Best places to spend your retirement in England
Collaborative Post
Getting ready to retire? When you’ve spent your whole life working towards the National State Pension, you deserve to put your feet up and enjoy a more relaxing pace of life.
For many people, retirement simply looks like taking more holidays, starting new hobbies, and seeing family and friends more often. Others choose to relocate, and if you think that could be part of your plan, it’s important to choose a location that makes you feel excited about the move.
No matter where you’re based now, it’s always worth learning about some of the best locations for retirement and the facilities on offer nearby.
Why move in retirement?
When you retire, you’re no longer tied down to a location your job. If you have children, they have their house and independence now too, so you might not need to be just around the corner anymore.
Moving in retirement allows you to downsize, too. If you’ve been living in the family home after your children have moved away, you probably have more space than you’ll need for the next few years. Moving to a new location means you could live in a house that’s better suited to your lifestyle. It’s hardly surprising that a quarter of retired homeowners plan to downsize.
Above all, finding somewhere new to live in retirement allows you to get a fresh perspective through your golden years. If you have a strong sense of adventure and you’re eager to try new things, moving into a new area could unearth newfound energy.
Our top three locations for retirement in England
The Peak District
If you picture yourself living in a rural area through your retirement, opting for one of the many hotspots in and around the Peak District National Park could make a wonderful choice. This incredible area is better connected to essential services than the Lake District, but you’ll still be surrounded by plenty of hills.
Living in a lively city like Sheffield still gives you unrivalled access to natural beauty, plus everything you might need through retirement. The landscape will naturally keep you on your feet for longer, and you’ll benefit from the happy-go-lucky attitude shared by the locals.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is incredibly well connected to major hubs in the Midlands, but it truly offers something for everyone. From picturesque coastal towns to rural villages tucked between rolling hills, it’s certainly worth exploring your options in this area.
You’ll find the historic town of Lincoln and the vast Lincolnshire Wolds AONB in the northerly half of the county, and classic fenland landscapes and market towns like Stamford further to the south. If you can see yourself living near the coast through retirement, you can look at new build homes in Skegness for a seaside retreat.
The Cotswolds
Close to key amenities in the West Midlands but surrounded by hundreds of acres of breathtaking countryside, the Cotswolds AONB makes a fantastic choice for retired couples looking for a peaceful life through retirement. Nearby towns and cities include Bath, Swindon, and Gloucester.
From affluent towns to tucked-away hamlets and cobbled streets, moving to a traditional Cotswolds location will make your retirement feel like a fairytale. This area is widely known as one of the best places to retire in the UK, offering low crime levels, great transport links and brilliant air quality among other perks.
Overview
Moving house when you retire means you can start another chapter. Retirement shouldn’t be the end of life as you’ve known it, but instead a wonderful opportunity for new beginnings and taking the leap.
Photo by Tom Wheatley on Unsplash
