Where to retire in the UK

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How u doing

26,959 posts

182 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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Blib said:
How u doing said:
GT3Manthey said:
Going back to my previous posts on Frinton I’ve been seeing more reports of cars and garages being broken into which is concerning although I’m thinking where I am now, and in other areas, this is commonplace to most areas.

So the question is, if we eventually decide against full time life in Frinton where too next ?

South Suffolk I like but might be a little too far for the missus and she is a fan of Frinton as there is a community and all she needs inside the gates.

Somewhere coastal for me is a priority but the likes of Southwold and Aldeburgh and quite a bit more expensive and I don’t like the stoney beach at Aldeburgh
I like Orford, a little inland but on the river, a real local community alongside the weekenders, sailing club, walks, pubs, restaurants, independent shops, The downside is its quite a distance from town.
Although lovely in winter, the problem with all of those towns is that every fine weekend and all summer traffic becomes a nightmare.

The roads and car parks can't handle anywhere near the volume that descends on them whenever the sun comes out. To all intents and purposes, there's just one road in and out of each and by about 9am there's traffic queues. The residents almost become hostages.hehe

Prices in Southwold, Aldeburgh, Walberswick and most things east of the A12 are plain silly for that reason, imo.

We moved to a very quiet village in Bow & Arrow country, west of the A12 in the Halesworth hinterland.

We are 20 mins from the coast (we go really early to walk the dog on the beaches) and are home before the hordes descend.

If you live west there's mile after mile of fantastic and almost empty roads to hoon down; our nearest traffic light is half an hour away in Leiston. It's like going back 50 years and we love it.

There's also Sizewell C to think about. When it's built the vast majority of materials with come in by road. That's hundreds of lorry loads a day. The A12 will be carnage!




Edited by Blib on Friday 25th June 11:36
A little inland would suit me too, pretty places, cheaper, less windswept. As long as I can get to a dog walking beach I'm happy.

Blib

43,797 posts

196 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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How u doing said:
A little inland would suit me too, pretty places, cheaper, less windswept. As long as I can get to a dog walking beach I'm happy.
There's miles and miles of dog friendly beaches. Aldeburgh and parts of the Southwold beaches are off limits for 6 months. But, tbh I wouldn't walk a dog at the former and as for Southwold beach, much of it is open all year. Walberswick is good too - out of tourist season.

Having said that, we far prefer Sizewell and Dunwich. Indeed, you can walk from one to the other. Further afield there's Covehithe and Kessingland.

Dog walkers are spoilt for choice.

DodgyGeezer

40,158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 20th July 2021
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this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...

Louis Balfour

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 20th July 2021
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DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
Nice looking place, but would the running costs be retiree friendly?

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
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How u doing said:
Tidy, well kept, pretty village. Big enough to have stuff going on, small enough to have a sense of community.
Orford is one of my favourite Suffolk villages.

The only downside with the whole of the Suffolk ANOB coast - apart from the glacial traffic that is - is it's becoming infested with second homers who can't quite stretch to the golden triangle in north Norfolk, and they're increasingly bringing London attitudes and London manners and London prices into the area.

DodgyGeezer

40,158 posts

189 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
Nice looking place, but would the running costs be retiree friendly?
It's a good point to make. What's acceptable now may well not be in 15 years time

One of Mrs Geezer's friends lives in Cumbria <brrrrr> but in a new-build Bungalow - I was staggered at how warm it was (too warm tbh) but there was no heating on. Certainly something to consider

Sticks.

8,708 posts

250 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
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Jaguar steve said:
Orford is one of my favourite Suffolk villages.

The only downside with the whole of the Suffolk ANOB coast - apart from the glacial traffic that is - is it's becoming infested with second homers who can't quite stretch to the golden triangle in north Norfolk, and they're increasingly bringing London attitudes and London manners and London prices into the area.
I think of Whitstable like that.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
Jaguar steve said:
Orford is one of my favourite Suffolk villages.

The only downside with the whole of the Suffolk ANOB coast - apart from the glacial traffic that is - is it's becoming infested with second homers who can't quite stretch to the golden triangle in north Norfolk, and they're increasingly bringing London attitudes and London manners and London prices into the area.
I think of Whitstable like that.
Same thing has happened along much of the Dorset coast west of Bournemouth too. It's great for business sure, but anybody like me who remembers the Jurassic Coast from the late '70s and early '80s will know how unbelievably overcrowded and expensive it's become. frown

GT3Manthey

4,429 posts

48 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
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DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
As mad as this May sound I viewed this house y’day !

I like it but the wife not keen . Too “ eclectic” she says !

