A recent study has pinpointed the perfect spot to enjoy some sea air and unwind after decades of work
Taking Car compiled the list and found the best places to retire(Image: Getty)
After years of toiling away in bustling towns and cities, it’s no surprise that many retirees crave a more peaceful existence. A recent study has pinpointed the ideal spot to enjoy some sea air and unwind after decades of graft, with a Welsh seaside town being hailed as the best place for a tranquil retirement.
This year’s list, compiled by Taking Care, is topped by the Victorian seaside destination of Llandudno. This charming town, nestled on the North Wales coast, clinched the top spot, outshining Glossop, Tynemouth and Ilfracombe.
The study took into account factors ranging from life expectancy to property prices to average care home costs, should they ever be needed.
Beyond the core statistics, the study also factored in the amount of green spaces, bingo halls, English Heritage properties and other amenities that contribute to an entertaining lifestyle.
With a population of just 19,700 according to the 2021 census, the town offers ample opportunities for socialising, but also plenty of quiet spots when you need a breather.
The town’s seafront is its heart, boasting a two-mile stretch of Victorian terraces intermingled with grand hotels, reports Wales Online.
There are numerous lovely shops, restaurants, churches, and museums to discover, and the pier boasts a selection of slot machines and a pub with views across the beach – something that residents are delighted to say feels like stepping back through time.
Ray, 80, who moved to Llandudno nearly three decades ago, told The Telegraph: “Living here is like going back 50 years.
“The older ladies still dress nicely. You can go out for walks after dark. There are no rough gangs going around swearing and fighting.”
Adjacent Conwy can also provide a delightful day trip to explore additional retailers and boutiques offering a much wider selection.
Helen Parkes, who relocated to the town with her family, added: “It’s [Llandudno] lacking in terms of retail and culture – Conwy next door has had more spent on it and has more independent shops – but living here, you do realise life’s not all about spending.”
While picturesque North Wales might be the perfect location for retirement, Scotland seems to have surfaced as one of the worst options, particularly its capital.
Amongst all the places evaluated, Edinburgh came last with an average life expectancy of 79 and an overall lifestyle score of 3.8/10, proving that city living can come at a cost.
The capital also proved to be expensive, with annual care costs in the city hitting nearly £40,000 on average, with just one care home for every 778 elderly residents.
The UK offers plentiful options for people looking to relocate, with the possibility to embrace a new lease of life for soon-to-be-retiree
The UK offers plentiful options for people looking to relocate, with the possibility to embrace a new lease of life for soon-to-be-retiree(Image: Drazen Zigic via Getty Images)
Whilst numerous Britons reach retirement contentedly settled in their ‘forever home’, others may discover they fancy relocating somewhere fresh – whether that’s seizing the chance to downsize, relocate nearer to relatives, or experience a different rhythm of life, reports the Express.
The UK provides abundant choices for those considering a move, with the prospect of different surroundings, the opportunity to release some equity when downsizing, and the capacity to embrace a fresh start all thrilling possibilities for the approaching retiree.
“Identity is a big issue in retirement, and when you move house, you can reinvent yourself,” wrote Celia Dodd, author of Not Fade Away: How to Thrive in Retirement. “People don’t know you as the person who used to go off to work on their bike every day, they don’t have preconceptions of you. Your new surroundings will encourage you to think differently about things.”
So where might the over -60s consider relocating to ‘shake things up’? Have a look at our compiled selection below.
Leafy Amersham and Chesham were named by Legal and General as a retirement happiness hotspot(Image: Getty)
Amersham and Chesham
Legal and General this year named verdant Amersham and Chesham as the premier destination for retirement, drawing on information concerning six ‘pillars’ of contented living, encompassing accommodation, wellbeing, social connections and community, financial circumstances, countryside and facilities. The Buckinghamshire area topped the list in a study by a financial services group, scoring an impressive 93 out of 100 for health.
This reflects the high number of over-65s in good physical and mental health, as well as excellent access to GPs. All other ‘pillars’ scored over 60, making this constituency a well-rounded environment for later life.
