The leafy west London suburb that is one of the best places in Britain to retire
Pensions firm Legal & General ranked constituencies across the UK taking into consideration six different measures for wellbeing in retirement, which include housing, health, community, finances, nature and access to amenities. This was based on an analysis of a wide range of existing data including Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, census data and housing and house price reports.
According to the analysis, most of the best places to retire in Britain are in the south east of England. As for the capital, the only location named in the list of 20 was Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner in outer London. This northwest London constituency came in 14th place with an index score of 68. London scored highly across the board when it came to access to amenities like pharmacies, supermarkets, post offices, banks, libraries and theatres, but the city was let down when it came to financial security and house prices.
Residents of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner have access to plenty of green spaces, including Ruislip Lido and Pinner Memorial Park. According to Rightmove data, the average house price in Pinner is £733,053, while the average flat sold for £411,115 in the past year. House prices in Ruislip are a bit cheaper, averaging at £575,770 for the past year. But in Northwood it's even more expensive, with the average house selling for £873,301 in the past 12 months.
The outer London constituency was beaten by Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and Dorking and Horley in Surrey, which came in first, second and third respectively.
Lorna Shah, managing director, retail retirement, at L&G, said: '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.
'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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pretty town on the end of Underground route has best of both worlds
The town offers a bit of everything to those who still want to live within easy reach of the capital Buckinghamshire is a popular choice for commuters, with many of its towns serving as homes to those who travel into London for work. The rise of remote working led to a significant migration away from the capital. Despite its name, the London Underground extends well beyond the city limits, serving numerous towns outside London. One such Tube stop brings both tourists and commuters to the charming town of Amersham. It's no surprise that the town, popular with both groups, is frequently recognised as one of the best places to live in the country. A brief tour around the town makes it easy to understand why. But a deeper exploration reveals even more reasons. Nestled in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, Amersham is divided into the Old Town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The Old Town boasts buildings that are 700 years old and, unsurprisingly, a rich history. Expect to see quaint cottages and cobbled streets. It resembles a typical English village, complete with a 13th-century church and an abundance of pubs. Old Amersham also offers boutiques, spas, historical sites and beautiful areas for walks and exploration. Meanwhile, Amersham-on-the-Hill is known for its modernity, featuring a lively high street and the Tube station. While it may not be as picturesque, residents still enjoy tree-lined streets. Property guru Phil Spencer of Move IQ dubbed Amersham one of the top commuter towns for London. However, this charming town doesn't come cheap. The average property in Amersham will set you back £750,000 - making some parts of London seem like a bargain. But the ease of travel from London to Amersham makes it an ideal commuter spot for those Londoners seeking respite from the capital's hustle and bustle. Amersham Underground station falls under Zone 9 on the network. There are 18 stops between Amersham and King's Cross, with the Metropolitan Line terminating at Aldgate. A 55-minute journey on the Metropolitan line will whisk you from Amersham to King's Cross. The service operates twice an hour, with the first train from Amersham to London departing at 5.30am and the last return leaving around midnight. And if you've had your fill of the Tube, you can opt to catch a train to Marylebone which takes a mere 32 minutes. For those driving to Amersham, the M40 will get you there in just an hour.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Dragon's Den star stripped of MBE after judge slams high-flyer as ‘selfish & untrustworthy' over £200k in unpaid bills
A FORMER Dragon's Den star has been stripped of her MBE after refusing to pay £200,000 in legal fees. Julie Meyer was slammed by a judge for being "selfish" after she failed to pay her lawyers or attend court hearings. 4 4 4 In 2022, the 58-year-old venture capitalist became embroiled in a legal row with law firm Farrers & Co. She claimed she had received a poor service and refused to pay £197,000 after they represented her during a case in Malta. An arrest warrant was issued for the entrepreneur after she failed to turn up to court and provide documents for the case. Meyer claimed she was unable to travel from Switzerland as she was suffering with conjunctivitis and didn't have a Covid vaccine. But it was decided her reasoning was insufficient to avoid attending hearings in person. Meyer was later slapped with a six-month sentence after she was ruled to be in contempt of court. And last night, the Cabinet Office revealed that the businesswoman had been stripped of her MBE. Her name appeared on a recently updated list of shamed individuals who have forfeited their honours since 2023. Disgraced former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells also features on the list, after she was formally stripped of her CBE by the King. She had already committed to relinquish the gong following fury at her role in the Horizon postmaster scandal. The document said that Meyer's gong had been taken away after she brought "the honours system into disrepute". She was awarded the MBE in 2012 for services to entrepreneurship. Sara Davies breaks silence on shock Dragon's Den exit as star says she struggled to 'juggle' her busy career Meyer was chosen to star on the online version of Dragon's Den in 2009. After her appearance on the BBC Two show, she was appointed as David Cameron 's Government a year later. She has previously supported huge tech brands such as and Skype. Handing her the six-month suspended sentence three years ago, Mr Justice Kerr slammed Meyer as "selfish and untrustworthy". He added: "I am satisfied there is every prospect that the defendant will continue to flout orders of the court unless coerced into obeying them." Later the same year, Meyer lost an appeal to overturn her suspended prison sentence. Three disgraced former submarine captains were also stripped of their OBEs by the King. Top brass urged ministers to withdraw the prestigious gongs from the trio over sex and bullying scandals. One had made an X-rated film on HMS Victorious and a second, nominated for an OBE during his misconduct probe, licked a female officer's ear, blew on her neck and punched her on HMS Vigilant. The third was found guilty of bullying on nuclear-powered attack sub HMS Trenchant. All three were commanders — James Bond 's rank — and led crews of more than 130. The Navy asked the Cabinet Office Forfeiture Committee to strip the men of their awards and King Charles gave final approval. Last year, Grime artist Wiley was stripped of his MBE after he posted anti-Semitic comments on social media. The Met confirmed they were investigating the tweets after he was dropped by his manager and banned from the website. 4
