Choosing where to settle in your later years is one of life’s biggest decisions. And with isolation and loneliness becoming more of an issue among older people, an increasing number are opting for a retirement village or independent living arrangement.
The good news is there are plenty of options out there from grand buildings rich in history and luscious country grounds, to uber-social retirement developments with a full roster of activities.
The key features of retirement villages – sometimes referred to as ‘Integrated Retirement Communities’ – are 24/7 on-site support, extensive communal facilities such as lounges, gardens, restaurants and cafes, wellness and exercise facilities such as gyms and swimming pools and Care Quality Commission-regulated personal care, when required.
Hattie Bacon, sales and marketing director at Enterprise Retirement Living, says the reasons why people choose retirement communities are varied: ‘For some, combating loneliness and feelings of isolation is a driving factor. While for others, no longer being able to keep up with the maintenance of large houses and gardens, or reduced mobility are key factors in decision making.’
TV designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has helped design the interiors at retirement communities run by Rangeford Villages. He told the Mail: ‘It is not about downsizing, it is about “rightsizing”, making your home environment work for you so that you can focus on living life to the full.
‘As you get older you must not stop being brave, you must not compromise, and you must not think, “I’m old now, so I’d better turn down the volume”. Rangeford is proving it’s about keeping the volume up, keeping up the rock ‘n’ roll, and keeping the excitement.’
With so many options out there, we’ve spoken to retirement experts and residents and analysed locations, amenities, awards, innovations and costs to bring you Britain’s best retirement villages.
All property prices, both purchase and rental, incur extra fees including maintenance and service charge. These can range from £173 pcm to £1,158 pcm, depending on the size of the property and provider. Additional care packages are also charged on top, starting from £33p/h.
Danny House, Sussex
Set in 100 acres at the foot of the South Downs National Park, 450-year-old Danny House has been hailed one of the most luxurious retirement homes
Hailed as one of the most luxurious retirement homes in the world when it featured in a Channel 5 show of the same name last year, 450-year-old Danny House is a grand retirement home in Sussex.
Set in 100 acres at the foot of the South Downs National Park, there’s plenty going on with a roster of 70 live musical performances hosted in the stately home’s Great Hall every year and weekly exercise and dance classes.
It’s a mile and a half from the train station of Hassocks, which connects to London in 50 minutes and Brighton in 10 minutes.
All apartments are rented and the cost includes meals, maintenance, heating, lighting, cleaning and services.
Residents praise Danny’s ability to give them independence but with ‘all the worries taken away’.
One female resident told the Mail: ‘We don’t have to think about repairs to the house because we are renting, and we don’t have to think about all the shopping or cooking, but we’ve got enough freedom to do what we want to.’
Cost: The monthly rental charge for apartments varies from £3,200 pcm to around £5,000 pcm depending on the size of the apartment. A returnable deposit of 6 months’ rent is required.
Wadswick Green, Wiltshire
Wadswick is surrounded by 25 acres of woodland trails with ponds and mature trees, where residents can enjoy a range of different walks
With a focus on country life, this retirement village has plenty for the green-fingered and those who simply like the fresh air.
Set in landscaped gardens with 25 acres of woodland trails, ponds and mature trees on the doorstep, residents can enjoy a range of different walks daily.
There are raised bed allotments for those who like getting their hands dirty and a boules court, croquet lawn and putting green for those who want to improve their skills.
Wadswick also has its own hives with enough bees to produce honey for residents to buy. There are also bird and bat boxes to encourage local wildlife.
Bedrooms: 242 apartments.
Cost: From £415,000 to buy.
Mayfield Watford Retirement Village, Watford, Hertfordshire
Mayfield is keen to keep its residents active, offering one-to-one training sessions in the gym and aqua classes in the pool, plus a sauna and steam room
If you’re looking for a retirement village with a spring in its step, Mayfield is the perfect choice.
With an emphasis on keeping its residents active, this community even has its own cheerleading troupe called the Mayfield Belles. The group is formed of property owners who practise daily with the on-site trainer and perform at events around Watford.