Tucked away in the picturesque Chiltern Hills, these towns offer a mix of rural charm and city convenience. The market town of Beaconsfield and Surrey Hills towns Dorking and Horley took 2nd and 3rd place in the rankings, respectively.
Llandudno, Wales was named in a 2025 poll as the best place to retire in the UK(Image: Getty)
Llandudno
For those seeking a peaceful seaside retirement, the Welsh coastal town of Llandudno came out on top in a study conducted by personal alarm supplier Taking Care this year.
The research considered various factors, from life expectancy and property prices to the average cost of care homes if needed. In addition to these key statistics, the study also looked at the amount of green spaces, bingo halls, English Heritage properties and other leisure facilities.
This Victorian resort features a delightful promenade overlooking a breath-taking peninsula between the Great and Little Orme headlands. Other locations that made the cut were Glossop, Tynemouth and Ilfracombe.
Exeter topped the list of best UK places to retire in as complied by The Telegraph(Image: Getty)
Exeter
The Telegraph – alongside estate agents Savills – compiled a ranking this year of the top 10 retirement destinations, taking into account various crucial elements such as ‘the number of hospitals, GPs and dentists per 10,000 people and the availability of shops and green spaces nearby’.
Leading their rankings was the south coast gem Exeter. ‘Compact and convenient’, yet brimming with natural splendour, the historic city offers heritage at its doorstep, boutique retailers and independent coffee houses, plus a lively social atmosphere.
Regularly hailed as amongst the finest places to reside, work, and learn in the UK, there’s abundant choice for pensioners seeking to embrace a fresh chapter in life. Runner-up in the survey was Merton, South West London, whilst nearby Richmond-upon-Thames claimed third spot.
Wimborne tops the list of ‘hidden gems’ as complied by McCarthy Stone(Image: Getty)
Wimborne
Analysis by retirement community developer McCarthy Stone reveals growing appetite for developments in more obscure towns, with Wimborne, Dorset leading their rankings.
Chrissy Fice, Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone, commented: “With access to local amenities being named as the top ‘must-have’ by three quarters of over 65s, other things people are looking for include good transport links, handy supermarkets, a central location within a 15-minute walk, and either a coast or country backdrop.”
Market town Wimborne fulfils those criteria – and beyond – offering waterside serenity, cultural attractions, independent retailers and dining establishments, plus a thriving retired population. Other hidden treasures that made the list by McCarthy Stone include the verdant Sutton Coldfield, the historic Stratford-upon-Avon and the medieval Waltham Abbey.
There’s a lot to think about when you’re moving for retirement, like healthcare access, chances to make new friends, being close to nature, local facilities and financial stability.
For those considering a move, Rangeford Villages, a retirement village firm, offers the following advice:
Research and visit prospective areas – chat to locals already living there to get a well-balanced picture of a place
Review your budget – if necessary, consult a financial advisor to ensure fiscal planning is thorough
Assess your desired lifestyle – does the area you’re looking at provide the opportunities you need?
Location evaluation – consider proximity to family and friends, healthcare, shopping and nature.
Eric Dane is angry. Angry that he’s been hit by ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young,” says the actor, 52, whose father fatally shot himself when Dane was just 7.
The “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” star, who revealed his diagnosis last Tuesday, sat down with “Good Morning America” to talk about his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable degenerative neurological condition. In ALS, the muscle neurons linking the brain and spine to the muscles deteriorate, leaving the muscle with nothing able to tell them what to do or when to do it. No messages means no movement, no functioning, in systems including eating and breathing.
The actor said in an interview broadcast on Monday that it’s been about 18 months since he started experiencing symptoms. It took a series of doctors and tests before he found out he was one of the 5,000 people a year diagnosed with ALS in the United States.
“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand and I didn’t really think anything of it at that time,” Dane told Diane Sawyer, his voice perhaps sounding a bit slower and thicker than usual. “I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued.
“But a few weeks later, I noticed that it had gotten a little worse, so I went to a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. Then I went to a neurologist, who sent me to another neurologist, who said, ‘This is way above my pay grade.’”
