Where to retire in the UK

[HRL]

parakitaMol. said:

Ha! The house we are buying is in Beaford!

It’s got a great looking pub! I’m looking forward to getting into the property next week and exploring the area.

Where abouts in Beaford are you buying?

ETA - oh my God that’s hilarious, I randomly spoke to your wife this week via the pub Facebook page - we had a dog related chat!

Edited by parakitaMol. on Friday 5th March 07:09

Hahaha. So she just informed me. Small world, or at least small village.

Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you. We’ve still got a massive way to go to get the move over the line but can’t wait.

[CS67]

Interesting all the replies - my absolute fundamental start point for moving would be best access to sunny / warm weather, especially as I got older. I agree Scotland is beautiful, as is many other areas that I visit, and invariably I look at house prices when visiting relatives around the country, but the thought of willingly moving somewhere colder/wetter and therefore spending more time looking out the window at grey skies is genuinely abominable. A clear sky, even in winter adds a significant spring to my step.

I live in the far SE, and I have lost count how many times I have left home in blue skies and as I head progressively north the sky gets incrementally more grey and the weather more miserable - hideous!

[bristolracer]

cayman-black said:

I,m retired and living in Italy but now we want to return to the UK when its possible so have been looking in Devon as our Daughter lives there (Holsworthy)
The market is very strong though, even now as every place i see is selling quick.

Johnspex or Bristolracer please tell me what's going on down there?

I moved down here just before the covid outbreak and things were quite sluggish.
I think the pandemic has caused a lot of people to rethink everything and so interest for country life has risen.
There are some properties that have been on sale for long time, but there is normally a reason, you need to be actively viewing with funds in place.

[parakitaMol.]

HRL said:

parakitaMol. said:

Ha! The house we are buying is in Beaford!

It’s got a great looking pub! I’m looking forward to getting into the property next week and exploring the area.

Where abouts in Beaford are you buying?

ETA - oh my God that’s hilarious, I randomly spoke to your wife this week via the pub Facebook page - we had a dog related chat!

Edited by parakitaMol. on Friday 5th March 07:09

Hahaha. So she just informed me. Small world, or at least small village.

Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you. We’ve still got a massive way to go to get the move over the line but can’t wait.

Yeah we are excited too. It is a fabulous house.
At least there's someone who won't be complaining about loud vehicle noise

Good luck with your selling/buying process - I hope it all goes smoothly for you

[ElectricSoup]

oblio said:

Strange that as I live near Carmarthen too...as do all the English folks in our village who have no issues at all. Perhaps the issue is with your Mum.

Ah yes I wondered when the victim blaming would start. Yes it must be very galling for the locals to have watched her build a business over several decades, providing employment and income in the area, after moving there in the 80s when the place was on its arse and worthless, only to be blocked at every single opportunity by the local authority when she tries to realise a bit of money for herself out of her property for retirement, within all the requirements of the local development plan, whilst neighbours on all sides develop with impunity. Yes, yes that must be her problem.

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

[i4got]

ElectricSoup said:

oblio said:

Strange that as I live near Carmarthen too...as do all the English folks in our village who have no issues at all. Perhaps the issue is with your Mum.

Ah yes I wondered when the victim blaming would start. Yes it must be very galling for the locals to have watched her build a business over several decades, providing employment and income in the area, after moving there in the 80s when the place was on its arse and worthless, only to be blocked at every single opportunity by the local authority when she tries to realise a bit of money for herself out of her property for retirement, within all the requirements of the local development plan, whilst neighbours on all sides develop with impunity. Yes, yes that must be her problem.

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

It's odd isn't it. Wonder if these are the same people who would blame a black person when he experiences racism on the grounds that some other black person has not experienced it.

[oblio]

ElectricSoup said:

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

Sorry but you'll have to explain that...you've lost me!

My point was that it takes two to tango.

[rustyuk]

Lincoln is nice for a day trip but is quite rough around the edges and has one of the highest crime rates in the UK. You don't want to be out in Newark after dark either. Plus it gets worse the further you venture out, Boston, Skegness...

[ElectricSoup]

oblio said:

ElectricSoup said:

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

Sorry but you'll have to explain that...you've lost me!

My point was that it takes two to tango.

