Retire to the East of England
Retirement living in the East of England
Magnificent countryside, canals, coastline, culture and an ancient kingdom
The East of England contains the counties of Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The latter trio are also known collectively as East Anglia – the remains of an ancient kingdom. Unsurprisingly then, the region is steeped in history and culture as well as enjoying unrivalled countryside, wild marshes, captivating waterways and a spectacular sandy coastline. Both active and intellectual types will enjoy exploring its endless delights.
McCarthy Stone Developments in East of England
Things to do in the East of England
There are cultural attractions aplenty to keep you busy in the East of England. As well as the famous university town of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, there are the many stunning historic houses and gardens around the region, like the Italianate Palace of Ickworth, Suffolk, the RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, or the Roman Theatre of Verulamium, St Albans, Hertfordshire. Or perhaps you’ll find Bad King John’s lost treasure in East Anglia? Legend tells it’s hiding in the Wash National Nature Reserve in Norfolk.
So where are the best places to visit on the east coast of England? There are so many spectacular beaches in the East of England it’s hard to choose. From Essex to Lincolnshire, you'll find everything from traditional seaside fun at Southend-on-Sea and Great Yarmouth pleasure beach, to pretty Victorian beach huts on Southwold, Suffolk or the wild unspoilt beauty of Horsey beach, Norfolk, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot seals.
An active retirement in the East of England
If you love rural pursuits and outdoor adventures then the East of England is the perfect place to explore.
As well as plentiful opportunities for fishing, golf and boating, it has a network of specular walking trails. Try strolling through the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale made famous by Constable’s paintings; meander the historic Cambridge colleges walk, take a tour of some of the best beaches in East of England with the breath-taking Norfolk Coastal Path or wander the towpaths of the canals and waterways in the unique wildlife haven of the Norfolk Broads.
Cyclists are well catered for too. The National Cycle Route 1 begins (or ends) with dramatic views of the white cliffs of Dover, Essex.
And if you’re after a hit of city living, you’ll find culture, arts, nightlife and shopping in Bedford, Norwich, Ipswich and Peterborough.
Arts, culture and community in the East of England
The East of England is a proud, traditional and friendly place to live, with plenty of opportunities to get involved in your community in retirement. For example, the annual East of England Food and Country Fair, at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, showcases country sports like fishing and shooting as well as local delicacies. For more local produce visit the annual Spring Beer Festival in Chelmsford and the Crab & Lobster Festival in Cromer.
There are plenty of other festivals too, from the Latitude rock music festival in Suffolk with its colourful sheep, to Aldeburgh Festival of classical music, or the Cambridge Folk Festival. Great Yarmouth holds a huge maritime festival every year and Peterborough Festival of Antiques Market is perfect for vintage and antique enthusiasts.
Getting around the East of England in retirement
All McCarthy Stone retirement villages and developments are carefully located to be close to attractions and amenities. Despite a noticeable lack of motorways, the East of England is accessible by major A roads and rail networks like the Great Eastern Main Line, the West Anglia Main Line and the East Coast Main Line. By train you can get from Norwich to London in under two hours and Ipswich to London takes just over an hour. The Cambridge to London train takes just 50 minutes.
For East of England travel abroad, chose from Norwich Airport, which offers flights across the UK and mainland Europe. Cambridge Airport also offers travel to some European cities, but for a huge range of global destinations, Stansted Airport, Essex, is the best bet.
Popular places to retire in the East of England area
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Retiring to the East of England - Frequently asked questions
One England’s nine official regions, the East of England contains the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and has stunning coastline that runs from Grimsby to Southend-on-Sea. Notable cities and towns in the region include Bedford, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Peterborough and Norwich.
The east coast runs from Essex all the way up to Lincolnshire. Renown seaside towns and cities include Southend-on-Sea, Clacton-on-Sea, Southwold, Cromer and Wells-next-the-sea. It also has many notable ports including Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, and traditional fishing ports like Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour, the Port of Lowestoft and King’s Lynn docks.
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple guide is to multiple the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home. Talk to McCarthy Stone about retirement homes for sale or rent in Swindon.
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