later in life. Combined with changing population profiles across the UK, this creates a lengthy window during which potential legacy supporters may review or update their wills.

Different regions will experience these demographic changes in different ways. Variations in age profile, levels of home ownership and estate wealth all contribute to the evolving shape of the legacy market.

Taken together, these factors suggest that location is not simply a geographic characteristic. It provides an additional lens through which charities can better interpret both current legacy behaviour and longer-term opportunity.

Building a more complete picture

No single dataset can explain legacy giving on its own. Estate values, charitable intention, demographics, housing markets and population change each contribute to our knowledge of the market.

Bringing these different strands together allows charities to move beyond broad national assumptions and develop a deeper understanding of how legacy potential differs across the UK.

This was one of the central themes of the session and reflects the continuing development of evidence-based approaches to legacy fundraising and market analysis.

For organisations wanting to explore these patterns in more detail, Legacy Futures' Legacy Navigator and CharityTracker tools provide additional insight into regional legacy trends.

Watch the LSS sessions on demand

This article highlighted just some of the insights shared during the Legacy Strategy Summit, which brought together charity professionals from organisations of all sizes to explore what’s next in legacy giving.

Through practical sessions, expert insights and real-world case studies, the event examined how the sector can respond to a changing landscape, strengthen legacy strategies and build more resilient programmes.

Those interested in exploring the sessions in more detail can access the recording.