Find the best places to retire for nature lovers in the UK
If you love to spend your time outdoors you might yearn to retire to a location surrounded by nature. Fortunately, the UK offers an array of idyllic locations and rural retirement communities to make this possible. Whether you wish to retire to the countryside or would prefer a city with easy access to green spaces, many of our retirement communities are well-positioned to put nature on your doorstep. But what are the best places to retire for nature lovers? We decided to work it out based on things like proximity to wildlife, National Parks and outdoor pursuits—and the results may not be quite what you’d expect.
To determine the best areas for nature lovers we considered locations with the most:
- National Trust sites
- National Parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty
- Outdoor activities on offer
- Opportunities for stargazing
- Rare animal species
The 10 best places to retire for nature lovers in the UK
The overall winning location to retire to for nature lovers goes to Plymouth in Devon which has the largest variety and amount of nature on the doorstep—scoring 345 points out of a possible 500. Partly this is because of Dartmoor National Park where a host of wildlife can be spotted, including otters, dormice and bats. As a port city, Plymouth’s proximity to the sea means it boasts a huge array of sea life too, as well as access to beaches and cliff top walks. It’s easy to see why retirement homes in Devon are so popular.
Runners-up include Southampton and London, scoring 297 and 255 points, respectively. Although the top three locations are in the south of England, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Birmingham make it onto the top 10 illustrating the breath of natural wonders across the UK.
- Plymouth - 345 points
- Southampton - 297 points
- London - 255 points
- Bristol - 242 points
- Newcastle - 206 points
- Swansea - 206 points
- Oxford - 199 points
- Wolverhampton - 188 points
- Birmingham - 185 points
- Bournemouth - 176 points
10 locations with the most National Trust sites
National Trust sites are a staple of the Great British outdoors—but which area has the most? Again Plymouth breezes into first place for its closeness to the most National Trust sites - things like the valley of Plymbridge Woods and the dramatic cliffs of Noss Mayo, as well as impressive stately homes, ensure this coastal location is full of treasures to explore in retirement.
Gloucester takes second place with seven National Trust sites, along with Newcastle and Wolverhampton. Bristol, London and Manchester are joint third.
10 locations with the most National Parks
When it comes to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Plymouth once again claims first place. With four National Parks, including Dartmoor, as well as an AONB, it’s easy to see why. With three National Parks Oxford, Oxfordshire, is just behind in second place. Gloucester, Newport in Wales and Portsmouth are also in the top five.
10 locations for outdoor activities
For outdoor activities, parks and gardens, you may be surprised to see London in the top spot. This bustling metropolis offers 240 sites for outdoor activities with famous green spaces including Regents Park, St James’ Park and Hyde Park. Second place is awarded to Birmingham with its 44 outdoor areas including Victorian Cannon Hill Park and Handsworth Park. Meanwhile, Liverpool grabs third place with 40 sites, including the Memorial Park, St John’s Gardens and the picturesque Wavertree Botanic Gardens.
10 best locations for stargazing
The historical maritime city of Bristol comes out on top as the best location for stargazing, boasting four recognised nighttime vantage points. Meanwhile, Cardiff and London closely follow, both with three spectacular spots for stargazing. Edinburgh and Peterborough in Cambridgeshire are in a joint third with two stargazing spots each.
10 best locations to spot rare animal species
Ranking the UK’s cities in terms of natural wonders is not just about the views, but also animal habitats. As the go-to place for a glimpse of rare red squirrels, Newcastle takes the top spot with 100 points. Red squirrels can also be spotted in Aberdeen, alongside stealthy wildcats and puffins, putting this location in second position. Similarly, Norwich achieves a score of 90 points thanks to Norfolk’s Horsey Gap—a gathering place for grey seals and harbour seals.
Retire with nature in a McCarthy Stone community
Relocate to a McCarthy Stone retirement community to enjoy some of the best spots to retire for nature lovers in the UK. Join a community for over 60s (Retirement Living) or over 70s (Retirement Living PLUS) to experience independent living within a safe, secure and sociable setting. Plus, our developments often feature beautiful, landscaped gardens so you have nature just outside your front door. Once you move in, you also have access to short breaks and holidays at our hotel-style guest suites at our developments across the UK so you can explore wildlife hotspots at your leisure.
Find your ideal retirement apartment or bungalow today or contact us on 0800 201 4811 for more information. Alternatively, send a message to speak to one of our friendly sales team.
About the research
McCarthy Stone conducted research into the UK’s best overall cities for natural wonder by gathering data to create an index. The index was compiled from five factors, including National Trust sites, rare species of animals and stargazing spots. The number of instances for each factor within a 15-mile radius was noted. Stargazing data shows sites across the UK where regular stargazing events are held or at sites where the Milky Way and, during the winter, the Orion constellation can be seen with the naked eye. Tripadvisor data was used to see how many Outdoor Activities there were in each city. The data collected for this was found using the filter including nature activities, wildlife, parks, and gardens that are on offer in each city. Each measure was awarded a weighted value to create a points system. The minimum value for each factor was 0 while the maximum value for each factor was 100. Scores were then totalled for the overall ranking system.
