The best places to retire in the UK

Many of us know what we want from our place of retirement — a beautiful view to wake up to, a pleasant climate, friendly neighbours, a low crime rate, easy access to healthcare and so on.

But if you don't fancy moving abroad and living far away from family and friends, what places within the UK actually fit the bill?

Devon

This especially rural and hilly part of South West England has long drawn visitors to attractions like the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, although its gorgeous coast is also not to be overlooked. After all, there's a reason why the resort towns here are collectively known as the English Riviera.

With the county's average pensioner life expectancy being another 19 years for a 65-year-old Devon man and another 22 years for a 65-year-old Devon woman, you could enjoy both a long and happy retirement here.

Dorset

This historically and geologically fascinating county on the English Channel coast is certainly one to head to if you want to open your curtains to a stunning landscape each day. This is a region of low-lying clay valleys, steep limestone ridges and broad elevated chalk downs.

You'll have lots to do as a retiree here, thanks to attractions and activities such as Thomas Hardy's Cottage in Higher Bockhampton, The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester and The Great Dorset Steam Fair. Two mainline railways also connect the county to London, so it should be easy for your relatives to come and visit.

Norfolk

Norfolk is well known for its greenery, but it's easy to forget that big-city attractions are also close to hand. Norwich, for example, is immensely charming with its majestic Norman Cathedral and Castle, to say nothing of its many cultural venues, pleasant restaurants and extensive parks, gardens and open spaces.

But even if you choose to live somewhere a little lower profile, such as King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth or Thetford, Norfolk is both ever-endearing and practical as a place to retire.

Powys

Surely, if you want to be happy in retirement, you head to the statistically happiest place in the UK? That place, at least according to a 2008 survey, is the sparsely populated Powys in Wales.

Powys isn't necessarily the most practical choice on this list, its highly mountainous landscape sometimes making north-south transport tricky. Nonetheless, if solitude matters a lot to you in your retirement, this historic and ecologically fascinating county is well worth considering.

Surrey

For London residents in particular who don't want to stray too far from existing contacts and loved ones, Surrey makes a lot of sense.

The county is certainly a sight to behold thanks to a gorgeous geography that includes the North Downs, a ridge of chalk hills that stretches all the way from Farnham to the White Cliffs of Dover in nearby Kent.

Throw in all manner of charming towns and the strong transport links that living in or near the London Commuter Belt tends to give you, and Surrey can be a very attractive retirement proposition.

Do you want to be helped to get more out of your post-work life, not least so that you can afford the best possible retirement destination? Get in touch with the retirement income specialists here at Retirement Line for more information.