After spending your entire youth building a good life for yourself and your loved ones, if you wish to retire in peace and happiness and are looking for a suitable place for the same, the United Kingdom is the place to do it. No one ever teaches you how to retire well and how to prepare for it possibly. However, it is never too late, and you can start planning it right away with the help of this article. Here is the list of the best places to retire and stay in the UK, 2020 edition.
Why should you retire in the UK?
Retiring in the UK brings a high standard of living and quality healthcare your way. One of the best reasons for ex-pats to be retiring in the UK is not to have difficulty with the language barrier. There are some increasingly popular and affordable options like the retirement villages around the UK, which puts you around people just like you, and you would have a quality community. Here, we have a list of the best places to retire and stay in the UK.
Best Places to Retire and Live in the UK
1. Dorset: Best Coastal Place to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Dorset is on the south coast and has gorgeous coastlines, old villages, and countryside, which offers just the relaxed kind of life that one wishes for in their retirement. It has an extensive retirement community, too, offering the ideal retirement. It is also considered the most luxurious retirement place in the UK, and a place here would cost a fortune, but it is undoubtedly worth it.
- Monthly Rent: £550 per month
- Property Purchase Cost: Average of £329,218.
- Air Quality: Generally good
- Cost of Living: High
- Health and Safety: Great
- Climate: Usually rainy and partly sunny
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Lesser traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Good
2. Cardiff: Best City to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Known to be one of the best spots for retirement in the UK, Cardiff offers properties at low prices and great amenities. They have a wide array of pubs and cafes around the city. It is a small city, with a great cosmopolitan lifestyle and beautiful coastal views not far away.
- Monthly Rent: 650 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 1,10,000 GBP
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: Not high
- Health and Safety: Great
- Climate: Significant rainfall
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Less traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Good
3. Plymouth: Best Coastal Town to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
The coastal town of Plymouth has very affordable properties and is an excellent hub for retirees. It is considered enjoyable and desirable because of the large number of places to socialize- like parks, clubs, and cultural centres.
- Monthly Rent: 642 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 217230 GBP
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: Quite affordable
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Lesser Traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Average
4. Nottingham: Most Peaceful City to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Nottingham is one of the most important cities in the East Midlands and is considered a great spot because of its affordability. One of the reasons it is so loved is the easy access to golf courses and other leisure activities. It is surrounded by suburbs and villages and offers a very peaceful vibe.
- Monthly Rent: 410 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 2,00,000 GBP
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: Very affordable
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Lesser traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Good
5. Somerset: Best Countryside to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
It offers an absolute retirement paradise, and it is slightly tilted towards being rural. It is in the southwest and offers a relaxed life, rustic countryside, and many things and places to explore with great amenities. It has low crime rates, excellent healthcare, and is very affordable, making it an ideal choice for pensions looking for quiet retirements.
- Monthly Rent: 650 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 416,000 GBP
- Air Quality: Great
- Cost of Living: Quite low
- Health and Safety: Great
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Lesser traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Average
6. Bristol: Best Place to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Bristol is often described as a small city that feels like a big one and is known for its brimming creativity, a lot of the offer- around food and drinks, and a good life, generally. The city strives for individuality and would make for a great home. It also has gorgeous sceneries and a seaside.
- Monthly Rent: 997 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 350,000 GBP
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: Affordable
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Low
- Public Transport Facilities: Average
- Life Quality Index: Good
7. Greater London: Best City to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Greater London offers you the hustle-bustle and the quick pace of the city. It is the UK’s capital and understandably one of the best places to retire in, but it is also given that the house prices would be considerably higher, but you need to remember that this is a prime location. You can definitely find great deals for well-connected areas and also the access to do some good things around.
- Monthly Rent: Average rent 1,700 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 532,009 GBP
- Air Quality: Average
- Cost of Living: High
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Very high traffic
- Public Transport Facilities: Great
- Life Quality Index: Good
8. Liverpool: Most Peaceful Place to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Previously, the City of Culture and the Beatles’ home, Liverpool, is an attractive choice if you consider retirement in the UK. If you are looking for a place that does not constantly make you feel old, this is the place for you because the vibe is youthful and cosmopolitan. Compared to other large cities, the prices of houses are lower, and the transport links here are commendable.
- Monthly Rent: 872 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: GBP 150,000
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: Not high
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Lower
- Public Transport Facilities: Great
- Life Quality Index: Good
9. Birmingham: Best City to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Birmingham has been repeatedly called one of the best cities to retire in, in the UK for the offer of great public amenities like cafes, cinemas and generally, it has a lot of greenery and lushness and a certain freshness around. The crime rates are not that high and have good public transport. The multi-cultural city has something for everyone.
- Monthly Rent: 916 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: GBP 200,000
- Air Quality: Great
- Cost of Living: Slightly higher
- Health and Safety: Average
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Quite low
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Good
10. Edinburgh: Most Beautiful Place to Stay and Retire in the United Kingdom
Known to be the top hubspot for urban retirees in the United Kingdom, the historic city of Edinburg brims with culture and has fantastic local amenities. It is one of the most beautiful places and has low crime rates. However, the prices of properties could be slightly higher.
- Monthly Rent: 1290 GBP
- Property Purchase Cost: 5,10,700
- Air Quality: Good
- Cost of Living: High
- Health and Safety: Good
- Climate: Good
- Connectivity: Average
- Traffic: Low
- Public Transport Facilities: Good
- Life Quality Index: Good
Drawbacks of retiring in the UK
Every coin has a flip side, and even though the United Kingdom can make for an excellent home post-retirement, you need to be educated about every possible reason that it might not seem that attractive.
- Cost of Living- There are a lot of cities, villages, and towns that are affordable, but in general, the cost of living in the UK is pretty high. The prices in London are exorbitant and because people are unable to afford it and move to nearby villages, the prices keep increasing.
- Brexit- At this point, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about the status of England and Brexit.
- Weather- They have constant rainfall, and it is so dark and grime mostly, and would make you miss the sun. The south gets less snow, and more sun than the north, and the weather changes quite rapidly here.
- Traffic- The traffic here is horrendous because of the abundance of people and their vehicles and tiny and old roads.