Nestled in leafy Buckinghamshire, Chesham and Amersham have taken the top spot in an index of Britain’s best places to retire.
The area, popular for its transport links to London and charming historic streets, topped the index compiled by L&G.
L&G said the area performed “exceptionally well” on its health measure, reflecting a strong proportion of over-65s in good physical and mental health. It also scored highly on financial security and in other areas, such as access to nature and community, making it a well-rounded environment for later life, according to the index.
Mid Dunbartonshire secured the top spot as Scotland's best retirement destination, while Monmouthshire claimed the Welsh crown.
The index was compiled by scoring areas against six “pillars” – housing, health, social and community, financial, nature, and amenities. It was based on analysis of a range of existing data including Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, census data and housing and house price reports.
Opinium survey findings from research among 3,000 UK retirees in April 2024 were also analysed. The happiest retirees were defined as those with a life satisfaction score greater than the sample median average.
Here are the best places to retire in Britain, according to L&G’s index:
1. Chesham and Amersham, Buckinghamshire
2. Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
3. Dorking and Horley, Surrey
4. Godalming and Ash, Surrey
5. Mid Sussex
6. Woking, Surrey
7. Farnham and Bordon, Surrey
8. Esher and Walton, Surrey
9. Suffolk Coastal, Suffolk
10. East Grinstead and Uckfield, West Sussex
11. Henley and Thame, Oxfordshire
12. Sevenoaks, Kent
13. New Forest West, Hampshire
14. Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Outer London
15. Tatton, Cheshire
16. West Dorset
17. Surrey Heath, Surrey
18. Maidenhead, Berkshire
19. Windsor, Berkshire
20. Guildford, Surrey
The best places to retire in Scotland, according to L&G’s index:
1. Mid Dunbartonshire
2. Stirling and Strathallan
3. East Renfrewshire
4 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
5. Na h-Eileanan an Iar
6. Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
7. Perth and Kinross-shire
8. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
9. Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
10. Dumfries and Galloway
11. Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
12, Edinburgh North and Leith
13. Edinburgh West
14. Gordon and Buchan
15. Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
16. Angus and Perthshire Glens
17. Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
18. Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
19. North East Fife
20. Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
The best places to retire in Wales, according to L&G’s index:
1. Monmouthshire
2. Dwyfor Meirionnydd
3. Vale of Glamorgan
4. Ynys Mon
5. Mid and South Pembrokeshire
6. Bangor Aberconwy
7. Caerfyrddin
8. Gower
9. Bridgend
10. Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
11. Cardiff North
12. Clwyd North
13. Ceredigion Preseli
14. Clwyd East
15. Llanelli
16. Newport West and Islwyn
17. Pontypridd
18. Wrexham
19. Cardiff South and Penarth
20. Neath and Swansea East
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
