Best places to retire in the UK revealed as pensioners uncover key to a 'happy later life' - full list of locations

Commissioned by L&G, the research ranked towns and regions using six core measures.

These included housing, health, community support, financial stability, green space and local amenities.

The findings are based on a mix of official data, property reports and a survey of 3,000 pensioners carried out in April 2024. All respondents reported higher-than-average life satisfaction.

Top of the list is Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire. It performed strongly across the board, particularly in health and finances. Many older residents reported excellent physical and mental wellbeing.

Good access to nature, strong transport links and attractive housing also helped boost its score.

In Scotland, Mid Dunbartonshire took the top spot. Monmouthshire led the rankings in Wales. Both areas were praised for their strong services and quality of life for over-65s.

The study highlights major differences in retirement prospects across the UK. Researchers say these insights can help future retirees make more informed choices.

Lorna Shah, managing director retail retirement at L&G, stated: "This research gives us a more complete picture of what shapes a happy later life.

"It's not just about one factor it's the combination of health, social connections, environment, and financial security that all play a part in retirement wellbeing."

Different regions across Britain demonstrated particular strengths in specific retirement criteria. South-west England excelled in housing provision, with Bristol Central, Gloucester and Bournemouth East offering excellent accommodation options for older residents.

Lancashire's Fylde district achieved the highest scores for social and community engagement, followed by Lowestoft in Suffolk and the Dorking and Horley area of Surrey. These rankings considered factors including the proportion of over-65 residents, happiness indicators and transport accessibility.

Eastern England dominated environmental measures, with Castle Point in Essex, South Holland and The Deepings in Lincolnshire, and South Cambridgeshire securing the top three positions.

Assessment criteria included air quality, climate data, availability of private gardens and outdoor space dimensions.

Metropolitan areas secured the highest positions for local amenities, with the Cities of London and Westminster, Holborn and St Pancras, and Islington South and Finsbury occupying the top three places. Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Gwynedd and Glasgow East rounded out the top five.

The amenities assessment evaluated proximity to pharmacies, grocery stores, postal services, banking facilities, libraries and cultural venues. Urban centres naturally excelled in this category due to their concentrated services.

Shah emphasised that "Financial security in particular, is an enabler for many of the other measures, giving people the freedom to choose where and how they want to live in later life."

These 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

Here are 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

Here are 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