Where would you retire to?

[Remaker]

I am Australian, DH is English. We have always lived in Sydney but the dream is when our kids have grown up (around 8-10 years from now) to downsize in Australia and buy a place in the UK that we could spend a few months living in each year and also rent out some of the time.

DH’s extended family is in Nottingham (his parents have both died) but I don’t think we need to be that close to them given we will have been on the other side of the world for 30 years.

The ideal is a village location with a pub, shopping etc but being practical not too far from the amenities of a decent sized town. 2-3 br for around £500k.I don’t even know where to start looking so it would be great to have some suggestions to narrow it down. Post covid we will try to visit every couple of years so we can look at a few areas while we are there.

So, if you could live anywhere after retirement, where would you go?

We were thinking of retiring to the UK but DH is an EU citizen which would make it harder now - is that not a problem for you? Or I suppose it depends if you are only there a few months it's ok - where are you going to be the rest of the time?

DH is a UK citizen so we will be fine to buy property there. Our kids both have British passports so it’s only me who will be an immigrant! We will live in Australia for the rest of the time.

near to your family is the derby dales georgus scenery reasonable prices compared to london and the south some very nice villages and close enough to major cities and big towns

@isseys4xmastinselcats

near to your family is the derby dales georgus scenery reasonable prices compared to london and the south some very nice villages and close enough to major cities and big towns

Oh, maybe I should have said another criteria is DH must be able to wear a Forest shirt without being abused LOL. I still have memories of him being bailed up in Melbourne by some Derby supporters! But will definitely look at Derby Dales, thanks!

It's quite a wide brief, but perhaps you need to choose the town first and work out from there. I live near York and there are lots of nice villages that would be suitable near here, or near Harrogate. Reasonable shopping/services, plenty to do, and good walks etc.

Somewhere in the South East should get you close to London, and within cooee of beaches. You would also be able to pop over to France or Bruges for the day.

Wye, in Kent is lovely, has some shops and is on the train line. Actually, a lot of West Kent is nice. Broadstairs or Deal are beach towns and have lots of things going on. Faversham has a wealth of listed buildings and has good transport links.

Actually, if I could go anywhere after retirement it would be home to Australia!

I'd buy a static caravan somewhere sunny but not too far from Heathrow. Or a longboat or something.

Italy would be nice...see out your golden years sipping primitivo overlooking your own lemon grove.

Husband wants to retire somewhere warm.

We are discussing either getting a place in the Canaries or perhaps the Caribbean. We would like there part of the year but also keep a place in the UK to come back to visit family, have Christmas etc.

In the UK I I'd like to have a place in Dumfries & Galloway. Lovely wee villages, nice pubs, nice walks, beautiful countryside not too many anti-English folk.

I think Bath is lovely

I would avoid places on the South Coast eg Sussex as they are flooded
with people needing care. I am not being age-prejudice : I mean across
all ages and disability/conditions.
A village on the edge of a city most appeals to me: a younger population, a large hospital yet living in a smaller community

I would go somewhere in the south. The north is cold

Definitely agree with the south somewhere - if I had no family I wanted to be close to I would consider a village in Sth Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset etc or if you want to be close to an interesting town or city somewhere close to Tunbridge Wells or Bath.

Scotland would be my choice. Ok the weather isn’t always great (possibly a bit of an understatement you’ll need a good waterproof but probably not an umbrella or hat it will get blown away) but the scenery is simply stunning as good if not better than say the Lake District but without millions of tourists and twee tourist shops. The west coast and the islands are dramatic and breathtaking, Dumfries and Galloway runs along a simply beautiful coast line its is less of a popular tourist destination than the west coast. Further north the Cairngorms and Highlands again dramatic and there’s so much more I could go on. The two big main cities Edinburgh; lots to see if you’ve got your family over from Australia and Glasgow something for everyone restaurants of all descriptions, culture, entertainment, shops and friendly people. The population density is significantly lower than in England you just feel like theres more space. Property is a lot cheaper £500k will buy you a lot in a very nice village that you aspire too. Transport links are pretty good loads of cheap flight everyday to Glasgow and Edinburgh from Heathrow. All the Scottish I’ve met in particular in Glasgow are very welcoming and friendly they are proud of Scotland and want you to like it.
I’m saying all of this as someone who’s lived in many of the areas suggested above.

If you’re coming from Australia you do need to take the weather into account - the one thing that Ozzies complain about here is the weather so if you don’t like being cold and damp you should stick to the South.

Maybe think about the Suffolk or Norfolk coast. Least amount of rain in the country, very nice beaches and lots of lovely villages just outside big towns.

Not sure what sort of style home you're after but this is typical of what £500k would get you in Suffolk or Norfolk:-

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/82227307#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85736164#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/65324454#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74255730#/

I'd like to say turkey as it's got everything... As a 47 y. O
But I'm not sure on their attitude towards retired, unmarried, white females so would more likely to be Italy. I've never been there though.

Vale of Belvoir

In the U. K I'd pick Scotland either the Cairngorms or the Highlands or North East coastal like St Andrews. Cornwall and Devon are far too busy.

What sort of thing will you like to do during your UK sojourns?
Hill walking? Coarse fishing? Coastal walks? London museums?

@LittleOverwhelmed

apartments for around £500k in Bath...

Apartments? Seriously? Or, alternatively, you can get an entire detached house with a third of an acre of land elsewhere in England in a nice little village just as the OP was looking for:-

The ideal is a village location with a pub, shopping etc but being practical not too far from the amenities of a decent sized town.