moving for retirement - Wirral/Saltburn

[morningtoncrescent62]

I'm in my early 60s and hoping to retire in a couple of years, if all goes to plan. I'm on my own and don't see that changing. I live in an Edinburgh seaside suburb which I love, but both my adult children have settled in England, one in Manchester, the other in Durham. I'm beginning to think about whether I'd like to move a bit closer to one/both of them when I retire: not right on top of them, but within easier travelling distance.

I love living by the coast, so two places that I'm thinking might be possibilities are the Wirral peninsula (Port Sunlight looks interesting to me) and Saltburn on the Durham coast. Does anyone know what these places are like? Would a newly-retired single person be able to make friends there, e.g. are there clubs and activities to join, and some cultural activity? I'm fairly sociable and I can make friends so long as there are opportunities to meet people.

Any other areas I could consider? At today's prices which may of course change, I'd be anticipating spending around 250-300k on a house or flat if that's relevant. Or am I just mad to even think about moving to a new area in retirement, and I'm better off staying put where I have friends, and just putting up with the travelling?

Do you really want to move to retire, or is the aim to be closer to your children? If the latter, isn’t where you live now closer in terms of travelling? (By train anyway). Liverpool to Durham is a big journey. Settling on either coast means you’ll be near to one Dc and far from the other.

I used to live in Edinburgh and now live in sight of the Wirral.

I'd visit, it's pretty different...good for Manchester, Durham not so much.

What about Chester or somewhere up the west coast mainline?

Saltburn is Teesside not Durham.
Itsnice but the nearby towns are not anymore. It has a bit of an alternative vibe.
Have you considered the Yorkshire coast towns Scarborough Filey and bridlington. You’d get a decent house easily and they’d probably visit frequently

Port Sunlight is nice but near some rough areas.
The west side of the Wirral is much nicer so Parkgate, Hoylake, West Kirby etc

Agree with @MrsKeats . Port Sunlight is well preserved and attractive thanks to its listed status, which would also restrict what you could do to one of the pretty houses located in the village. Having said that, there is a community for those living there and from what I understand (I know someone whose sister lives there, so a pretty tenuous connection) it is very active, so might present good opportunities for getting to know people.
I'd agree that Hoylake and West Kirby are nicer though. Both have good train links into Liverpool (as does Port Sunlight). There are plenty of groups etc at the community centres and opportunities to make friends. What's your budget to buy and how big a place are you looking for?

Sorry, i meant to say that I agree with @MrsKeats that Port Sunlight is surrounded by some rough areas, which makes it less desirable (though also less expensive) than it might otherwise be.

Saltburn is not nice. The houses are cheap for a reason. It's really grim in winter and the only place I've ordered a burger and it came deep fried!
Saltburn is also a long way from anywhere nice or any main roads, eg dual carriageways or motorways. It takes ages to get there.

The Wirral is much nicer and easier to get to.

OP, Filey and Brid are very picturesque but they are falling into the sea. IME the public transport is tricky as they're on a branch line, and they're also very "closed" communities (people aren't very friendly and chatty with outsiders) so as a newcomer it's nice for quiet types who like to be left alone but not nice if you want a community around you. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/environment/photos-reveal-why-local-residents-are-living-in-fear-of-the-sea-3604058

Scarborough might be ok but it's not on the main line for trains either so will be a big faff to get across the country. You might think you don't need trains atm. If you develop a health condition and end up being unable to drive, you will be very isolated if you move to a too-small town on the sea as you have no family members nearby to just run you to the shops etc.

Also, we're also potentially moving so are researching new towns all over the place every time a possible job comes up for DH. I recently looked at Saltburn and it looks shit TBH. Sorry.

If I were you I'd look at somewhere like Lancaster OP, which will be sufficiently populated and built up that you will have decent access to shops, choice of houses, lots of people to talk to, activities to do etc. Something I've learned the hard way is, the smaller the town, the less there is going on for any given hobby and the harder it is to cope without a car even just when ours is in the garage.

Admirable you're considering such a bit move on your own in your 60's OP.
However, if it were me, I'd stay where I am. Edinburgh is brill and you have your network already established. Its not bad a journey on the train to either Durham or Manchester, so I'd say well connected.
However, if you're excited by the thought of a move, I'd be moving to very close to one of the kids - Durham has a lot going for it. Or Barnard Castle. Even Newcastle if you want to stick with the city vibe?

Firstly, ignore @bridgetjonesmassivepants and secondly, Saltburn is not on the Durham coast! I moved to Saltburn as a semi-retired single woman in my late 50's and it's wonderful. There's a regular direct train to Manchester, which calls at nice places for day trips, such York and Leeds. Durham is easy on the train too and local bus services are good. Our beach is glorious, there's lot's of good walking (and walking groups), we have some excellent cafes and restaurants but, most importantly, it's a welcoming and interesting community. I'm not the most sociable person but have had no trouble making friends and there are loads of things going on to get involved with. I've always had a warm welcome. Your budget will just about buy you a nice little house, or a fabulous flat - though everything gets snapped up extremely quickly these days.

Following thread with interest as hoping to move from south-west to east coast in my early 60s.

A friend has just moved from Home Counties to Formby area (between Liverpool and Southport). She's on her own and finding it excellent.

Lots of food for thought here, thanks everyone who's replied. I've got plenty of time as I want to continue in my current job until I can afford to retire (and I don't think I'd get a new job at my age even if I wanted to move before that). I'll plan some weekends away in the places people have suggested and get a sense of the vibe.

I totally failed to see your budget in your OP, sorry. You could buy a 2 bed terraced house in good condition in the centre of Hoylake for that money, or a flat or terrace in West Kirby. The houses in Port Sunlight are cheaper and a different style but they would also be well within budget.

For Saltburn, ignore bridgetjonesmassivepants, and take everything said by AlongTheProm as my view of the place too.
Marske might be worth considering too - tho Saltburn has the station.

Really good idea to go and visit both, you'll get an immediate sense of which one you prefer.

I stand by my guns though that Saltburn is pretty rubbish. I have been several times and it is really not great. It's also out on a limb.

Saltburn is lovely, I looked at moving there myself (I then met someone before I have a chance to move to moved elsewhere!)

Formby is lovely.

Scarborough is on the trans pennine rail line. Trains direct to Liverpool. It’s not a fast line granted.
It’s further down the coast beyond Bridlington on the holderness plain where there is serious coastal erosion. There is a development of bungalows falling into the sea at Scarborough but it was obvious it was a stupid place to build.

Bridlington is not a closed community. People have retired there for decades. My granny retired there and everyone is really friendly and nice. There’s lots going on, concerts plays museum or two. Lovely old town. Loads of groups for different things.

Scarborough is the big town for the area you don’t really travel out for goods and services. And again there’s a lot to do and many people retire there.
If you’ve come from a major urban area these towns may seem small but they are major towns in the area. If you want something with city facilities and culture it’s Hull or Newcastle on the east coast.