The top UK cities to grow old in

Many people in the UK cannot wait to start their retirement after a lifetime of paying into the system through their work.

Though a lot of retirees decide to stay where they have lived most of their lives, new data suggests some places are better to grow old in than others.

Comparison site Confused.com has found that the best cities to grow old in are not necessarily what you might expect.

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They ranked each city on 17 factors, including the number of GP practices, blue badge parking spaces, the price of the average home, and life satisfaction, then gave each city a final score out of 100.

Tom Vaughan, life insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “As we plan for later in life, things like retirement homes, life insurance, and pension planning often top the list. But it’s just as important to think about the community we’ll be part of.

“The UK’s ageing population means more of us will need to consider how well our cities and neighbourhoods can support us. Factors like healthcare access, public transport, and community amenities make a huge difference to our quality of life as we get older.”

“Planning ahead, not just financially, but also in terms of where you live and what services are available to you, is key to your wellbeing and security. As well as savings or pensions, you should ensure your environment will help you stay independent, active, and connected,” he added.

We look at some of the top cities in the UK to grow old in.

The five top cities to grow old in

Brighton and Hove

Brighton and Hove is among Britain’s most popular domestic holiday destinations thanks to its good weather and sandy beaches, but it is also the best place to grow old, according to Confused.com. The seaside city ranks highly across all the factors analysed, achieving a score of 59.45 out of 100.

In particular, Brighton was found to be the best place in the country for blue badge parking spaces while also scoring strongly for healthcare provision, including access to dental treatment and care homes.

Residents of the city also report high levels of happiness and life satisfaction thanks to the abundance of cafes, green spaces, and the natural beauty of its seaside – though anyone moving there is advised to get over their fear of seagulls first.

However, the price of a home in Brighton and Hove is steeper than the UK average, sitting at £427,519 – the highest among the top 20.

Newcastle upon Tyne

The second-top UK city to grow old in is about as far away from Brighton as you can get in England, but still close to the coast. Scoring 59.09 out of 100, Newcastle upon Tyne narrowly takes second place.

This North East city has the most GP practices per 100,000 residents in the country, at 30.4, while also providing a high number of blue badge parking spaces, dentists, and care homes.

The average price of a house in the city is also a big draw, being just £211,122 – far lower than the UK average of £269,000 – while residents also report a high level of life satisfaction.

Bournemouth

Continuing the trend of coastal cities being great places to grow old, the third-top city is Bournemouth.

This seaside city scores 58.58 out of 100, ranking highly for its strong access to care homes, although house prices are relatively expensive when compared to the rest of the UK at an average of £318,505.

Residents of Bournemouth also have a particularly high level of life satisfaction thanks to its high density of shops, green spaces, and its natural beauty, making it a great place to spend your retirement.

Stoke-on-Trent

The first city on the list that is not on the seaside, Stoke-on-Trent is the fourth-top city to grow old in, scoring 55.83 out of 100 thanks to its high levels of life satisfaction and access to GP practices.

House prices here are a particular draw, being among the lowest on the list at an average of £147,217, over £100,000 less than the national average.

Glasgow

Finally, the fifth-top city to grow old in the UK is Glasgow, scoring 55.1 out of 100. The Scottish city benefits from a large number of local amenities like shops, cafes, and restaurants, while also providing great public transport.

House prices in the city are also lower than many other cities on the list and below the national average, sitting at £184,235.

The top cities to grow old in: Full list

While they trail behind the top five, there are still many other cities in the UK that rate highly for older people.

Wolverhampton, Bradford, and Sheffield all have a high number of GP practices per 100,000 residents, while Plymouth, Norwich, and Hull all score very highly for life satisfaction.

As for more affordable places, the city with the cheapest average properties in the top 20 is Hull, where the typical house will set you back just £131,146.

A full list of the top 20 UK cities to grow old can be found below.

Source: Confused.com, 28 August