"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"
- Lorna Shah - L&G
Chesham and Amersham has been ranked the best place in Britain to retire, according to new analysis from Legal & General’s (L&G) retail division.
The Buckinghamshire constituency came out on top in a study of 632 areas across the UK, with the research measuring six pillars of later life wellbeing: housing, health, community, finances, nature, and access to amenities. Each location received a score out of 100 based on combined performance across all categories.
Rather than a coastal retreat, the winning location lies within the commuter belt, underlining the broader range of factors that contribute to retirement satisfaction.
Other high-ranking areas included Beaconsfield, Dorking and Horley, Godalming and Ash, and Mid Sussex. Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and West Sussex emerged as the top-performing counties overall.
Chesham and Amersham lead for health, finance and green space
Scoring 74 out of 100 overall, Chesham and Amersham ranked first nationally. It recorded the highest score on health (93), driven by strong outcomes for physical and mental health among the over-65s and good access to GPs. The constituency also performed well in financial security (78), nature (72), social and community support (69), housing (66), and access to amenities (64).
Health data evaluated the percentage of residents aged 65 and over in good or bad health, along with access to primary healthcare and NHS waiting times. Chesham and Amersham, Winchester, and Beaconsfield ranked highest in this category.
Scotland and Wales’ retirement frontrunners
In Scotland, Mid Dunbartonshire (East Dunbartonshire) led the rankings, while Monmouthshire (Gwent) took the top spot in Wales.
Across the UK, financial well-being emerged as a key contributor to later life satisfaction. This pillar, which included pension income, living costs, housing affordability, and deprivation levels, was a major factor in the overall scoring.
Constituencies such as Sheffield Hallam (South Yorkshire), West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Aberdeenshire), and Tatton (Cheshire) were among the highest scorers for financial measures.
Guaranteed income linked to lower stress and higher confidence
Earlier research by L&G and the Happiness Research Institute, a Danish think tank focused on wellbeing, found that the happiest retirees have an average monthly income of £1,700. However, only 38% of retirees receive this amount or more.
Retirees with a guaranteed income reported higher financial confidence and lower stress. Among annuity holders, 51% reported reduced stress levels, and 24% expressed high financial confidence, compared to 21% of those without a guaranteed income.
Housing, social ties, and environment round out key factors
The South West of England scored highly for housing, particularly in areas such as Bristol Central, Gloucester, and Bournemouth East. The assessment included the availability of senior housing and access to residential care homes.
Community connection was also a critical factor. Fylde (Lancashire), Lowestoft (Suffolk), and Dorking and Horley (Surrey) performed well for social support. This measure took into account the number of adults aged 65 and over, levels of reported happiness and life satisfaction, and distance to the nearest station.
For natural surroundings, the East of England was prominent, with Castle Point (Essex), South Holland and The Deepings (Lincolnshire), and South Cambridgeshire topping the nature category. This area considers air quality, the number of summer days, outdoor space availability, and average garden size.
London constituencies led in access to amenities. Cities of London and Westminster, Holborn and St Pancras, and Islington South and Finsbury were the top three. Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Gwynedd) and Glasgow East also featured in the top five. This pillar reviewed access to essential and recreational services including chemists, supermarkets, banks, post offices, libraries, and theatres.
Despite low scores on financial security, some parts of London performed well overall due to high ratings for local amenities. Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, for instance, ranked 14th nationwide.
“This research gives us a more complete picture of what shapes a happy later life,” said Lorna Shah, managing director, retail retirement at L&G. “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. Our research has shown that having enough set aside can greatly improve retirement wellbeing and a guaranteed income, through products such as an annuity, can lessen anxiety and create a greater sense of certainty. It’s the difference between simply getting by and really enjoying this next stage of life.”
