Retire to Essex
With traditional 'bucket and spade' seaside escapes, rolling rural beauty, quaint historic towns and a temperate climate in which to enjoy it all, Essex is a dream for retirees looking to settle by the coast.
Local seniors love:
- The peaceful landscape, with plenty of green spaces, promenades and beaches perfect for regular strolling.
- Reliable amenities, from public transport to hospitals.
- Excellent day trip opportunities throughout the county, as well as easy links to London if you want to travel further afield.
- A laid-back, welcoming atmosphere ideal for making fast friends in your chosen community.
Our retirement properties in Essex provide you with more than just a comfortable home – enjoy the freedom to live your retirement, your way.
12 retirement developments in Essex
Haydn Place | Southend- on Sea
Retirement Living- Properties 18 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Shared Ownership 50% example share/50% rent £137,500/£316 pcm
- Purchase from £280,000
- Rent from £2,135 pcm
Jacob Place | Saffron Walden
Retirement Living PLUS- Properties 18 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Shared Ownership 75% example share/no rent £183,750
- Purchase from £265,000
- Rent from £2,800 pcm
Walter House | Chelmsford
Retirement Living- Properties 9 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Shared Ownership 75% example share/no rent £243,750
- Purchase from £299,000
- Rent from £2,460 pcm
Witham | Witham
Retirement Living- Properties 40 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase available
- Rental available
Stane House | Great Dunmow
Retirement Living- Properties 1 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase from £369,995
- Rent from £3,090 pcm
Laburnums | Westcliff-on-Sea
Retirement Living- Properties 4 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase from £375,000
- Rent from £2,670 pcm
Colchester Bungalows | Colchester
Retirement Living- Properties 10 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase Properties at this development have not been released for sale yet. The listed prices are guide prices only. £390,000
Epping | Epping
Retirement Living- Properties 44 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase Properties at this development have not been released for sale yet. The listed prices are guide prices only. £440,000
- Rental available
Miami House | Chelmsford
Retirement Living PLUS- Properties 1 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Purchase from £449,000
Witham Bungalows | Witham
Retirement Living- Properties 16 available
- Bedrooms 2 bed available
- Purchase available
Lancer House | Colchester
Retirement Living PLUS- Properties 2 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Rent from £2,900 pcm
Lionheart Court | Waltham Abbey
Retirement Living- Properties 1 available
- Bedrooms 1–2 beds available
- Rent from £1,850 pcm
Explore places in the Essex area
Retirement living in Essex
With miles of stunning coastline, charming market towns, and quintessentially English countryside, Essex is perfect for those seeking a laid-back retirement in the Southeast, with a good balance of convenience and tranquility.
Activities for retirees in Essex
From cultural exploration to full day trips, Essex is chock-full of activities for you to enjoy regularly.
- Step into local history at sites like the 18th-century Hylands House in Chelmsford or the romantic ruins of Hadleigh Castle.
- Colchester, Britain's oldest town (now a city), boasts both Roman ruins and the Norman Colchester Castle as well as the fantastic Colchester Zoo.
- Visit the many historic market towns and villages, like the medieval Saffron Walden, home to Jacobean estate Audley End House. Ancient Maldon, famous for its sea salt, offers another great day out.
- With 350 miles of coastline seaside towns offer scenic cliff-top views and pathways, with traditional fairgrounds and bucket-and-spade beaches, so you’ll be popular with the grandchildren too.
Enjoy an active retirement in Essex
No matter your passion, if you want to stay fit and make friends, Essex offers many opportunities to find a fulfilling fit for you.
- Sports - Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Thorpe Hall all offer golf courses, and you’ll also find various tennis clubs, leisure centres, and other groups.
- Nature - Cycling routes like the Flitch Way and Centenary Circle mean you can stay fit with a bicycle or e-bike, while walking trails through Epping Forest, Crouch Valley, and Dedham Vale offer more scenic routes.
- Wildlife - Observe over 150 species of birds at Abberton Reservoir, spot deer in Epping Forest, or visit Colchester Zoo for more exotic animals.
- Coastline - Walk along Southend Pier or visit the beaches of Frinton-on-Sea for your coastal fix.
Arts, culture and community in Essex
Essex offers a vibrant mix of theatres, art galleries, and festive events throughout the year, making this county a thriving hub of culture within the South East.
- Art exhibitions - Find contemporary and traditional pieces throughout galleries in Essex, like Focal Point Gallery in Southend-on-Sea, or Colchester’s Firstsite Gallery and Event Venue, as well as local galleries in smaller towns like Saffron Walden.
- Theatre - Brentwood’s thriving community theatre offers plenty of events, while Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre in Southend also offer regular dramas and comedies.
- Festivals - Essex is sure to pack your social calendar with unmissable events like the Colchester Roman and Medieval Festival, the Brightlingsea Regatta, Harwich Festival of the Arts, and Essex Book Festival.
Transport links and connections
Located close to England’s capital, Essex benefits from a similarly comprehensive public transport network, with good connections by road for those who prefer to drive as well.
- By car - The A12, M11, and M25 all run through Essex and provide easy connections to London, Cambridge, Ipswich and beyond.
- By bus - Arriva, First Essex, and Stephensons all operate regular bus routes within Essex, making travel within the county fairly easy.
- By rail - Essex’s rail network includes direct services to London, Ipswich, and Norwich, from stations in Chelmsford, Colchester, Braintree, and Southend.
Homeowner testimonials: telling it like it is
We believe we create great places to live. Beautiful award-winning retirement apartments in brilliant locations with thoughtful, reassuring, services on tap and a thriving friendly community on the doorstep.
But what do people living in our communities think? We regularly ask for feedback on everything from the sales and moving in process to the lifestyle and services. Here’s what our homeowners have to say:
On Friday morning, we head to the sky lounge for a coffee, on Sunday we bring our own drinks and sit in the bar. We also have craft mornings, sports nights, along with regular lunches out. It’s a lot of fun as everyone is welcome.
Dave (pictured with his wife and friends), homeowner, Uplands Place
Browse by Retirement Living services
Our retirement developments offer differing amenities and assisted living services. Choose from two options to find your perfect fit.
Retirement Living
Low-maintenance independent living for people aged 60 and over, with a House Manager on-site and a friendly community on the doorstep.
Retirement Living PLUS
Independence combined with assisted living for people aged 70 and over, including an Estate Manager, on-site restaurant and optional personal care.
McCarthy & Stone community news from Essex
Retirement living in Essex FAQs
The beauty of your retirement is that you can enjoy a newfound freedom to go and experience things you couldn’t do before. Whether it’s learning a new craft with the local U3A, taking up a new hobby, visiting certain places or simply enjoying some well-deserved peace and quiet – the choice is yours.
If you need a little inspiration take a look at our study which has detailed the most popular hobbies for retirees.
Essex offers excellent healthcare options, especially in cities and larger towns, with Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and Southend University Hospital being just two examples, as well as a strong network of GP services, dentists, opticians, and specialist clinics for your daily healthcare needs.
Essex is an attractive and popular county that’s home to many great options for those looking to retire. Those looking for something a bit livelier with more amenities will love Colchester and Saffron Walden. Equally, the picturesque town of Dedham is ideal for nature lovers and for those who want the best of both worlds there’s the great city of Chelmsford.
Browse our retirement homes by city and county
Search for the best places to retire in the UK by selecting a city or county to explore.
