UK area to retire to

I don't think you can beat Bournemouth and the public transport is excellent .I don't know about prices but they are certainly cheaper thantheHome Counties.

Jersey is very pleasant. Great public transport, lots of sea, no political parties and lovely beaches. Only I thinking you can't just buy a house there - there's all sorts of rules and regulations regarding residency.

So scrap that....sorry.

Of course I would suggest North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire but as many know I'm very biased about God's own county

Hello Vissos I moved from Rayleigh a few years ago now initially to the Yorkshire Dales beautiful but too cold for me - South Essex its quite warm compared to some parts of the country so we came a bit further down to the east Midlands where property prices are better. If you want coast though how about Suffolk/Norfolk. My brother retired from Liverpool to Dorset but the property prices are very high there (he downsized). Have a look at weather maps re rainfall etc before you decide the West Country can be very wet.

You want to be close to shops, GP and dentist especially if you do not drive. A decent bus route is a must as you want to get out and about. Rents are horrendous most places, especially where I live in London.

You aren't the only one vq, but you have to wear your vest "up 'ere" in the summer!

I like the North Norfolk coast, but having looked in some estate agents' windows while we were there last weekend, you would have to have serious brass to be able to buy there . It didn't seem as if public transport was that good either.

Sussex has some lovely views. A seaview would come at a premium but a few streets back from the sea would save you money.

As lovely as Norfolk is IMHO it's too flat to have good views. I prefer rolling hills and something of interest too a couple of miles of fields and sky

The south coast is your best bet weather-wise but of course it's quite expensive, particularly as you want coastal!

I know someone who lives in Worthing, not the prettiest of towns but there are good parts and have seen some nice seafront apartments when walking along the beach.

As I'm sure you already know, seaside towns can be very dismal when the weather is bad.

It depends on which bit of the North Norfolk Coast Greyduster. Around Blakeney and Cley its expensive, The Burnhams and neighbouring villages on the coast are London prices (its known as Chelsea-on-Sea) but if you head round to the east a bit to Cromer, the Runtons and Overstrand its much more reasonable. Cromer has a good bus service to Norwich and there's actually a train service from neighbouring Sheringham. There's quite a lot going on in Cromer too with most of what you need covered. Worth looking at perhaps?

South Wales? Cardiff Bay or Swansea (cheap as chips) and bloody gorgeous. Plenty to do, excellent links, friendly people and no shortage of choirs to join.

Why not stay where you are and move to a smaller place? Southend has good transport. shops, rail services, and sea views!

Northumberland coast is glorious but you need to be hardy to live so far north. The view to the Farne islands is wonderful.

I would suggest the Northumberland coast. It is absolutely beautiful, but it might be a bit far for you. Have a look at some of these . My favourite is Beadnell Bay.

What about Eastbourne in East Sussex? It's the sunshine town of the UK - allegedly!

Forget the rest
St.Andrews is best !

Vissos I'm not far from you, Shoebury. I'm afraid that I think southend has it all. Although there are many who still think it's just kiss me quick hats.
Without knowing your personnel circumstances it's difficult to comment. But what I can tell you is: if you are going to claim pension credit, the maintainance payments on your flat will be paid for. Not insurance. And you are allowed £10,000 in savings and still claim credit. Find out all you can claim before you move to a 'strange town'
You say you don't get out much. Have you looked at 'Steetlife' in southend, it's brilliant.

I live in a beautiful small unspoilt seaside town called Silloth on Solway, the views are spectacular whether across the sea to Scotland or to the west and the Isle of Man (not visible every day). The sunsets are wonderful!

Silloth is a lovely place - I am just along the coast at Allonby. for an ideal retirement place I would go to Llandudno. The views are lovely and the town has lots of activities for pensioners with good transport and a good variety of shops.

I looked at property in Silloth when we nearly moved to Cumbria. Yes, a lovely spot but the house I was viewing was just a tad too close to the sea and I was thinking 'global warming'.

Devon and Cornwall get very crowded in the summer
All those grockles and emmets

Norfolk sounds nice

Surprised nobody has suggested the North West yet. There are fantastic transport links all over Merseyside and train and bus travel is free to over 60s throughout the region. I'd suggest having a look at Formby and Southport, Crosby is nearer the city, or Wallasey on the Wirral.

Barmouth