When retirement beckons, many of us decide that a new home in which to make new memories is just the thing for ringing in a different chapter.
Whether you have decided to downsize and release some equity now that family have flown the nest, or you’re looking for a brand new property with less maintenance and more energy-efficient features, location will still be a top priority.
Whilst you may no longer be tied to a particular area because of work commitments or schools, there will be other considerations to think about such as proximity to local amenities, hobbies and healthcare.
With this in mind, Estate Agents Savills combined forces with The Telegraph to find the top 10 regions in the UK based on crime levels, the number of GP surgeries and hospitals, shops and green spaces and the results may surprise you. Indeed, the stereotypical image of retirees in the chocolate box countryside cottage has been turned on its head, given that 6 areas in the top 10 are actually in London.
Intrigued to find out more? Read on to find out why these towns and cities are the top 10 retirement hotspots in 2024.
Best Places to Retire in the Uk in 2024
1. Exeter, Devon
Receiving high scores for healthcare and affordability, Devon’s historic Cathedral city also offers excellent public transport links with three train stations, a busy bus network and an easy link to the M5. Added to this is an impressively stocked high street and easy access to numerous leisure activities and the best beaches and countryside the South West has to offer. Both Dartmoor National Park and Exmouth and Sidmouth’s scenic, sandy beaches can be reached in half an hour from the city.
Exeter is also one of the most affordable places on the list – beaten only by Worcester – with an average house price of just under £350,000 in the last 12 months.
2. Merton, south-west London
The London Borough of Merton which encompasses Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden and Raynes Park, scored highly across all areas, particularly in relation to the proximity of outdoor, green space (hello Mitcham Common and Wimbledon Park) and healthcare services such as GP surgeries and pharmacies. The area also has great retail facilities and useful bus, rail and tube connections to central London and beyond. South Western Railway, Thameslink and Southern rail networks all pass through the Borough, as do the Northern and District underground lines.
In terms of house prices Merton isn’t cheap, but at around £755,000 on average in the last 12 months it is certainly better value than other London Boroughs on this list.
3. Richmond-upon-Thames, south-west London
This picturesque Thames-side Borough in south-west London scores highly with retirees thanks to its stunning 2500 acre Richmond Park, excellent transport links and a bustling, easily accessible town centre full of charming independent shops and eateries and all of the essential amenities you could need. Richmond also benefits from the lowest recorded crime rates of anywhere listed.
Unsurprisingly, property here is more expensive than many other areas on the list, with the Richmond -upon-Thames Borough as a whole fetching an average house price of £1 million in the last 12 months.
4. Epsom and Ewell, Surrey
The Epsom and Ewell district in the heart of the Surrey commuter belt is also considered ideal for retirees thanks to its leafy, green appeal, ideal ‘downsizing’ properties, plentiful leisure facilities and the amount of local amenities, restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance.
The scenic Epsom Downs and Horton Country Park are also on the doorstep and the South Western and Southern rail networks pass through the area offering a quick route into the capital, meaning that Epsom and Ewell can provide the best of both worlds when it comes to town and country living.
The average house price of around £600,000 puts the area in the middle of the pack when it comes to affordability.
5. Worcester, Worcestershire
With an average property price of around £287,000 over the past year, the Cathedral city of Worcester in the West Midlands is easily the most affordable place to buy property in the top 10 list.
The city’s well-stocked high street, riverside setting, great sense of community and proximity to the stunning Malvern Hills and Cotswolds AONBs also make Worcester an ideal spot for retirees, and Which? agree, putting it at the top of their list of retirement hotspots in 2023.
6. Sutton, south-west London
Second only to Richmond when it comes to low crime rates, Sutton is also one of London’s greenest Boroughs, offering plenty of pleasant outdoor space in the likes of Oak Park and Beddington Park, well-stocked high streets (and Ikea on the doorstep) plus useful transport links via bus and rail. Indeed, you can be in central London within 30 minutes by train, or outside the M25 equally quickly by car.
The most affordable of the London areas listed, the average house price in Sutton was just over £500,000 in the last 12 months.
7. Bromley, south-east London
Bromley scored highly as a location for retirees in the capital thanks to affordable housing costs (£585,350 on average, £333,725 for flats) and its proximity to central London. You can be in Victoria in just 20 minutes by train yet still enjoy the peaceful green oasis of Bromley Common or Norman Park.
Bromley also offers a well-equipped high street and plenty of useful local amenities and leisure and entertainment facilities. Not least the popular Churchill Theatre.
8. Cheltenham, Gloucester
Thanks to an average house price which sits at just over £400,000, Cheltenham takes third place on the list in terms of affordability.
Cheltenham is a picturesque Regency-era spa town that also has charming period architecture by the bucketload, a fascinating heritage to explore and numerous cultural events throughout the year, including a famous literary festival and live music, theatre and opera at the Everyman Theatre. Foodies will also find plenty to tempt their palate in the town, with an impressive 9 restaurants recommended by the Michelin guide and a lively café culture.
9. Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London
Offering better value than nearby Wimbledon in Merton or pricey Richmond, the average property price in Kingston-upon-Thames is around £710,000. Certainly not the cheapest on the list, but for anyone looking to downsize, the area offers the option of remaining in a riverside location with plenty of shops, eateries and other essential amenities close at hand, including the impressive Bentall Centre and the independent retailers on Old London Road.
Kingston also offers plenty of outdoor leisure amenities with several golf courses, sports clubs and the grandchild approved Chessington World of Adventures and Hobbledown Adventure Farm plus a speedy rail service into London Waterloo in less than an hour.
10. Westminster, central London
Westminster’s punchy average house price of £1.72 million sees it squeak in at number 10 on the list. Although this is hardly surprising given the Borough’s central London location.
Indeed, what Westminster lacks in affordability, it makes up for in an impressive array of local shops and amenities within walking distance and its proximity to the Capital’s impressive cultural heritage.
The world-renowned St Thomas’ Hospital can also be found just across Westminster Bridge, alongside plenty of GP surgeries and dentists. The Borough also offers easy connections by road, rail, bus and tube to the rest of London and beyond.
