New research from Legal & General’s retail retirement division has crowned Chesham and Amersham as the UK’s top constituency for retirement wellbeing, with a clutch of other home counties locations following closely behind.
While more commonly associated with its commuter links to London than coastal tranquillity, the Buckinghamshire constituency scored highest out of all 632 parliamentary areas assessed for quality of later life.
L&G’s index, which takes in housing, health, social connections, financial security, access to nature and local amenities, awarded Chesham and Amersham an overall score of 74 out of 100.
It was particularly strong in the health category, scoring 93, with high levels of both physical and mental wellbeing among over-65s and excellent GP access cited as key drivers. Financial security was another strong point at 78, while the area’s green credentials, social environment and decent provision of housing and services helped round out its appeal.
Other high-ranking constituencies included Beaconsfield, Dorking and Horley, Godalming and Ash, and Mid Sussex – all underlining the retirement advantages of affluent, well-connected southern England locations with a mix of natural amenities and strong public services.
“This research gives us a more complete picture of what shapes a happy later life,” said Lorna Shah, managing director of 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
Shah added that financial security is an “enabler” for many of the other measures. L&G’s findings indicate that a consistent income in later life has a material impact on quality of life, with previous research conducted with the Happiness Research Institute showing that retirees with guaranteed monthly income – such as through an annuity – were less likely to report stress and more likely to feel confident in their finances.
While many London constituencies ranked poorly on financial measures, some climbed the wellbeing table due to excellent access to local services. Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner placed 14th overall, while inner-city areas such as Holborn and St Pancras and Islington South and Finsbury were rated highest in the UK for amenity access.
REGIONAL HOTSPOTS
Regional standouts beyond the South East included Mid Dunbartonshire, which was the top-ranked Scottish constituency, and Monmouthshire, which led in Wales. Fylde in Lancashire came first in the social and community pillar, ahead of Lowestoft and Dorking and Horley.
The South West performed well for housing suitability, with Bristol Central, Gloucester and Bournemouth East rated highly for the availability of retirement-friendly homes and care options.
Meanwhile, constituencies in eastern England dominated the index’s nature pillar. Castle Point in Essex, South Holland and The Deepings in Lincolnshire, and South Cambridgeshire all stood out for air quality, green space and access to sunlight.
The analysis paints a varied picture of retirement wellbeing across the UK, with later life satisfaction influenced by a wide range of factors. For property professionals and investors, the findings offer valuable insight into the characteristics and locations that support demand for retirement living – and suggest that the most desirable places to grow older may lie not by the sea, but in the amenity-rich commuter belt.
