Where to move to once we retire

[AppleCherryBlossom]

I’m looking for any advice or suggestions on possible places to move to when we retire in a couple of years. Where we live now is convenient for work but we would like to live somewhere with a bit more going on. We are not restricted by family commitments so can move anywhere.
Ideally we would like a town or city (somewhere with a train station), easy access to music, films, theatre etc, a bit of a creative vibe, close to water for canoeing and near a good hospital. We are thinking of a 3 bedrooms house with 2 bathrooms and a garden. Ideally we’d like to be semi detached or somewhere where the soundproofing is good (we’ve had very noisy neighbours before and don’t want to go through that again). Our budget is £800,000. Cambridge would have been great, but it is out of our budget for what we want. Any ideas would be gratefully received!

Deal is lovely!! So is Weymouth but it’s so far out the way by train.

Bath? You'd have the theatre and cinema etc and the Avon for canoeing. The ruh is the main hospital which is ok but quite busy there's a few private hospitals around also

Frome maybe? Nearest large hospital is in Bath but has a community hospital. Easy to get to Bath and Bristol though the London trains can be a little unreliable.

It's full of nutters.

@Snakebite61are we talking about the same place?!

Chester might work for you

Norwich?I don't know about budget I'm afraid, but it has a creative vibe, theatres, train into London if you want to go there, the Broads for canoeing. Close to lovely coast. Friendly. I love in Suffolk and love visiting Norwich/Norfolk.

Bury St Edmunds, Norwich, Chichester, Salisbury, Guildford

Chester or Derby might fit the bill?
Totnes? Wells?

One for Harrogate

Beccles, Manningtree, Bridport

My mother is in that neck of the woods. The quality of hospitals worries me greatly. QEQM is not good. K&C is a bit better.

I was going to suggest Norwich, but I see that’s already on your shortlist. Worcester is also very nice. I prefer Norwich because it’s closer to get to the coast.

I’d look at Tynemouth or Whitley Bay, close to Newcastle and lots going on. They have a vibrant scene and people are very friendly. You’re close enough to Northumberland to enjoy the lovely villages, beaches, walks etc
Also consider Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham or Corbridge. A little more rural but have links to Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Leamington Spa

Have you thought about the Isle of Man? Worth checking out

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164483555

If you like Oxfordshire you could have a look at Eynsham. It's a small town with no station but a frequent bus service to Oxford or Witney. Also a direct bus service to the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals - very useful as parking at either hospital is an expensive and stressful nightmare.

Getting to London also easy either by coach or by train from nearby Hanborough station.

Close to Farmoor Reservoir for canoeing.

Currently on Rightmove your budget would get you a modern 3/4 detached or older and posher four bedroom terrace.

Somewhere near Newark? Fewer nutters than Lincoln. Probably. Southwell? Posher than either. Trent is good for canoeing. Nottingham has decent theatre, concerts, cinema.

Windermere?

The Wirral. Easy reach of Chester and Liverpool (with mainline trains out of Lime St and an airport) and Manchester and North Wales are less than an hour away. 3 good theatres in Liverpool and 2 snaller theatres on the peninsula itself, along with Storyhouse in Chester and Theatr Clywd just into Wales. Many varied cultural venues. Being a peninsula lends it to watersports. Lots to volunteer at, depending on your interests. Your budget would see you get a detached house in a very nice part (eg, West Kirby, Lower Heswall, Gayton, Caldy)

Some examples

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153537908#/?channel=RES_BUY caldy

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161232401#/?channel=RES_BUY Gayton

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163600772#/?channel=RES_BUY West Kirby

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156368417#/?channel=RES_BUY Heswall

Norwich ticks lots of boxes for the Op but I would not want to grow old relying on the N&N unless it goes through radical improvement. Both the hospital and the associated rehab centres caused permanent setbacks to 2 members of my family and in one case near death. Due to understaffing / incompetent care / admin mix ups (discharged a family member based on another patient’s notes) etc. Other incidents include: 90 yo relative spent 23 hours on a trolley in a corridor. Not enough HDU beds so tried to deliver HD-type care on a ward but without the right staff, relative went all night without the required oxygen. Dreadful place. IME.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy84580znngo.amp

If you like Oxford what about Abingdon? Very pretty riverside location. Indie cinema. Art theatre. Oxford for larger theatres.

Thanks all so much. We have been away on holiday and come back to some really interesting suggestions. @RantzNotBantz I am sorry to hear that about your family. That has made me think twice about Norwich. A good hospital is important to us. I don't know Newark or Southwell at all, so it's another area for us to visit. @DrEmilyCrabtree and @seenabeena thanks for the house links, a lot to think about. We're going to start the hunt by checking out Alnwick and the more northerly suggestions this October and then work our way south.

I’m another one voting for Lincoln.