Many older people choose to move to a different area – but what are the best places to retire? Where can you find the lifestyle you want, combined with great healthcare for later life?
Naming the best place to retire in England is a very subjective decision. For some people, it might be a city, close to shops, public transport, and world-class hospitals. For others, it could be somewhere quieter, near the coast. Other people might not mind where they live, as long as they’re near family and friends.
In this guide, we’ve put together some of the best places to retire in England. We’ll explain what you should consider when moving to a new area in later life, and share some tips on finding the right home for you.
Before we get started, though, if you’re urgently looking for a retirement home or residential care, Find Your Room can help. Our website and app can help you find care homes, nursing homes, and supported living schemes in your chosen location – and we can even show you if they have availability.
What should I consider when thinking about the best places to retire?
Even if you’ve relocated before, moving for retirement can be a bit different. You might have care needs, or be planning for future mobility issues, for example. Perhaps you want to make sure that you’re near suitable care homes, or that there are good hospitals nearby.
Factors to consider when finding somewhere to retire:
- Property prices and cost of living: Whether you’re hoping to purchase or rent, you’ll have to consider the cost. In most circumstances, London and the South East are the most expensive areas of the country, and the North East is the most affordable. However, depending on your health and financial situation, you may be eligible for help with paying for care and accommodation costs.
- Access to healthcare: As we age, we’re more likely to need medical attention. 80 percent of people over 65 have a long-term health condition, and people over 65 account for around 40 percent of all hospital admissions. Make sure that you can register with a local GP surgery, and that you know where your nearest hospital is.
- Access to social care: Your care needs might increase as you age. When you’re looking for a new home, consider whether there are nearby care homes, nursing homes, or domiciliary care agencies. Some people choose to plan ahead for their future by looking for supported living schemes or retirement villages, so they don’t need to move several times in quick succession.
- Transportation: You might be comfortable driving at the moment, but as you age and become frailer, you may choose to give up your car. Alternatively, your health, vision or mobility might force you to stop driving. Look for areas with good public transport, so you can still get around easily.
- Local amenities and lifestyle: Make sure that your chosen area has suitable shops and other facilities. Remember, when you’re retired, you’ll have more time for hobbies. If going to the gym, library, or wildlife park is important to you, look for these when you’re planning your move.
- Proximity to family and friends: For many people, spending time with family and friends is an important part of retirement. Make sure that you’re near loved ones, or that you can easily travel to see them.
Everyone’s needs and wishes are different. If you’re considering moving away for care or retirement, make sure that your new location has everything you need.
The best places to retire in England
We’ve put together a list of some of the best places to retire in England.
The best place to live in the UK for health care is likely to be a city. Leeds, Nottingham, and London all rate highly when it comes to hospital care, for example, and Birmingham offers the best access to health care in the country.
More rural and coastal areas are often home to older people, if you’re looking for similarly-aged friends. Sidmouth in Devon has the highest proportion of over 90s in the country, for example.
The best places to retire and find care in England:
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- London
- Exeter
- Skipton
- Skegness
- Bath
- Leeds
- Sidmouth
- Brighton
Let’s look at these areas in more detail.
Already interested in moving to one of these places? Use Find Your Room’s search tool to find nursing homes, care homes, or supported living schemes in your ideal location.
1. Birmingham
Birmingham might seem like a surprising choice, but it has a lot to offer.
The city boasts a world class ballet company, symphony orchestra, and a range of excellent shops and restaurants. It has great transport links, too, with buses, trams, and trains all easily accessible.
When it comes to health care, Birmingham is also a great choice. It has the best access to healthcare in the country, including 16 hospitals. If you’re looking for residential care, there are numerous retirement villages, and more than 200 care homes.
Reasons to consider Birmingham:
- Great access to healthcare
- High number of care and nursing homes across the city
- Good public transport
Reasons to avoid Birmingham:
- High crime rate
2. Nottingham
Nottingham is an affordable place to retire, with great public transport links and a range of excellent green spaces.
If you’re looking for friendship, Nottingham is home to the country’s largest retirement village, so there’s a large population of older people.
The city has two large NHS hospitals, as well as a range of private options.
Find supported living schemes in Nottingham.
Reasons to consider Nottingham:
- High number of care homes
- Excellent hospitals
- Reasonable cost of living
Reasons to avoid Nottingham:
- High crime rate
3. London
London’s high property prices are well known – it’s an expensive city. However, it also offers excellent public transport and world-class hospitals.
If you’re looking for an active retirement, London is a great choice. Whether you want to go to the theatre, join a sports club, or spend time shopping, London has something for everyone.
Some areas of London also have the top life expectancy in the country, with men in Kensington and Chelsea living to an average of 83.3 years, and women in Camden living to 86.7 on average. So, if you’re looking to make older friends, you might find them in London.