There’s also one-to-one training sessions on offer in the gym and aqua classes in the pool, plus a sauna and steam room. For leisurely activities, there’s a monthly coffee morning, cafe-bistro and village hall communal area. Residents can access extra support from housekeeping to personal care for a fee.
Bedrooms: 255 one and two-bedroom apartments
Cost: One-bedroom apartments to buy from £359,950 and two bedrooms from £424,950.
The Rose Garden, Hereford, Herefordshire
Rose Garden provides an independent living environment with a full roster of activities, close to Hereford city centre
Set close to the centre of the city of Hereford, Rose Garden provides an independent living environment with a full roster of activities.
From singing groups at the communal village hall to a woodworking room and arts and crafts sessions, there’s plenty on offer co-ordinated by dedicated facilities staff.
For physical health and wellbeing there is also a gym, greenhouse, hairdressers and beauty salon. The coffee lounge and restaurant are also open to the public, so residents don’t feel isolated.
Staff can help with personal care, household tasks and medication management if required for an additional fee.
Bedrooms: 91 apartments for rent and part purchase
Cost: Rent starts from £1,137.90 per month.
Siddington Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, a Cirencester local, has collaborated with Rangeford Villages to jazz up their retirement apartments and shared spaces
Interior designer and TV personality Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, a Cirencester local, has collaborated with Rangeford Villages to jazz up their retirement apartments and shared spaces.
Stylish apartments with bright wallpaper and a maximalist design are available for those over 60 and, thanks to Laurence’s touch, there is also a relaxing lounge area with a cinema screen.
At the centre of the village lies the Pavilion, a five-star health and wellbeing complex with its outdoor terrace, hair salon, gym and dance studio space for yoga and fitness classes. Residents can enjoy drinks and meals in the on-site restaurant and bar, the Orangery.
Siddington Park also a spa equipped with a hydro pool, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms, and a sumptuous owners’ lounge with a cinema screen. Pets are also catered for in a dedicated ‘bark park’ complete with a dog agility area and secure space for pets to roam free.
Bedrooms: 123 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Cost: From £299,950 for one-bedroom apartments.
Woodchester Valley Village, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Woodchester Valley is located up a private road and gives villagers access to a 24-hour concierge service, weekly housekeeping, cooked meals, and fresh bread and cakes
Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds on the outskirts of the ever-popular Stroud is Woodchester Valley, Britain’s first mutually owned retirement village.
In 2013 residents clubbed together to raise £2million to buy the village from an operating company that had gone into administration.
The village is made up of 38 houses and cottages and 33 apartments for the over-60s.
Locals own the freehold of the entire village as a community, with directors of the estate management company elected from among the residents and their families by the residents.
Living in Woodchester Valley, which is located up a private road, gives villagers access to a 24-hour concierge service and weekly housekeeping, as well as cooked meals and fresh bread and cakes. There is also a weekly minibus that does trips to the local Waitrose and organised days out to cultural sites and the theatre.
Shared areas include a library, hairdresser, village shop, lounge and a village hall for larger events including talks, music recitals, themed lunches and wine tastings. Organised groups for residents include gardening and book and play reading.
Bedrooms: 38 houses and cottages and 33 apartments
Cost: One-bedroom apartments from £125,000.
Nightingale Place, Clapham, London
Nightingale offers personalised care, from cooking, cleaning and ironing, to assistance with getting up, going to bed and personal care
Overlooking the green space of Clapham Common and opposite the Tube station, Nightingale Place is perfect for those keen to live among the buzz of central London.
With a pool, cinema, restaurant and health club, this luxury retirement village also has a wealth of facilities.
Nightingale offers personalised care, from cooking, cleaning and ironing, to assistance with getting up, going to bed and personal care.
Staff can also arrange shopping, dog walking and accompany residents to social activities. Its south London postcode means it’s not cheap, but it is well-regarded.
Bedrooms: 94 one, two and three-bedroom apartments including penthouse suites.
