By Oliver Radcliffe
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After decades of hard graft, retirement is the perfect time to truly enjoy life and explore what’s right under our noses without the constant pressure of work. Many envision their golden years filled with leisurely walks up undulating hills, indulging in lunches out, and spending afternoons at the local bowling club where everyone greets you by name. For most, it’s about striking that balance between a tranquil place to unwind and a lively spot to keep things interesting. Throw in a close-knit community, a buzzing food scene, and easy access to the wider world , and you’ve got the ingredients for an idyllic retirement. A recent study by pension gurus at L&G has pinpointed this perfect spot. The research, which considered factors such as housing, health, social and community, finance, nature, and local amenities, found that people are happiest when they’ve hung up their working boots, reports the Express . Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and West Sussex emerged top in the retirement stakes, with areas like Beaconsfield, Dorking and Horley, Godalming and Ash, and Mid Sussex scoring high. But the absolute pinnacle? A delightful nook in Buckinghamshire that proves retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down. The towns of Chesham and Amersham have officially been dubbed the UK’s best places to retire. With their picture-perfect streets, vibrant markets, and a burgeoning food scene, they provide the ideal setting to stay active without the stress. It’s the sort of location where you can savour morning strolls through the countryside before popping into a Michelin-recommended bistro for lunch. With a score of 74 out of 100, these towns are nestled on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, yet remain just a quick train journey from London for visiting relatives or enjoying a day trip. They’re so well-connected to the capital that they even feature on the Underground network, positioned at the terminus of the Metropolitan line. Amersham especially shines as a dining destination, boasting Michelin-starred Artichoke in the historic town centre, Japanese tapas at Koyo, or genuine Italian cuisine at Zaza Lusso; for a settlement of its scale, it certainly doesn’t lack quality restaurants. The L&G research noted: “It performs exceptionally well on health, with a score of 93, reflecting a strong proportion of over 65s in good physical and mental health, as well as good access to GPs. “It also scores highly on financial security (78), and across the other remaining pillars: nature (72), social and community (69), housing (66), and local amenities (64), making it a well-rounded environment for later life.” Southern England and the home counties dominated the top 20 rankings with Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire all featuring amongst the highest scorers.
