Would you want peace and quiet? Coast? Busy town?
North, South?
I am particularly interested in places which are quiet, but with shops, vets etc. but if you have any better suggestions please go ahead and suggest.
No schools needed - unlike most of the where shall I live threads on here.
(I am not actually retiring this week but wishful thinking and looking ahead with hope, and South would be easier and closer to family).
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If you retired this week where would you move to in the UK (South maybe).
MonumentalLentil · 16/03/2023 11:36
QuertyGirl · 19/03/2023 13:46
Moving away from your support network and/or to the countryside is actually totally illogical.
You're going to decline. Everyone does.
Stay near your family, friends and near services such as hospitals, shops etc.
SoShallINever · 24/05/2023 15:04
Why are you obsessing about GPs and vets. Everywhere in the UK has access to GPS and vets. Even the outer hebrides.
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GinIronic · 16/03/2023 19:09
Stay where you are when you retire. Why would you want somewhere new? If you hate where you live - move now whilst you’re still young enough to enjoy it.
Pinotpleasure · 16/03/2023 21:31
@MonumentalLentil - we moved back to England after living overseas for 24 years. We always wanted to live near the coast and looked at various towns, starting from Exmouth in Devon and going eastwards.
We’ve very happily settled in Weymouth, Dorset - just voted the #2 beach in the UK. We live on the edge of town so we’re only 3 miles from the county town of Dorchester (where the hospital is located, although there’s a walk-in clinic in the Weymouth Community Hospital). The beaches (sandy and pebble) beaches are approx 8 minutes to drive to, although in lockdown I used to ride my bicycle to the beach on the dedicated cycle paths.
There are loads of places for walking (with or without a dog) and it’s especially lovely on the coastal paths and cliff tops - the National Trust protects many of the coastal paths and bays/seashore around here. There is also the island of Portland (reached by a causeway)where the landscape is very different and the sea can be wild! Chesil Beach begins here.
There’s a variety of shops in Weymouth and Dorchester but like most British towns there have been closures of shops and banks. Lots of supermarkets though (and vets!). Housing stock is interesting and wide variation of prices - with older terraced housing, low rise flats, larger older homes converted into flats and upscale houses. Also cottages and manor houses in the conservation areas and a sign of the times, lots of new construction. Just up the road in Dorchester there are traditional older houses but on the western edge of town is Poundbury, the brainchild of King Charles with all kinds of housing….it’s quite an interesting place to visit with pubs, restaurants and coffee shops (and a Waitrose!).
Just steps from our house is lovely countryside (and public footpaths) in the Dorset AONB. At the top of our street is the main road with 2 bus routes and a short walk to the train station with direct trains to London Waterloo (including Poole, Bournemouth and Southampton) on the Southwestern Railway trains. The Great Western Railway trains go to Bath, Bristol, Trowbridge and Gloucester.
We love it here because we have the towns, the coast and the countryside and it’s not as sprawling as Poole/Bournemouth but they’re easy to get there if we want. It’s also a short drive to Swanage/Studland Bay/Corfe Castle/Lulworth and Durdle Door if we go eastbound. Just west of us is Bridport/West Bay/Charmouth and Lyme Regis (Jurassic Coast). Also lots of leisure and sporting activities here too (including groups for retired people). Dorchester and Bridport have arts centres With exhibitions, drama, talks, live bands and museums. Weymouth has a theatre (mostly tribute acts tbh) and there are three cinemas locally.
It’s definitely worth taking a look in west Dorset! :)
Verv · 24/05/2023 11:52
I wouldn't move to the south.
Id move to the Cairngorms - Ballater, Braemar etc.
It's my favourite place in the UK.
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