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Pretty UK high street is full of independent shops but the locals are fed up
Frome, in Somerset, has been named one of the best high streets in the UK, and is home to a wealth of independent shops - but some residents are not happy with the situation Frome in Somerset is frequently celebrated as having one of Britain's finest high streets, thriving whilst countless other locations struggle to survive. Yet even in this success story, empty shopfronts remain, including a former Shoe Zone where the faded lettering of its sign can still be spotted. One local complained that residents must now venture elsewhere to purchase footwear. Another source of frustration centres on newcomers from the capital relocating to the area - dubbed FILTH (failed in London, try here) - who attempt to transform the town. One shop owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained to the Express: "We like it as it is. When new people come in they want to change everything." She revealed that these outsiders want to turn Frome into "cafe central" featuring outdoor dining and additional pedestrianised areas. A customer in the shop remarked: "We don't want any more Londoners. We've fulfilled our quota, now we're feeding them to the pigs. "People born here struggle to stay here," explained Alice Cleaver, 29, manager of homewares shop The Shop Next Door. "Rent is absolutely crazy." Finding affordable accommodation took her two years through personal connections. "If you try and go through estate agents, you're f*****," Ms Cleaver added. The average sold house price in Frome stands at £346,382, according to Zoopla, significantly above the UK average of £282,776. During the first four months of 2024, 168 Frome properties entered the rental market, with the average monthly rent at £1,123, according to Rivendell Estates. This represented a marginal decline of 0.09%. Currently, you can expect to pay between £800 and £900 monthly for what the businesswoman describes as "s***holes". In 2023, Frome Town Council declared a housing crisis as rents spiralled beyond locals' reach. However, the area's prosperity benefits independent enterprises. Ms Cleaver remarked: "There's a lot of money here... business is going really well. "There are a lot of people moving here all the time from London," she continued. "It's totally understandable." The manager has numerous friends from London, and she views Frome through their perspective. "It's a great town," she explains. "A lovely place to live." Yet she noted: "It feels like we're not the ones that are supposed to be living here. I've found somewhere affordable, but this is not the town for us. I don't really make enough to afford to live here, you just have to find someone you know." Despite the town's comparatively affluent residents, some shops are still finding conditions "tough", and a monthly market, which draws 12,500 visitors, enhances businesses' earnings. Garry Yoxall, 60, owner of the Pedestal Gallery and PostScript, a printing service, revealed that local shop owners maintain a Whatsapp group to share advice and alert each other about potential troublemakers. "You know everyone in the town; there's a network," he said. He believes that money from Londoners relocating (DFL) has led to Frome's evolution as it attracts people "looking to get away from the town". "You just have a look around the town. The geography, the architecture, the scenery. It's just the right size, and not too disparate. Success breeds success," said the former Shell employee, who is now a fully paid-up member of Greenpeace. His gallery, which showcases contemporary paintings and sculptures, including works by Peter Hayes admired by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, hasn't experienced a loss-making month since its opening last year. Owning a gallery has always been his dream, and when the premises opposite his first business became available, Mr Yoxall seized the opportunity. Before this, he felt the town "wasn't ready" for such a venture. On market days, Mr Yoxall can earn up to £1,000. He noted that middle-ground purchases, typically made by younger people starting out, are "just not there anymore". However, high-end purchases persist, and he can still rely on low-end gifting. The businessman also benefits from low staff costs and "reasonable" rent. Truly Sopel, 46, who operates a dynamic underwear design house in Frome for the past 19 years, has seen the town evolve. "Over time its sort of independent shops have actually attracted a lot of forward thinking creative individuals who are really passionate about what they do," she said. "Retail sense, I think that's what makes it work." The area has seen an influx of new residents, their friends and families, Ms Sopel added, with plenty of Airbnbs and good connections to London making it a "tourist attraction". She said: "Certainly until 2016 or 2015 it was me selling stuff to local people. "But everyone I've sold to today is a visitor. I nearly left six years ago. Thank God I didn't." Andy Le Grange, 64, the owner of Just Ales 2 micropub, attributes the town's success to its independent councillors, who aren't tied to any political party. "If you don't work for Frome, you won't get elected," he said. "That makes a hell of a difference." Instead of top down, the town operates from the bottom up, the publican added. But Frome hasn't always been like this, as John Szymanski, 40, a fashion designer and clothes maker hailed as one of the town's greatest successes, pointed out. "I've known Frome when it wasn't like this at all - basically a s******e," he said. The businessman added that those who rent out shops are reasonable. Mr Szymanski said: "Landlords understand it's not easy having a small business; they just want to help." During the pandemic, they adopted a "pay when you can" policy. "If you can't, don't worry," they reassured. He also mentioned an influx of Londoners. Mr Szymanski stated: "Normally they first come in [to his shop] when they're looking for a house. "They say, 'We've seen something we like'. I say, 'Put an offer in. If you don't, it'll be gone within three days." He added: " Celebrities live around here as well. That's the draw." Babington House - a Georgian manor in the heart of Somerset, complete with bedrooms, a spa and cinema for members, managed by Soho House - also attracts newcomers, the designer said. He often observes people rushing for the train to London outside his shop window, where he still conducts most of his business, seemingly resisting the trend of online shopping that has affected other UK high streets. However, he still enjoys success online, including selling his flower bag on TikTok. John said 23 have been dispatched worldwide, including to America, Japan, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland and South Africa.
