You’ve worked your whole life for this. Forty-odd years of hard graft have led up to the day that you finally get to walk away for the very last time, and relax for the rest of your life.
Choosing where to retire is a big decision. If all goes well, it will be where you spend a good couple of decades, and those decades will be freer than any of the previous ones, so you’ll want to pick somewhere you won’t get tired of.
To help you out a bit with making up your mind, the Telegraph, along with real estate agents Savills, has created a list of the top ten best places to retire in the country.
To figure out where the best spots for pensioners are, the Telegraph looked at several ‘key factors’, including ‘the number of hospitals, GPs and dentists per 10,000 people and the availability of shops and green spaces nearby’. The newspaper also considered crime rates and average property prices, then did some number crunching to determine standardised scores for each place, and finally ranked them.
According to one researcher from Savills retirees are often happy to uproot and chase a better life, despite the common perception of them as frail and elderly, because; ‘these movers are likely to reconsider the location of their home to ensure the convenience and proximity of local amenities and health services, so they can be less reliant on others in later life’.
So where should you recommend nan? Apparently, Exeter. The south coast city triumphed thanks to its proximity to stunning natural scenery, including Dartmoor park and miles of pristine beaches, good public transport, and for the fact that it is both ‘small and accessible’.
In second place was Merton, in south west London. Although it had a much lower healthcare rating than Exeter, according to Dan Miller, of Savills: ‘Wimbledon Village is the ultimate London location due to its slower pace of life, close-knit community feel and good range of boutique shops, independent cafes and pubs.’ It’s also very well served by bus and tube.
Richmond-upon-Thames, also in south west London, took the bronze. It was also recently named the Times’ best place to live in the UK (according to science), so whatever’s in the water down there is working a treat. There’s river views, golf courses, lovely homes, and, the Telegraph notes that ‘you can live a life as fast or as slow as you like in Richmond, which makes it an ideal place to live in and enjoy as a retiree’.
The full list of the best places to retire in Britain was as follows:
The UK’s top 10 places to retire in 2025
- Exeter, Devon
- Merton, south west London
- Richmond-upon-Thames, south west London
- Epsom & Ewell, Surrey
- Worcester, Worcestershire
- Sutton, south west London
- Bromley, south east London
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London
- Westminster, central London
Six out of the 10 locations were in the capital, likely due to its excellent public transport and access to amenities. Maybe it really is perfect for anyone, no matter what age.
You can read in more detail what the Telegraph had to say about each of the top spots in the original article here.
Where to go in the British Isles
Wherever you live, there’s plenty of reason to adventure across the UK. Here’s our favourite places to visit in the UK, the best family friendly holiday digs, and some tree houses you can rent out for something a little different. We’ve also got guides to the country’s cosiest cabins, and the coolest castles you can stay overnight in.
Plus: The UK’s best pub has been crowned for 2025.
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