Where to retire to

I was born in a small Yorkshire village which has now lost all it's, pub & no bus service, my DM was still there until 18 months ago when she moved to a Care Home, she's now 93 & is 300 miles from where I now live.

I have moved around, lived in Sunbury on Thames for over 20 years. My DH & I sold our 4 bedroom house with a large garden 6 years after he retired & I took early retirement. We moved to a very small village just outside Yeovil, Somerset, we needed a car although taxis were very affordable.

2 years after I was widowed I moved to be nearer DD & DGC, I live about 10 miles from her. I live in a small Town on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Doctors Surgery, Library, lots of clubs covering a large variety of interests. Bus service half hourly to nearest Market Town & Hourly to Exeter. I live in a Mobile Home so I have very friendly neighbours, about 20 minutes to the coast & 10 minutes to the Moors if you're still able to drive. There is also a group that provides services for older/disabled people.

Due to my ongoing health problems & frequent appointments I have had to concede that whilst I am a very independent person that I am going to have to employ a home help & a gardener. 18 months ago I would have laughed if some-one had said I would need help as I led a very active life

Choose wisely & I hope you find an area you like. I was lucky that DD had lived in Devon for several years & I frequently visited her so my move was easy, I've made lots of new friends but I find it easy to chat to people

NOT the Uk ha ha ...the USA ! ....mind you, I have done a few days in Blackpool, Liverpool, Loch Lomond etc (I thought I should look around the UK as well !) need to get Northern Ireland in as have never been there, and maybe the Isle of Wight .....c'est la vie !

Well, I moved back to the UK after 25 years living in Europe. I originally come from rural Suffolk, and my friends enquired if I would be moving back ........no, I said ...ok so where are you going ? to Newcastle Upon Tyne I said ....which was met with howls of horror ! WHAT ? WHY ? ...because, I said living in a rural community you have to be able to drive.....there are no services, banks, busses, or other means of transport, no doctors or hospitals and once you can no longer drive, you are stuck and taxis may be expensive ! Here I have the beach and sea 1 min from me, the countryside and historic places of Northumberland, the City within a few minutes Metro or bus ride. I have an international airport some 25 mins away. I have DFDS Ferry to Amsterdam round the corner (often go for a weekend when possible) I have taxis a plenty.......I have an international concert hall (The Sage at Gateshead), cinemas, restaurants, cafes, a community hub, a club, etc theatres, another concert Arena, a mainline rail station (plus senior railcard (ha ha when not on strike !) many Banks, building societies, cafes, restaurants AND doctor's surgeries, Two private hospitals and many many big hospitals which are University hospitals ...Opthalmologists (had to drive 45 mins when in France for my Opthalmologist !) what's not to like !!! If I had stayed in France (may have done but for Brexit !) it would NOT be possible without a car as even the boulangerie was 3 km away .......no services, nothing ! and you have to consider the possibility you may one day have to give up driving and then rely on others or taxis whenever you want to go anywhere. Of course, if you have family reasons to move, then you may have friends in any new place you want to move to ...........not easy making new friends (espcially if you moved like I did, in Lockdown) but another reason that I bought a retirement flat was that whenever possible before lockdown, and during it when it was lifted a short time, and after I have been everywhere in the World I want to go ..........just waiting to go to Canada, Alaska and the UK in Autumn (solo as usual !) for my 75th birthday ! I have been to Antarctica, the North Pole, Crete, Lanzarote, Eire and many other places ...just last week returned from Cyprus, and often go back to Menorca where I used to live and when possible (if they let me in !) back to south west France or Paris for a weekend ! When I can no longer travel I can look at my many mementos and remember ! Think carefully what it is you want out of life, and the future, before you decide ! good luck

We won’t be going anywhere - we have happily lived in a semi detached house next to my sister and brother in law for 37 years. Shared children, dogs, the garden, the patio, caravans, cars, joys and traumas. So blessed.

grandmattie- I feel like my life is a mirror of yours. Everything you say is the same for me! It definitely needs a lot of thought.

From what you say it seems somewhere near Stirling may suit you. We found the town just the right size to visit for special occasions or shopping and it is surrounded by beautiful countryside and small towns and villages. Major cities Glasgow and Edinburgh are within easy reach too. The advantages of living in Scotland, especially in retirement, has been provided by an earlier contributor.

I am not yet at retirement age but live in q village on the edge of the Peak District. Fields front and back but a village. Our closest small-town is a mile away where there is a tesco, library, doctors, dentist, co-op, market, cafes and pubs but still has a country feel. There's a bus service and train station. It's beautiful. Penistone in South Yorkshire gets my vote ?

I’m in a market town on the edge of the Peak District. I have shops, library, leisure centre, GP’s etc all on hand but am also quite close to beautiful countryside. It is a long way from the coast if you like the seaside but I’m not bothered about that at all.

