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?

Whitby

Ideally in Australia or NZ (money permitting) otherwise Portugal or Italy.

Vale of Belvoir. Around 30/40 mins to Nottingham. One hour on the train from Grantham to London. Beautiful countryside.

@TranquilityofSolitude

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.

Yes I think you’re right about choosing a town then seeing what’s around it. Last time we visited we spent some time in York and I just fell in love with it! I could definitely see myself living near there.

[quote nickymanchester]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#/[/quote]
Oh wow some nice houses there! I have never been to Suffolk or Norfolk but friends have just moved to Norwich and they are very happy there. My list of places to visit is getting longer.

@Qc16

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.

I am an Australian that doesn’t really like the sun. I hate being hot! I’m still in negotiations with DH about that as he would like to live in a permanent summer but I would prefer to avoid the Australian summer if I could. English summer is more my speed. We’ve just had a week of rain and temps low-mid 20s in Sydney. Everyone is complaining because they want to go to the beach and I am loving it!

"We’ve just had a week of rain and temps low-mid 20s in Sydney. Everyone is complaining because they want to go to the beach and I am loving it!"
Scotland is the place for you then!!

@LionLily

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

Good question. Definitely not fishing! Country walks are a must. Not necessarily near a beach given where we live the rest of the time but a more rugged coastline appeals to me a lot. Would also want to be close to an airport for European adventures.

I love museums and galleries but happy to do this on day trips. Definitely looking for a countryside location but not in complete isolation. Would want neighbours and amenities nearby.

I would retire to my street where I live now. My neighbours are fab. Maybe a holiday place in Italy?

If you like York, consider Bath and the Cotswolds. You’ve got Bristol airport not too far. No rugged coastline

Personally I’d be looking at Pembrokeshire. Good walking territory and some areas are quite alternative

Near st David’s

The responses are strange.

OP not an apartment in Bath and definitely not a static near Heathrow

I think you want Derbyshire/Cheshire - somewhere in the Peak District with easy access to Manchester airport.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74764839#/

Isle of Skye, Harris or Lewis. I am besotted and currently looking at moving there.

If you love York and like walking then the villages round York seem a good bet. Great walking on the north York moors and you’ve got Whitby and other coastal areas.

Helmsley, pocklington, strensall?

My dh is a Forest supporter and I was going to suggest the Peak District.
Beautiful scenery, good pubs and close to Sheffield which is such a friendly city.
Not too far from Nottingham either.

@Porridgeoat shhh. That’s mine and DH’s plan but in St David’s itself. I grew up there and would love to go back.

Will your budget be £500k in 8-10 years? Or is that your budget now? Property prices increase all the time in the UK

South of England, preferably by the sea. I've always liked Bournemouth, not particularly expensive (think you could easily find a property within budget). Nice little town centre and clean beach.

But I've got this thing about open spaces and the sea just brings me calm. It is my happy place.

Its around a 2 hour drive from the London airports.

I wouldn't retire up North because it gets well too cold for my liking!!!

[quote Porridgeoat]www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74764839#/[/quote]
Find it very strange to have a shower and toilet room in the living room, would section off a corridor or something!

Lake District?
Exmoor
South Hams in Devon
Weald of Kent
Winchelsea (incredible village near beach and town of Hastings)
Villages near Bath
Cotswolds

All have villages that are beautiful enough to be a tourist attraction - with a good rental home culture. You need to feel comfortable that someone can fix stuff for you when you're on the other side of the world.

If you want all year summer then I'd say down south might offer more sunshine and less rain... Cornwall, Devon, Dorset probably more so than Hampshire and further east .

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
It's great to have a goal and forward-plan but I think that you are being a bit previous!! Are you assuming that air travel will go back to the way it was pre-Covid, pre-aeromanufacturers and airlines going bust, pre-climate change emergency?

@JerichosPenisInADeadChickHat

The responses are strange.

OP not an apartment in Bath and definitely not a static near Heathrow

I think you want Derbyshire/Cheshire - somewhere in the Peak District with easy access to Manchester airport.

We spent a few days in Derbyshire last time we visited and it was gorgeous. I’m not sure I’ve been to Cheshire. Have only heard about The Real Housewives LOL.

@lemonsquashie

Will your budget be £500k in 8-10 years? Or is that your budget now? Property prices increase all the time in the UK

That’s how much we would have if we did it right now. We have a house in Sydney that has doubled in value in the past ten years so I am assuming everything will be reasonably proportional. But we will obviously reassess at the time.