My Mum owns a property of some local significance, and the local authority would prefer it to be in the hands of a Welsh person or organisation. They have spent over 20 years, yes, over 20 years, that is not a typo, "losing" planning application paperwork and denying the existence of documentation related to the local development plan, amongst other dirty tricks, despite my Mum holding photographic evidence of these documents. It's an absolute outrage, and a thinly disguised attempt to sell up to someone they'd "prefer" to own the property. My Mum can not afford to go down the legal route, she is noe surviving on a state pension alone, so they sit there smugly, and sabotage absolutely everything she tries to do.

No doubt you'll ask for evidence of these claims, but I'm sure you'll understand the sensitive nature of it, and will have to take my word for it.

I wouldn't live round there if you paid me. Also, rain. Endless, endless, endless fking rain.

You'll note, I'm talking about officialdom here, she is on good terms with neighbours personally, and is quite active in local community organisations - she has experienced some "cold shoulder" treatement on a personal level over the decades, but is grown up enough to overcome that. It's the xenophobic local authority which is the main problem.

[bennno]

ElectricSoup said:

Ah yes I wondered when the victim blaming would start. Yes it must be very galling for the locals to have watched her build a business over several decades, providing employment and income in the area, after moving there in the 80s when the place was on its arse and worthless, only to be blocked at every single opportunity by the local authority when she tries to realise a bit of money for herself out of her property for retirement, within all the requirements of the local development plan, whilst neighbours on all sides develop with impunity. Yes, yes that must be her problem.

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

What was she trying to do to realise value out of her property? Are you saying neighbours objected, or just that panning declined it?

[oblio]

ElectricSoup said:

oblio said:

ElectricSoup said:

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

Sorry but you'll have to explain that...you've lost me!

My point was that it takes two to tango.

My Mum owns a property of some local significance, and the local authority would prefer it to be in the hands of a Welsh person or organisation. They have spent over 20 years, yes, over 20 years, that is not a typo, "losing" planning application paperwork and denying the existence of documentation related to the local development plan, amongst other dirty tricks, despite my Mum holding photographic evidence of these documents. It's an absolute outrage, and a thinly disguised attempt to sell up to someone they'd "prefer" to own the property. My Mum can not afford to go down the legal route, she is noe surviving on a state pension alone, so they sit there smugly, and sabotage absolutely everything she tries to do.

No doubt you'll ask for evidence of these claims, but I'm sure you'll understand the sensitive nature of it, and will have to take my word for it.

I wouldn't live round there if you paid me. Also, rain. Endless, endless, endless fking rain.

You'll note, I'm talking about officialdom here, she is on good terms with neighbours personally, and is quite active in local community organisations - she has experienced some "cold shoulder" treatement on a personal level over the decades, but is grown up enough to overcome that. It's the xenophobic local authority which is the main problem.

I don't doubt what you say. I was more interested in the envy and obstructiveness comment.

Envious in what way?

Obstructive in what way?

I'm struggling to see how you can deduce that from a harmless enquiry.

The problem appears to be with the LA rather than other people/neighbours which tbh probably wouldn't be a massive concern to anyone thinking of retiring to the area I would have thought...unless they too have a property that the LA covets!

[sociopath]

bern said:

cobra kid said:

Eastwood in Rotherham is a particular delight.

Made a Rotherham boy laugh there! If Eastwood is a little too cosmopolitan I would suggest Canklow

A few years ago I was watching "escape to the country" and one of the suggested houses was in Bolton on Dearne. I almost wet myself laughing at the thought.

[ElectricSoup]

oblio said:

I don't doubt what you say. I was more interested in the envy and obstructiveness comment.

Envious in what way?

Obstructive in what way?

I'm struggling to see how you can deduce that from a harmless enquiry.

The problem appears to be with the LA rather than other people/neighbours which tbh probably wouldn't be a massive concern to anyone thinking of retiring to the area I would have thought...unless they too have a property that the LA covets!

Obstructive? Try this. Person sees approved local development plan, and photographs it clearly showing title and date, which clearly shows their property included within allowable development zone, after years and years of patience and forebearance trying to work out why this particular property is persistently left out of the zone, whilst development carries on around it. Applies for PP. Is refused, on the grounds the property is outside local development zone. Person reviews local develoment plan, this time it clearly shows a loop around the back of their property, but includes properties on both sides. Person queries this and is met with bald denial of existance of original development plan. Radio silence. This is but one example of obstructiveness.