Nine months after consulting with the first physician, Dane had his diagnosis.
Now “those three letters” — ALS — hit him every morning when he wakes up, he said.
“I have one functioning arm … my left side is functioning,” Dane said. “My right side has completely stopped working.”
Adding to the horror, his left arm is “going,” he said. “I feel like maybe a couple, few more months and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
The former competitive swimmer and water polo player recalled the moment he realized he no longer felt safe in water. He dove off a boat to snorkel with his daughter in the ocean, then couldn’t “swim and generate enough power to get myself back to the boat.” The younger of his two daughters with actor wife Rebecca Gayheart, 13-year-old Georgia, had to come to his aid.
After she dragged him back to the boat, Dane said, he sent her back out with her friend and the snorkeling guide. Meanwhile, he broke down crying.
“I was heartbroken.”
Life expectancy for people with ALS varies by age of symptom onset, type of ALS and whether a person is male or female. The overall median life expectancy from symptom onset is 30 months, according to ALS United of Greater Chicago. Some people die within a year, while others have lived 20 more years, the group said. Earlier onset seems linked to a better survival rate.
The famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who died in 2016 at age 76, is an example of someone who survived for 55 years with the disease after being diagnosed at age 21. The minds of people with ALS stay sharp even as their bodies fail.
Dane said Gayheart has become his “biggest champion” and “most stalwart supporter” as he continues to work when he can, including on a new series, “Countdown.”
“I don’t think this is the end of my story,” he told Sawyer. “I just don’t feel like, in my heart, I don’t feel like this is the end of me. … I’m fighting as much as I can.”
The town was named one of the best places to live in the UK and after visiting the pretty market town, I can understand why – but there’s one reason I won’t be moving there any time soon
Lymington Marina also has its own bar and restaurant where visitors can sit back and unwind(Image: Getty)
Lymington – a picturesque port town nestled near the New Forest and opposite Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight – is unlike other seaside towns.
It may not have its own beach, but it boasts a charming marina with a family sea pool open from April to September. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this historic market town several times over the years, always finding myself captivated by its unique character and charm, Express.co.uk’s Millie Bull.
The high street, brimming with independent boutiques and quaint cafes, is a particular highlight. Despite the influx of chain stores and popular coffee-shop brands over the years, the town has managed to retain its old-world charm.
Quay Street in the centre of Lymington(Image: Getty)
Its cobbled streets, pastel-coloured seaside terraces, and bunting fluttering in the wind are just some of the reasons why this delightful little seaside town consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the UK.
Lymington also holds the record for the longest life expectancy among retired Britons, with men averaging 85 years and women 87 – significantly higher than the national average of 81. And it’s easy to see why.
Perfectly situated a stone’s throw away from the scenic New Forest and offering spectacular views of the Needles and the Isle of Wight, Lymington isn’t just about pretty views and a charming high street – there’s plenty to do as well.
Lymington, a popular sailing destination, is home to the bustling Lymington Yacht Haven marina. Housing hundreds of yachts and boats, the marina also boasts its own bar and restaurant where visitors can relax with a drink while watching the maritime activity.
The town’s rich history is on display at the St Barbe Museum and Gallery, which features exhibitions from renowned artists and information about the surrounding villages and the New Forest. Every Saturday, Lymington Market fills the high street with stalls selling local produce, cakes, clothing and unique gift ideas.
A personal favourite spot in Lymington is Toot Sweets Ice Cream Parlour, offering a fantastic variety of ice cream, waffles, milkshakes and drinks – it’s a must-visit regardless of the weather.
Another gem is the Kings Head Pub, one of the oldest pubs in the New Forest dating back 300 years. This traditional English pub offers great food, an open fire and a wide selection of local real ales.
Despite the charm of Lymington, there’s one drawback – the house prices. A quick search on Rightmove revealed that properties in the area are out of my budget, with homes in Lymington having an overall average price of £581,901 over the last year.
In Lymington, most of the properties sold last year were detached houses, fetching an average price of £929,570. Flats were sold for an average price of £221,155, while terraced houses went for around £480,972.
