Index Study Reveals the Best UK Cities for Retirement

Retirement can be both an exciting and scary time, and many enter this new stage of life with a desire to relocate. In fact, experts at HeatingForce.co.uk found that 64% of Brits plan to move to a different UK city when they retire.*

Eager to find out which cities in the UK are best for retirement, HeatingForce.co.uk created an index-based point system based off various social and geographical factors. These factors include crime level, annual sunshine, quality of health care, house prices and access to various leisure activities.*

The 10 UK Cities Best For Retirement:

Experts at HeatingForce.co.uk can confirm that Norwich is the best UK city to retire to with a score of 925 out of 1,000, 21% higher than its closest competitor. Scoring among the highest for the number of parks and health walks, Norwich is perfect for those looking to embrace the outdoors and stay active in retirement. This city in Norfolk also boasts a crime level of just 22 – the lowest in the UK.

Ranking second is York with a score of 767. Those retiring to York can enjoy plenty of natural outdoor space (22 natural spaces and parks per 100,000 people) and cafes (146 per 100,000 people), for which this city scored the highest. However, with only five marked walks within a five mile radius of the city centre, York has one of the lowest quantity of health walks across the board – dragging down its total score.

Bournemouth is the third best city to retire to with a score of 699 out of 1,000. Known for its sandy beaches, this city ranks highest for hours of annual sunshine (1,767 hours) and has one of the highest average ages (43 years old).

Following closely behind is Edinburgh (696), Newcastle upon Tyne (688) and Plymouth (682), respectively ranking fourth, fifth and sixth.