Reasons to consider London:
- Excellent public transport
- World-class specialist hospitals
- Great access to amenities
Reasons to avoid London:
- High cost of living
- High crime rate
4. Exeter
Lots of people think about retiring by the sea – if you’re one of those, Exeter might be the right place for you. As well as easy access to beaches, you’re surrounded by Dartmoor National Park, so you can spend plenty of time in nature.
Exeter was named the top place to retire in the UK by the Telegraph in 2025, and we can see why. It has low crime, great public transport, and a good range of shops and other amenities.
However, it’s an expensive place to live, and, if your family and friends don’t live in the South West, it might be a long journey for visits.
Reasons to consider Exeter:
- Low crime rates
- Easy proximity to nature and beaches
- Plenty of shops, museums, and other amenities
Reasons to avoid Exeter:
- High cost of living
- Long travel times from other parts of the country
5. Skipton
Skipton, in North Yorkshire, has been named the UK’s happiest place to live. The town has a good sense of community, and great access to green spaces.
It has good transport links, and a range of local shops, cafes and other amenities, so there’s no need to drive.
However, it can get very busy with tourists, and some residents say that it’s difficult to access GP appointments. The town has grown in recent years, and many key services are oversubscribed.
Reasons to consider Skipton:
- Ranks highly for happiness
- Easy access to nature
- Good transport links
Reasons to avoid Skipton:
- Potential difficulties accessing healthcare
- Overcrowded by tourists
6. Skegness
If you’re looking for a coastal location that’s reasonably-priced, Skegness might be the choice for you. There are 11 CQC-registered care homes in the area, as well as care agencies.
Skegness is largely flat, too, so residents can easily get around in wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
However, it does get very busy in the summer, and some businesses close during the quieter winter months.
Reasons to consider Skegness:
- Low property prices and cost of living
- Award-winning beaches and other amenities
- Easily walkable
Reasons to avoid Skegness:
- Overcrowded in summer
- Some businesses close in the winter
- High crime rate
7. Bath
Bath is popular for good reason. It hosts cultural activities throughout the year, and has a range of shops, restaurants, and other amenities.
The city is easily walkable, with lots of pedestrianised areas and good public transport too.
However, it’s an expensive city, and often overcrowded with visitors.
Reasons to consider Bath:
- Plenty of activities and festivals throughout the year
- Many shops and other amenities
- Easily walkable
Reasons to avoid Bath:
- High property prices and cost of living
- Often overcrowded by tourists
- Lots of congestion and traffic problems
8. Leeds
Like many cities, Leeds offers great access to healthcare, with six hospitals. There are more than 100 CQC-registered care homes, too.
It’s an affordable city for most people, whether you’re planning to purchase a home or rent. However, some parts of the city have quite a high crime rate, and there are housing shortages in certain areas – especially if you’re looking for social housing.
Reasons to consider Leeds:
- Great access to healthcare
- Low property prices
- Good transport links
Reasons to avoid Leeds:
- High crime rate
- Housing shortages in some areas
9. Sidmouth
Sidmouth in Devon has the highest proportion of residents over 90 in England. If you’re looking for older friends, it could be the right place for you.
It’s a busy and active town, with regular festivals and activities, as well as being right on the coast.
However, it’s an expensive place to live. Public transport is lacking, and it can get very crowded in tourist seasons.
Reasons to consider Sidmouth:
- High population of older people
- Easy access to the coast
- Regular activities and festivals
Reasons to avoid Sidmouth:
- High cost of living and property prices
- Limited public transport
- Overcrowded in tourist seasons
10. Brighton
Brighton is expensive, but it’s a great place to retire by the sea. It boasts a range of excellent restaurants, shops, and other amenities, and it’s widely considered the LGBTQ capital of the UK.
There are nearly 100 CQC-registered care homes in the area, and it offers great transport links to nearby towns and cities.
If you have mobility difficulties, though, Brighton could be challenging. The area is very hilly, and it can be hard to navigate if you use a wheelchair or scooter.
Reasons to consider Brighton:
- Easy access to the coast
- Diverse community
- Plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities
Reasons to avoid Brighton:
- High property prices and cost of living
- Overcrowded by tourists
- Very hilly and difficult to navigate in wheelchairs or mobility scooters
Where is the best place to retire?
Depending on your circumstances, the best place to retire in the world will vary. It could be one of the areas we’ve listed above – or, depending on your family and citizenship, it might even be somewhere overseas.
What’s important, though, is making sure that your chosen location has the amenities you need. As you age, you’ll want to make sure that you have easy access to health care, public transport, and a supportive community. If you need extra support, you need to know that there are carers available, too. Depending on your circumstances, that might involve living in your own home, a supported living scheme, a care home, or a nursing home.
Looking for residential care? Find Your Room can help. Simply enter your chosen location, and look for available care homes, nursing homes, or supported living properties in your area.