It’s in the avenues too which is where you want to be on Frinton .

Running costs for a retiree is a good point though .


DodgyGeezer

40,158 posts

189 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
quotequote all
GT3Manthey said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
As mad as this May sound I viewed this house y’day !

I like it but the wife not keen . Too “ eclectic” she says !

It’s in the avenues too which is where you want to be on Frinton .

Running costs for a retiree is a good point though .
now that is quite funny

GT3Manthey

4,429 posts

48 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
quotequote all
DodgyGeezer said:
now that is quite funny
It’s a divorcing couple we were told so might be motivated sellers.

Personally I like it but I’m ‘told’ it’s not for us.

We viewed another house that’s wanting a 35% uplift in 3yrs so we walked away .

Slightly nervous that we’re paying the very top and prices might retreat

mike9009

6,919 posts

242 months

Wednesday 21st July 2021
quotequote all
GT3Manthey said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
As mad as this May sound I viewed this house y’day !

I like it but the wife not keen . Too “ eclectic” she says !

It’s in the avenues too which is where you want to be on Frinton .

Running costs for a retiree is a good point though .
Is that really suitable as a retirement property?? My folks are in their mid 70s and own a large Edwardian 4 bed property which my mum finds a bit unmanageable now. They don't really 'want' to move but 'need' to move to make life more manageable.

Both my parents are fit and well with no mobility issues, they just don't fancy spending their days cleaning, organising maintenance, painting etc. (And they already have a cleaner.......)

GT3Manthey

4,429 posts

48 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
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mike9009 said:
Is that really suitable as a retirement property?? My folks are in their mid 70s and own a large Edwardian 4 bed property which my mum finds a bit unmanageable now. They don't really 'want' to move but 'need' to move to make life more manageable.

Both my parents are fit and well with no mobility issues, they just don't fancy spending their days cleaning, organising maintenance, painting etc. (And they already have a cleaner.......)
I do agree with you .

Have told the wife we need to look at smaller places as it’ll be just the two of us most of the time so we won’t need a place that large.

Also I am also out non stop when I’m at Frinton

bristolracer

5,528 posts

148 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
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GT3Manthey said:
Have told the wife we need to look at smaller places as it’ll be just the two of us most of the time so we won’t need a place that large.
"Yes but we will need 5 bedrooms when all the kids come to stay, and when they have families of their own how will we cope?"

DodgyGeezer

40,158 posts

189 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
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bristolracer said:
"Yes but we will need 5 bedrooms when all the kids come to stay, and when they have families of their own how will we cope?"
This ^^^ hehe

My parents (80) thought about downsizing about 15 years ago but they'd have to get rid of so much crap/personal effects they felt they couldn't. Now they're wondering how they ever managed with 4 of us in the house

bristolracer

5,528 posts

148 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
quotequote all
The answer as I had to persuade my wife, is that once a year we rent a huge 8 bedroom house in Cornwall for a long weekend and everyone can come and stay
It also has the benefit that everyone mucks in rather than Mum waiting on them hand and foot
We have one double and a single spare at home should anyone want to come individually.
She still frets sometimes but the reminder of the fact that we are nearly mortgage free calms her down

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
Nice looking place, but would the running costs be retiree friendly?
For that sort of money I wouldn’t be wanting any neighbours.

Or Essex.

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

150 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
quotequote all
GT3Manthey said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
As mad as this May sound I viewed this house y’day !

I like it but the wife not keen . Too “ eclectic” she says !

It’s in the avenues too which is where you want to be on Frinton .

Running costs for a retiree is a good point though .
The only eclectic things about it are the furnishings and decor. The Mrs knows that the furnishings will be moving out, and that decorating isn't the biggest obstacle to overcome, right?

Sticks.

8,708 posts

250 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
quotequote all
ElectricSoup said:
GT3Manthey said:
DodgyGeezer said:
this seems like quite a pleasant retirement pad too (Frinton)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107852717#/...
As mad as this May sound I viewed this house y’day !

I like it but the wife not keen . Too “ eclectic” she says !

It’s in the avenues too which is where you want to be on Frinton .

Running costs for a retiree is a good point though .
The only eclectic things about it are the furnishings and decor. The Mrs knows that the furnishings will be moving out, and that decorating isn't the biggest obstacle to overcome, right?
Not for me. Tiny garage and parking for one car, and no scope to improve. This is PH, after all.

Sticks.

8,708 posts

250 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
quotequote all
Zoomtown on sea in the news today. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57892934

I'm not sure how long this will last. I wfh for 7 years and although there are advantages, it's not all good. Time will tell how many stick it out.