Envy? Try this. Overhead conversation, "why do they let the English own properties like that, shouldn't be allowed". Not to mention the similar comments reported back to my Mum by good people who can't believe it's happening, heard even in planning committees.

You think a planning application process which has taken over 20 years and is still unresolved and contains demonstrable examples of foul play is a sign of good faith and cooperativeness on the part of the LA?

My poor mother and her long suffering architect are at their wits end - the architect is locally based and has worked with this authority for decades, and is absolutely stunned at what's going on. Never seen the like.

[Taylor James]

Local resentment can be a problem wherever you go once you're out of the cities. A few people have recommended the Isle of Wight, which is a place I know well and where my family own several properties. We're renovating one at the moment. There is a strong 'anti-mainlander' sentiment which is particularly high at the moment due to covid paranoia and outsiders buying property. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't replicated elsewhere in the UK, also buoyed up with this notion of outsiders making property unaffordable for locals. On the IOW it's definitely more prevalent among the working (and substantial non-working) population. People most of us would call middle class aren't bothered in the slightest.

It's an interesting thread and seems to be dominated by Wales/The North recommendations. This might work for people who are less bothered by climate but for us dyed in the wool, shandy sipping, soft southerners, it would never work. My retirement will be split between a couple of warm countries and somewhere in Sussex. Sussex is mostly expensive but the weather is very good compared to much of the UK and there is a nice mix of downland and coast. Nothing too dramatic for sure but most pensioners don't hill walk or rock climb. I like Ireland, but like Wales and Scotland, it's 'always' cold and/or raining. Must be great to be selling up in London and moving to your roots in say, North Wales, but most people used to the south won't countenance it even it frees up a fortune in equity.

[Ken Figenus]

ElectricSoup said:

Ah yes I wondered when the victim blaming would start. Yes it must be very galling for the locals to have watched her build a business over several decades, providing employment and income in the area, after moving there in the 80s when the place was on its arse and worthless, only to be blocked at every single opportunity by the local authority when she tries to realise a bit of money for herself out of her property for retirement, within all the requirements of the local development plan, whilst neighbours on all sides develop with impunity. Yes, yes that must be her problem.

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

People never have any issues with councils or planning in England do they; it's solely a Welsh anti-English thing? Next thing you'll be saying they grant favour for councillors' projects or something!

OT Edit for juicy goss: lots of stories on Carmarthen Council and planning - this one about CEO Mark James saying he was particularly insistent that Kent based company Sterling Health were signed up to develop a£200m project! Thats an English co btw! https://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/ Is your mum Jacqui Thompson? Jeez that was some story and saga around her if so!

Edited by Ken Figenus on Friday 5th March 14:31

[Wiltshire Lad]

Where to retire - big question. Sounds like the original OP is from the south of England - so I would caution him about moving north if you like nicer weather! - cards on the table here - both myself and better half are from the north and now reside in Wiltshire. There REALLY is quite a difference and it IS noticeable - 16 degrees v 22 degrees means a lot if you're an outdoors type (We still have a flat in Windermere and love the area but I'm not going to pretend it's 30 degrees and sunny all summer.
Bath / York mentioned - would agree Bath is just too expensive. York - see comment above re: weather! Lincoln mentioned - nice city - but the countryside? If you flat expanse of nothingness. But houses are cheap.
One to consider - and often overlooked - is Salisbury. Very nice city with the feel of a small town, lovely countryside and on a direct line to London for decent theatre and museums. And don't forget the spire! (world famous as far as Russia...)

[ElectricSoup]

Ken Figenus said:

ElectricSoup said:

Ah yes I wondered when the victim blaming would start. Yes it must be very galling for the locals to have watched her build a business over several decades, providing employment and income in the area, after moving there in the 80s when the place was on its arse and worthless, only to be blocked at every single opportunity by the local authority when she tries to realise a bit of money for herself out of her property for retirement, within all the requirements of the local development plan, whilst neighbours on all sides develop with impunity. Yes, yes that must be her problem.

I've never seen so much naked envy and downright deliberate obstructivness anywhere in all my puff.

