Retiring on £40K, where in the UK would you want to live?

[Rodcx500z]

Of course it does which is why I qualified the comment with something rural. But the cost of living is still massively dearer.

It is i couldn,t ask for more in life, London is only 4 hours away Scotland the same, but don,t get me wrong the area i live in is not the best

 

[Rodcx500z]

Sorry Horners clicked the wrong post

 

[Rodcx500z]

Sounds like a slice of heaven to me!

It is London is 4 hours away and Scotland, but don,t get me wrong the area i live in is not the best

 

[Oneflewover]

I live in the northwest, a 2 hour drive will get you to north wales, the lake district, west yorkshire, the peak district, the forest of bowland, and 22 miles away the home of the greatest city in the world and football team Liverpool, 40 miles to blackpool and the west lancashire coast what more could i ask for in life

Decent weather?

 

[Leon103]

I live in the northwest, a 2 hour drive will get you to north wales, the lake district, west yorkshire, the peak district, the forest of bowland, and 22 miles away the home of the greatest city in the world and football team Liverpool, 40 miles to blackpool and the west lancashire coast what more could i ask for in life

Sun

 

[London]

Rural living is great until you need an ambulance or a hospital which you will as you get older.

 

[Rodcx500z]

So weather is the driving force to a decent life style, i find that so sad and typical of the human race, to die for a bit of sun and a tan not for me

 

[Oneflewover]

So weather is the driving force to a decent life style, i find that so sad and typical of the human race, to die for a bit of sun and a tan not for me

It was tongue in cheek, lighten up! But actually, many of the things I love doing are outdoor based, and somewhat weather dependent. I live in Dorset, and I'm very happy here - beautiful coastline, rural but not too remote, good schools for the kids, relatively low crime levels decent weather on the whole. People used to go past us to get to Devon and Cornwall, but regrettably that seems to be changing - during the summer Dorset's better known coastal areas were heaving, never seen it like that before

 

[Rodcx500z]

It was tongue in cheek, lighten up! But actually, many of the things I love doing are outdoor based, and somewhat weather dependent. I live in Dorset, and I'm very happy here - beautiful coastline, rural but not too remote, good schools for the kids, relatively low crime levels decent weather on the whole. People used to go past us to get to Devon and Cornwall, but regrettably that seems to be changing - during the summer Dorset's better known coastal areas were heaving, never seen it like that before

I thought you were being serious i didn't mean to cause offence, on the lightening up if i was any more laid back i would fall over or so i am told by my kids, i will be one of the heaving masses next july

 

[Hanglow]

Glasgow is a good base if you like the outdoors. The Lakes, Trossachs, Arrochar Alps, southern highlands, borders, some of the islands etc all easily doable in a day trip.

I've never understood the sheer number of people who actually live here complain about weather in the UK, we have a great climate imo, rarely too warm and rarely too cold. Just buy a decent waterproof jacket and umbrella ffs

 

[Oneflewover]

I thought you were being serious i didn't mean to cause offence, on the lightening up if i was any more laid back i would fall over or so i am told by my kids, i will be one of the heaving masses next july

No offence taken. We southerners know that it's grim oop north, and that it can be a challenge to see the brighter side of life .

PS - we're putting road blocks all around Dorset from June next year to keep the unruly hoards out .

 

[531Man]

You missed out great breweries, beer gardens, access to France and the mighty Gills ;-)

Blimey, haven't heard anyone say, "Come on you Gills!" for a long time!
I'm a Rainham/Wigmore boy, but have lived in Ashford for a good long time now.
Here's a good place to buy and live, not expensive by SE standards yet with great transport links.
Delayed lorry parks and the M20 Operation Brock becoming one big lorry stacking system may change all that!
(Some Brexit bonus, thank you Boris.)
Not a concern if you stay away from the motorways, mind you.
And the North Downs or The Weald are attractive for walking/cycling/pubs and inns.
Thanet is generally cheaper still, and has big hospitals at Margate and Canterbury.

 

[HeavensBrew]

I am going to be unpatriotic on this and say..... forget the UK!
I suggest going to Italy. However you should shun other expats (English speakers) and focus on learning the language and meeting local people. Italy is a terrible for opportunity, but fantastic for quality of life. Also, you will live like a king on £40k. Avoid the tourist traps and eating out is extremely cheap.

Where in Italy? That can be another post

 

[IanG]

Scotland is a good option as long as you stay close to the border i.e south of the Forth. If you sort out residency before the referendum you'll probably have the added bonus of being back inside Europe and can travel round to your heart's content and also winter in Spain or Italy, etc. Great Britain is an oceanic climate i.e. Neither hot nor cold as the Atlantic ocean regulates the climate but we are North of most of the population of Canada (London is north of Calgary). We don't get much rainfall in terms of mm but it's a constant risk of drizzle. You will however need to buy heating as keeping brew temps above 20C can be problematic.

Anywhere within an hour of Newcastle is also a decent option as A1(M) motorway connects you south.

Personally I would come visit. Find a golf course with a decent social scene and live near that.

NHS buy in for foreigners is expensive but probably not compared to US health insurance and medicine costs.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I live on the edge of the lake district so i guess i don't appreciate it as i drive through the countryside whenever i leave the small market town i live in.

If i lived in a city i would probably see the attraction.

 

[West wind]

South West Scotland is a little gem. The local people are very friendly and there's lots of retirees because property is so cheap. Stunning landscapes and wildlife too. I had to quit my regular job because of arthritis so we cashed our chips in 12 years ago, sold the house and bought a small cottage near Luce Bay. Living was so cheap we both retired at 55 and never looked back.

My biggest worry these days is how deep the trout are and what line to use to get a fly to them

And the bit I like most about it: there's nothing to spend money on......except fishing tackle and brewing beer.

 

[Rodcx500z]

South West Scotland is a little gem. The local people are very friendly and there's lots of retirees because property is so cheap. Stunning landscapes and wildlife too. I had to quit my regular job because of arthritis so we cashed our chips in 12 years ago, sold the house and bought a small cottage near Luce Bay. Living was so cheap we both retired at 55 and never looked back.

My biggest worry these days is how deep the trout are and what line to use to get a fly to them

And the bit I like most about it: there's nothing to spend money on......except fishing tackle and brewing beer.

How lucky are you two i would love that

 

[Rodcx500z]

Tell you what Chippy i do the wrynose hard knott pas at least 3 times a year but always from the windermere side i may try the other side next time from the railway station that road is not for the faint hearted

 

[MmmBeer]

I agree with what a few people have said that despite our obsession with the weather, the British climate isn't that bad, never too hot, never to cold, but more importantly the range of temperature across the year is probably narrower than anywhere else outside the tropics.

Just a shame it didn't rain a little less often.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Just a shame it didn't rain a little less often.

You can combat that somewhat by living in the east rather than the west.