Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Moving back or to the UK
Reload this Page >

where would you retire to in UK?

where would you retire to in UK?

Old Aug 22nd 2012, 5:26 pm
  #31  
cxx
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
cxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by robin1234
I like the look of Darlington, access to gorgeous countryside and very well located for railway links.
I've always preferred Yarm - more village than town and good access to the coast.
cxx is offline  
Old Aug 22nd 2012, 7:54 pm
  #32  
Just Joined
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6
koreytina is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by robin1234
I've never been there, but Cromer and Sheringham look nice. Norwich itself looks like a good city to live in, and it has good railway links, plenty of medieval churches and other good city things..

I agree with you about the North East though. Cullercoats and Tynemouth, never too far from Metro stop. I like the look of Darlington, access to gorgeous countryside and very well located for railway links.
North Norfolk coast is very nice. A bit further west from Cromer is Wells Next the Sea and Hunstanton. Wells a bit less overrun by tourists
koreytina is offline  
Old Aug 22nd 2012, 8:53 pm
  #33  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
Joined: May 2012
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1,654
feelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond reputefeelbritish has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Hunstanton looks nice, yes, and it is on the top 50 places in UK, crime low as well but then someone said that in winter it is not that pleasant. Hunstanton is also one of the few places you can view a sunset Does anyone know what Norfolk and that area is like in winter? There is also a good train service from Kings Lynn to London
feelbritish is offline  
Old Aug 22nd 2012, 9:17 pm
  #34  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,851
Giantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by feelbritish
Hunstanton looks nice, yes, and it is on the top 50 places in UK, crime low as well but then someone said that in winter it is not that pleasant. Hunstanton is also one of the few places you can view a sunset Does anyone know what Norfolk and that area is like in winter?
East Anglia, in general, is surprisingly cold in the winter, although being on the coast will moderate that to some extent.
Giantaxe is offline  
Old Aug 23rd 2012, 12:28 am
  #35  
cxx
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
cxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond reputecxx has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by feelbritish
Does anyone know what Norfolk and that area is like in winter?
I used to visit family there and it wasn't much colder than the London area, however it was a bit warmer than the North East
cxx is offline  
Old Aug 23rd 2012, 3:36 pm
  #36  
Finally Home!
 
sallysimmons's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
sallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond reputesallysimmons has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by SadInStates
My parents live here and they are always out and about doing something with this group or that!
They are incredibly fit and healthy because of it, unlike my in-laws who retired to Somerset and just sit and watch TV all day as they can no longer drive. my parents hop on the bus or tube, or just plain walk!
My inlaws seem at least 10 years older than my parents, even though they are all around the 80 mark.
To be fair, this is probably more a function of personality than place. My mum lives in the countryside and at 71 years old she's still going on 10 miles hikes up in the hills. Put her in a city and I think she might be much less active because she'd be less interested in what was on offer.

The same goes for me. I lived in NYC and I've had enough of cities to last me a lifetime. I would retire to the Yorkshire Dales if it was up to me - probably Reeth in Swaledale or Pately Bridge in Nidderdale. I can't think of anything better than waking up to those views every morning, then spending the day walking and sketching and painting - with maybe a few stops a week in the local pub. If only I didn't need to make a living
sallysimmons is offline  
Old Aug 23rd 2012, 5:22 pm
  #37  
BE Enthusiast
 
dewdrop's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Southern Ontario(house is SOLD on our way back to UK/aug 09)
Posts: 426
dewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud ofdewdrop has much to be proud of
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by feelbritish
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/...n.html#article

Here is an old article. we are thinking about it for May 2015, although a long time away, I am busy researching places to go to retire. Lean towards, Devon, Dorset, NW Norfolk, IOW Would like to be within 15 min drive of the seaside, preferably a smaller town or village close to a town with good hospital facilities, bus service and train service to link to fast trains to London. Small bungalow with a bit of garden is what I am looking at on Rightmove. What are other's thoughts and plans?
Just read your post... worked hard to find where we wanted.Moved from Canada to Uk 3 years ago now,..lived in Suffolk for 9mths but something for us wasnt right..we are down here is Devon now. living in a bungalow, 5min walk to the seaside. close to hospitals and all that you describe Devon has beautiful countryside, jurassic coast, lots of beaches, variety are restaurant for all taste buds, good shops...took along time to find the right house, but we are quite pleased with everything now. In a nice area and 1hr drive to Cornwall we do daytrips... Rightmove was how we found our bungalow..if you want more info we are pleased to talk more on pm. good luck to you.
dewdrop is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 4:16 pm
  #38  
Was in Canada, now home.
 
Editha's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 3,388
Editha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

This is a recent article in The Guardian on the top ten places to retire.
Editha is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 4:50 pm
  #39  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,851
Giantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by Editha
This is a recent article in The Guardian on the top ten places to retire.
I'll stay away from those places then... don't want to live somewhere where there's an unbalanced proportion of older people
Giantaxe is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 5:01 pm
  #40  
Was in Canada, now home.
 
Editha's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 3,388
Editha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
I'll stay away from those places then... don't want to live somewhere where there's an unbalanced proportion of older people
Once I would have felt the same, but having provided support for my parents through their retirement, I'm aware of the advantages of numbers. Services for the elderly in the area they retired to -- near Brighton -- are far better than the area I used to live in North Staffordshire. You are much more likely to find geriatric specialists of all sorts in an area with a lot of retired people.
Editha is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 5:06 pm
  #41  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,851
Giantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by Editha
Once I would have felt the same, but having provided support for my parents through their retirement, I'm aware of the advantages of numbers. Services for the elderly in the area they retired to -- near Brighton -- are far better than the area I used to live in North Staffordshire. You are much more likely to find geriatric specialists of all sorts in an area with a lot of retired people.
That's a really good point... however, wouldn't you expect a town the size of Brighton to have more services in general than North Staffs? My inclination is to pick somewhere at least in range of a bigger conurbation for this precise reason. Brighton would actually be a great choice imo (I have an elderly uncle living there), but I don't like its geographical location in terms of access to the country as a whole.
Giantaxe is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 5:33 pm
  #42  
Was in Canada, now home.
 