People never have any issues with councils or planning in England do they; it's solely a Welsh anti-English thing? Next thing you'll be saying they grant favour for councillors' projects or something!

I guess you have to be personally involved in this particular tale of misery to have a proper feel for it. I'm speaking as I find, I'm not really bothered if people don't believe it or don't like what they're hearing. In a thread asking about where to live in the UK, it's probably pertinent to speak of personal experience of an area which is being recommended by others, in case the OP wants to consider the information. If it doesn't fit your world view I can't help that. This is a discussion forum.

As with all forms of discrimination, you really have to be on the receiveing end to appreciate it.

[Louis Balfour]

Wiltshire Lad said:

Where to retire - big question. Sounds like the original OP is from the south of England - so I would caution him about moving north if you like nicer weather! - cards on the table here - both myself and better half are from the north and now reside in Wiltshire. There REALLY is quite a difference and it IS noticeable - 16 degrees v 22 degrees means a lot if you're an outdoors type (We still have a flat in Windermere and love the area but I'm not going to pretend it's 30 degrees and sunny all summer.
Bath / York mentioned - would agree Bath is just too expensive. York - see comment above re: weather! Lincoln mentioned - nice city - but the countryside? If you flat expanse of nothingness. But houses are cheap.
One to consider - and often overlooked - is Salisbury. Very nice city with the feel of a small town, lovely countryside and on a direct line to London for decent theatre and museums. And don't forget the spire! (world famous as far as Russia...)

It's true about the weather. I am from the south of the South and am now about a quarter of a mile from being "up north". The weather here isn't much worse, much colder, much less sunny. But it is a bit, very often. And those bits add up.

[Mark Benson]

Louis Balfour said:

Wiltshire Lad said:

Where to retire - big question. Sounds like the original OP is from the south of England - so I would caution him about moving north if you like nicer weather! - cards on the table here - both myself and better half are from the north and now reside in Wiltshire. There REALLY is quite a difference and it IS noticeable - 16 degrees v 22 degrees means a lot if you're an outdoors type (We still have a flat in Windermere and love the area but I'm not going to pretend it's 30 degrees and sunny all summer.
Bath / York mentioned - would agree Bath is just too expensive. York - see comment above re: weather! Lincoln mentioned - nice city - but the countryside? If you flat expanse of nothingness. But houses are cheap.
One to consider - and often overlooked - is Salisbury. Very nice city with the feel of a small town, lovely countryside and on a direct line to London for decent theatre and museums. And don't forget the spire! (world famous as far as Russia...)

It's true about the weather. I am from the south of the South and am now about a quarter of a mile from being "up north". The weather here isn't much worse, much colder, much less sunny. But it is a bit, very often. And those bits add up.

Agreed, as previously mentioned we moved from Wilts to N Yorks and it's generally a couple of degrees colder, spring starts a couple of weeks later and autumn a couple of weeks earlier up here than down there.

Agree also about Salisbury, nice town.

[Wiltshire Lad]

Louis Balfour said:

Wiltshire Lad said:

Where to retire - big question. Sounds like the original OP is from the south of England - so I would caution him about moving north if you like nicer weather! - cards on the table here - both myself and better half are from the north and now reside in Wiltshire. There REALLY is quite a difference and it IS noticeable - 16 degrees v 22 degrees means a lot if you're an outdoors type (We still have a flat in Windermere and love the area but I'm not going to pretend it's 30 degrees and sunny all summer.
Bath / York mentioned - would agree Bath is just too expensive. York - see comment above re: weather! Lincoln mentioned - nice city - but the countryside? If you flat expanse of nothingness. But houses are cheap.
One to consider - and often overlooked - is Salisbury. Very nice city with the feel of a small town, lovely countryside and on a direct line to London for decent theatre and museums. And don't forget the spire! (world famous as far as Russia...)

It's true about the weather. I am from the south of the South and am now about a quarter of a mile from being "up north". The weather here isn't much worse, much colder, much less sunny. But it is a bit, very often. And those bits add up.

You've summed it up perfectly - you need to actually live in both places for some time to really appreciate it. When we first moved down we just thought it was a one off lovely summer compared to 'normal' - after 10 years you realize every summer is better than 'normal'..and that a decent BBQ and garden furniture is worth investing in as you'll actually be using it not just most weekends but many evenings between Easter and Oct...