dewdrop

we live in Torbay, English Riveria and find it a lovely place to live. so much to see and do...pick a beach, any beach...

robin1234

Ah yes, home of the £40 baked potato!
Seriously though, the Cary Arms in Babbacombe is a very nice spot to enjoy a pint and a meal, sitting outside with outstanding views up the coast to Exmouth and beyond.

sallysimmons

I did a search and found a list from the Guardian of the Top 10 places to retire to. It's a few years old but I don't suppose too much has changed.

Looks like most of our choices are on there

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012...aces-to-retire

dewdrop

TBH we didnt even know about that £40 potato

JaHo

We've lived in the Philippines since 2005, but next year I will do some exploration in the UK to find a place to live, at first on a temporary basis. I'm from central Lancashire, but would consider anywhere; the only essential requirement is peace and quiet, as I write. Oh, and money is an issue; most of the places in this thread are out of reach. (Been checking property prices, and am surprised how cheap some places are. Why? I wonder)
So, if you were in my shoes, where would you look?

mikelincs

London is too expensive for many people, we live in Dorset, small town just 6 miles from Bournemouth so near the sea, about 8 miles from the New Forest as well. There are plenty of areas round here which would work well. We have a great bus service to both Poole and Bournemouth, Good rail links from there.

Editha

Actually, Sally, the Guardian article is only a few weeks old, and I've already linked to it.

sallysimmons

Oh good, glad it's up to date. I can't always read every post I'm afraid so I missed yours. Still, won't hurt to say it twice

Especially as I'll be using it for fodder for my husband. Craven is one of the areas we're thinking about buying a house and it's #1 on the list

Editha

Torridge, which is my preferred option is number 7, and the Derbyshire Dales, which is my husband's is number 10.

I see you're still using the hash sign for no. You haven't quite crossed the Atlantic yet.

sallysimmons

I have to be bi-lingual as my business has mostly American clients. So I'm keeping to American spelling and then consciously changing it when needed here.

steviedeluxe

There are plenty of cheaper places in the north (the odd expensive place too) - people assume it's always dangerous and run-down, especially in the cities, but it's not always the case. For example housing is very cheap around Grimsby/Cleethorpes (if you're looking to be near the coast). Yes you should look around and avoid streets where obviously youth congregate and/or there is noise or obvious signs of vandalism/break-ins. Bradford is another possibility - it's true there are areas that are difficult, but other parts (especially villages around the city) are said to be very nice places to live. Another option, if you are put off by house prices is to live in a caravan on a site - often you will have to vacant your place for a month or so each year, but I understand many get around this by taking a holiday in warmer climes at the height of winter.
If buying a place is really out of reach, then why not rent accommodation? The advantage of this is you may be able to get housing benefit to cover all or part of the rent, if your income is not sufficient.

mikelincs

For gods sake steer clear of those places, the backside of the universe, there isn't any sea, you are on the Humber Estuary so swimming there is like going through the motions in a chemical soup, so just loads of mud flats when the tide goes out, and it goes out a hell of a long way, and comes in very quickly. There have been loads of people drowed in that are going out when the tide is low, not realisinf just how quickly it comes in, getting surrounded by water and drowning, even horse riders, and you can get a sea fog coming down very suddenly, doesn't help when you're a long way out, people get confused and don't know where they are.
The towns aren't much better, there are some decent areas, but loads of very run down estates, especially in Grimsby, which is why property prices are so low.
I lived in northern Lincolnshire for many years and know the area quite well, OK for an evening visit, stroll on the prom, fish and chip supper, but get out before the pubs kick out, not at all pleasant then.

sallysimmons

The villages around Bradford are nice - but also pricey. Nice in the north translates to expensive just as it does anywhere else.

dunroving

OK, that explains a recent experience I had (long story) - so what symbol represents "number" in the UK? [And you'll have to say "pound sign", not "hash")

Editha

There isn't a symbol for number, not one that I can think of anyway. No. is the usual abbreviation for number or Nos. for numbers. The hash sign: # is just the hash sign.