Retire to Waltham Abbey

The Abbey Church located in the centre of the town of Waltham Abbey

Retirement living in Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey is a vibrant market town with a historic twist and plentiful amenities. 16th century timber-framed buildings stand alongside the Art Nouveau town hall, creating an eclectic backdrop for your retirement.

Local seniors enjoy: 

  • Amenities like supermarkets, long-historied pubs, healthcare, restaurants and cafes, as well as a post office, library and a leisure centre with pool.  
  • Events throughout the year, like the Waltham Abbey Town Show, King Harold Day Festival, and Festival of Water all celebrating the town’s unique history.
  • A thriving small town community with many retiree-friendly activities, especially within the local U3A, the community centre and those run by Age UK.
  • Access to history and countryside - with its eponymous abbey and gardens and Epping Forest nearby. 

Retirement developments in Waltham Abbey

Explore retirement property for sale or rent in Waltham Abbey, and find your ideal home for senior living.

Senior living in Waltham Abbey 

This vibrant harbour town is an ideal spot for retirees offering the ideal mix of convenient amenities, lively community and plenty of things to do.

Waltham Abbey is a unique and traditional market town full of character and charm

Amenities in Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey has plenty of amenities to suit your day-to-day needs including a post office, vet services, and a variety of cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes.

  • Groceries - The town centre has a Tesco Superstore, Sainsburys, and smaller chains like the Mann Brothers Supermarket, which also offers delivery.  
  • Shops - The high street is packed with independent shops and boutiques while you’ll find larger chains on the outskirts at Highbridge Retail Park. 
  • Healthcare - The nearest hospital with an A&E department is Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, a 20-minute drive away. Waltham Abbey itself is well-equipped to take care of your day-to-day healthcare, with several GP surgeries like Market Square Surgery, as well as several pharmacies, dentists and opticians. 
West Essex Golf Club, where visitors can enjoy the scenery of Epping Forest while playing on the putting green

Things for retirees to do in Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey has plenty of events and activities for you to enjoy year-round. Here are some of the highlights: 

  • Historic attractions like the unique Augustinian Abbey and its tranquil gardens. If you walk just a little further, you’ll enter Cornmill Meadows, a unique habitat that is home to a thriving variety of dragonflies and damselflies.
  • Clubs and societies, for example Waltham Abbey U3A includes 30+ groups catering to different interests like gardening, sewing, board games, and dancing. 
  • Golf at the nearby West Essex Golf Club, where visitors can enjoy the scenery of Epping Forest while playing on the putting green.
  • Sports and fitness with options like Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre - which has a gym, classes and a pool or Larsons Bowls Club.
The River Lee Country Park stretches over 1000 acres and is perfect for walkers, cyclists and wildlife watchers alike.

Explore the surrounding areas

Bordering the Lee Valley Country Park, with Epping Forest on its doorstep, Waltham Abbey is perfectly placed to enjoy the great outdoors - and the capital too. 

  • The River Lee Country Park stretches over 1000 acres and is perfect for walkers, cyclists and wildlife watchers alike. 
  • Epping Forest is made up of an even larger area of woodlands, grasslands and other habitats, interspersed with historic villages and country pubs, including the world’s oldest wooden church. 
  • Epping Forest District Museum houses a collection of over 50,000 objects, from art to archaeological artefacts, telling the story of the Epping Forest district.
  • Waltham Abbey is in an excellent location for day trips to London where you can enjoy world class culture, museums and arts. 
The Welsh Harp is a stunning, well-kept character public house, on the market square in Waltham Abbey just off the M25.

Transport and connections

The town is fairly walkable, and our retirement homes in Waltham Abbey are close to excellent transport links too.

  • By car - the M25 runs through the town, providing fast routes to London and Chelmsford, as well as smaller settlements like Epping and Harlow. 
  • By bus - buses regularly run to nearby towns like Waltham Cross and Hertford. Concessionary Bus Passes are available for retirees throughout Essex
  • By rail - Waltham Cross train station (9 miles away) will get you to London in just 30 minutes and Cheshunt in 2 minutes.  
  • By air - The nearest airport is London City Airport which is 13 miles away. Other options include Stansted (18 miles), Luton (21miles) and Heathrow (25 miles). 

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Retirement living in Waltham Abbey FAQs

The town is perfectly situated in the English countryside, with easy access to Cornmill Meadows, Lee Valley Park, and Epping Forest, where you can enjoy watching the local wildlife, pack a picnic, or simply take a stroll through the greenery. The local leisure centre and golf club also provide everything you need for an active retirement.

The town enjoys warm summers and cool winters, with an overall mild climate compared to other towns further North or South. Compared to nearby London, the town has much better air quality and is generally well-placed for outdoor activities in the warmer months.

Waltham Abbey has plenty of access to nearby towns like Waltham Cross, Epping, and Loughton, where you can also access the London Underground and regular rail services further afield, making it easy to travel without the need to drive. 

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