So sorry to hear you are in this situation grandMattie I was going through the same thing this time last year so can sympathise with you and the other posters who are now on their own. I am very lucky to have my three AC & the GC reasonably close by. I try to be as independent as I can but just knowing they’re not far away and that one of them (or sometimes all of them) will pop in when they can is a great comfort. I’m lucky that I have very good neighbours close by who have been very kind. Personally I couldn’t live anywhere too isolated or far away from amenities, especially in the winter. I totally understand you wanting to move to be closer to your family.

I absolutely love living in Cheltenham. Beautiful regency town, so many interesting cultural festivals: literature, music, science, jazz….you can walk into town, excellent theatre and masses of restaurants. Loads of parks but also very close to the Cotswolds.. 2 hours by train to London and Bath very close. I love visiting remote and beautiful places and the sea but always glad to come home!

Having returned to UK after 44 years, we initially settled in Shaftesbury which has a great deal to offer [western side]. However, it was too far away from our children so we felt the necessity to remove to South-West Hertfordshire which is also pleasant with rural aspects although becoming more and more built-up. We were fortunate to buy a property opposite an AONB.

Within 10 minute drive of a beach.

We have lived all over the U.K. . The South has much better warmer weather but the houses are not cheaper. Scotland is fab but the Winters last a long time.
But you really need to be looking to the future. We moved out of our 11 room period home 6 beds, huge garden in the North West to a 3 bed modern house with a small garden, in the South. Near bus routes, hospitals and Doctors and two of our children.
Our whole life has changed and we needed to start over socially.
Eventually life narrows as you get elderly, so you need to be somewhere safe and have neighbours. We haven’t quite reached that stage yet. Our location has been driven by the location of our children.
Our six old folk, never thought about getting old, downsizing when they were able, or the stress that they were putting us though, making long journeys to wash, cook, clean and do their paperwork etc.
We are down to the last one who died at 97 a couple of months ago, leaving a unbelievable mess for us to clear up.
Please whereever you move to, be realistic and consider that you might get old and need help.

So many good and sensible tips in the replies. Where would say that would be suitable close to Bristol. TIA

Two bits of information make a huge difference.
"Affordable" depends so much on what property you are selling / how much you have saved.
Where do you know people you are close to?

As many of us know, those facilities mentioned can change over time. Bus routes are cut, GP services merge and change etc. So having people nearby as part of a support group can make a huge difference. Even if you only know one person or family, you can start by plugging into their network.

I'd also think about what is most important to you. Most of us who live in ordinary rural areas couldn't tick everything on your list!

I'd agree with holidaying in different places at different times of the year.

Sugargabs, are you willing to give up your friends and family to go somewhere where services, people and medical attention not easily available? It’s alright whilst in a couple but when one dies, I can’t see it making you happy.

Please let me know if you find this, sounds lovely.

My husband bought a big plot of land surrounded by housing some years ago and built a house. Where I am is quiet and peaceful but because it is and has a pond with ducks and moorhens on, people seem to think it’s like a small park and wander on and walk round the pond. I’ve even found a family having a picnic, even though there are private property signs. I lost my husband two years ago and it’s hard keeping all this tidy, though it might be a good idea letting it get overgrown as it wouldn’t attract unwanted visitors. I’d never have too all this had I known I would lose my husband so early. I just dread the whole moving saga.

My elder son and family live just outside Salisbury and it’s a lot like you describe.

I’d never live in a village again. Lovely location and beautiful affordable big house but not born there so not truly accepted. The outskirts of a small town perhaps would be my recommendation.

If you want a decent look at a potential area, look at the walks via youtube eg gimbalwalks and there are others. You can get a pretty good vibe that way.

Grantanow

Somerset but there are too many of us retirees here already! Do try somewhere else.

not too many in my market town in somerset. I live in a lovely place and it is mixed, some retirees and a few families with a total of 4 children in my immediate area. Lovely like an extended family, not an oap enclave

I am an expat …. Many of my friends are too& we seem to spend many hours talking & deciding” where “ the elusive retirement spot will be. All the dreams & aspirations etc. At the end of the day I think we covet what we know & I will probably retire in North Yorks where I’ve been returning to for years. That said still ‘ dreaming ‘?of the ideal spot !

I’m very aware of that, but ATM a 5-hour journey in case if emergency isn’t on. Hence the dilemma.

Hi all,
To anyone thinking of moving to be near children/grandchildren I would just give a note of caution. If it is a great distance you are moving, please remember your children's lives might change and they may decide to move for work etc, you may not be always near them - they are likely to do what's best for them and that is right. Not speaking from personal experience but from reading similar posts.

To the lady who is retiring in 5 years.
I’d recommend Scotland. It has thought of the needs of pensioners, care and NHS has been well thought-out. Housing is still affordable in most areas.