Editha's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 3,388
Editha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond reputeEditha has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
That's a really good point... however, wouldn't you expect a town the size of Brighton to have more services in general than North Staffs? My inclination is to pick somewhere at least in range of a bigger conurbation for this precise reason. Brighton would actually be a great choice imo (I have an elderly uncle living there), but I don't like its geographical location in terms of access to the country as a whole.
It's true that population density is greater in the South-East, which probably is a factor in the greater quality and range of services on offer.

But, I still think that the number and quality of services for the elderly is likely to be better where there are a lot of old people. If you are a specialist in geriatric care, you are more likely to see career opportunities in one of the places popular for retirement.

My brother is a senior manager in the NHS and he confirms that services are likely to be better in one of the areas where there is a concentration of retired folk.

When my father had Parkinson's disease, and my mother was finding it difficult to look after him at home, he wanted to move to sheltered accommodation near me in Staffordshire, but when we looked into it, there simply was no sheltered accommodation in the area. There was plenty in East Sussex, and doing a net search, I see that there is plenty in the Torridge area of North Devon, which is one of the ten areas listed, and has lower population density than N.Staffs.
Editha is offline  
Old Aug 24th 2012, 8:52 pm
  #43  
Last resort... format c:/
 
astera's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,609
astera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond reputeastera has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Bournemouth or Poole would be by far my top choice. For something more geared towards that country-side look & feel maybe Swanage (or the surrounding villages) which is very close-by.
astera is offline  
Old Aug 25th 2012, 3:05 pm
  #44  
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
J.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond reputeJ.JsOH has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by feelbritish
Hunstanton looks nice, yes, and it is on the top 50 places in UK, crime low as well but then someone said that in winter it is not that pleasant. Hunstanton is also one of the few places you can view a sunset Does anyone know what Norfolk and that area is like in winter? There is also a good train service from Kings Lynn to London
Hi, we live in North Wootton near Kings Lynn, and came back here after living overseas.

This past 2 winters we were out hiking in decent weather most of the time, I didn't particularly notice any exceptional cold or wind beyond what one would expect in Britain. Last winter we can't recall much in way of ice but winter before there was snow / ice that stayed for a week or so. Cold winds from the north sea can occur and there is no benefit from the gulf stream like on the west coast but we can't recall any difficult weather this past winter. And if the coast is windy then we stay a bit inland for our hikes.

Sunny Hunny can be rather deserted on the prom during winter but nice days will attract people for a stroll there. It is popular destination for say 40 miles around. It can be crowded in summer like most seaside resorts.

There is low rainfall in West Norfolk. Last week when we were in Devon we suffered rain most days while it was hot and dry here in Norfolk.

A favourite activity of royalists is to see the Royal family at Sandringham and local churches through Christmas and New Year, summer visits too. And you would be welcome to join in the Hunstanton Christmas Day swim in the sea.

Hourly departure train service from Lynn via Ely (for Norwich / Midlands) and Cambridge (for Stansted) to London. Line is overhead elec so trains are fast. Talk is of providing 1/2 hourly service.

Is West Norfolk the best area to live? - well depends on what floats your boat, but it is certainly less crowded and less frantic than South East according to our new neighbours who just moved here from Kent. We like it for access to countryside and coast plus Norwich, Cambridge, Lincoln, London in easy reach. Lynn is popular for shopping and somewhat arts although I prefer Norwich.

Last edited by J.JsOH; Aug 25th 2012 at 3:21 pm.
J.JsOH is offline  
Old Aug 25th 2012, 4:31 pm
  #45  
Under blue skies
 
WEBlue's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Location: East Anglia->New England
Posts: 3,624
WEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond reputeWEBlue has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: where would you retire to in UK?

Originally Posted by quoll
Meanwhile, Cambridge is doing a grand job of being a good place for retirees - there is a lot on, we are close to London and the seaside isnt that far away. It's flat for the elderly and from what I have seen its support services are excellent.
Yes, Cambridge is lovely for so many reasons - bicycle friendly, so much culture on offer from the uni (music, drama, courses for all ages), excellent public transport links, world-class hospital complex, fantastic library, and so on. My husband & I lived outside Cambridge for years & just loved it. The ONLY problem with Cambridge area is the cost of housing, which did not significantly decline during the housing crash & is probably even higher now than when we looked. Even a small flat can be very expensive in the centre city area, & flats are hard to find in the surrounding villages. If not for this one (large) drawback, we might well have stayed there ourselves, being duals.

Originally Posted by feelbritish
Hunstanton looks nice, yes, and it is on the top 50 places in UK, crime low as well but then someone said that in winter it is not that pleasant. Hunstanton is also one of the few places you can view a sunset Does anyone know what Norfolk and that area is like in winter? There is also a good train service from Kings Lynn to London
We loved going to the beaches east of Hunstanton in the wintertime, i.e. Cromer, Wells, etc. Great walks. Not a lot of snow, long empty dune-y beaches left mostly alone to the coastal birds, seals, & other wildlife.

We found Norwich traffic too much for us (summer or winter) on our visits there, but people settled there would know how to avoid that, & those without cars wouldn't have that worry. We knew some young folks at uni who loved it there.
WEBlue is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.