Cost: Prices start from £750,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Old Market Village, Wimborne, Dorset
This retirement village is comprised of bungalows and apartments, and is located 20 minutes inland from the seaside town of Poole
Comprised of bungalows for the over-65s and apartments for the over-70s, and located 20 minutes inland from the seaside town of Poole, Old Market Village was awarded Best Retirement Scheme at the 2024 Housebuilder Awards.
Residents can enjoy a shared lounge for socialising and a game of pool, a bistro, boules court, potting shed and an on-site wellness centre for haircare and beauty treatments.
All residents receive one hour of weekly domestic assistance and can pay extra to receive more tailored care.
Bedrooms: 43 one-bedroom retirement apartments and 25 two-bedroom retirement apartments,
Cost: Two-bedroom bungalows from £475,000 and one-bed apartments from £275,00.
Mount Battenhall Retirement Village, Worcester
Mount Battenhall houses a lounge, bar, library, hair salon, art studio and wellness suite
This retirement community has Mount Battenhall at the heart of it, a Grade II-listed Italian mansion that was once owned by TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp’s ancestors.
Mount Battenhall, which has been a family mansion, a Second World War convalescence centre and more recently a convent school, houses the lounge, bar, library, hair salon, craft room, art studio and wellness suite, as well as a few retirement apartments.
There are 6.5 acres to stroll around, including woodland, but the village is also just a mile from Worcester city centre.
Mount Battenhall is run by an Arco-approved operator Enterprise Retirement Living.
Bedrooms: 49 one and two-bedroom apartments, with planning for a further 71
Cost: Apartments from £250,000, rental prices start from £2,900 pcm.
Belong Macclesfield, Cheshire
Each resident at Macclesfield is assessed when they move in and given a personalised training or rehabilitation programme to help with wellbeing and specific health goals
Perfect for those who want to stay active in later life, Macclesfield offers residents the chance to work out with an exercise specialist trained in fall prevention and obesity.
The high-tech gym also offers virtual reality games to help residents move their body, build strength and balance, and help with brain function.
Each resident is assessed when they move in and given a personalised training or rehabilitation programme to help with wellbeing and specific health goals, as well as the opportunity for one-to-one training.
The village is comprised of apartments for independent living and suites for those who need more care, including dementia care. In addition to the gym, on site there is a hair salon, bistro, lounge and bar.
Bedrooms: 17 one-bedroom apartments available to rent
Cost: Rent from £1,001 to £1,192 pcm.
Homewood Grove, Surrey
Homewood Grove is located near the popular town of Chertsey and offers a sophisticated way of life, with manicured gardens, a boules court and a croquet lawn
Another retirement village with design input by Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, Homewood Grove offers a range of accommodation for older people who wish to live among like-minded individuals.
Homewood Grove is located near the popular town of Chertsey and offers a sophisticated way of life, with manicured gardens, a boules court and a croquet lawn. Residents can also enjoy the swimming pool, steam room and sauna, gym and dance studio, hair and beauty salon, restaurant, bar and lounge.
Homewood Park, with its nature trails, cycle routes and woodlands, can be directly accessed from Homewood Grove and Foxhills Country Club – which has three golf courses next door.
Bedrooms: 116 one, two and three-bedroom apartments
Cost: Apartments from £399,950.
Somerville, Leicester
Somerville has an on-site warden and a team of staff on hand to make sure residents have everything they need, as well as landscaped gardens, a fitness room and a hair salon
Housed in an Art Deco building, Somerville has 40 retirement apartments, inspired by the glamour of some of London’s most prestigious hotels.
It has an on-site warden and a team of staff on hand to make sure residents have everything they need, as well as landscaped gardens, a fitness room and a hair salon.
The on-site restaurant encourages friends and family of residents to join and hosts regular film and comedy nights.
Bedrooms: 40 apartments
Cost: Rentals only, from £960 pcm.
Richmond Villages Nantwich, South Cheshire
Residents have the option of entirely independent living or assisted living, which includes household chores, bills and meals being taken care of
Richmond Villages Nantwich offers a full range of amenities for enjoying later life thanks to its well-maintained grounds, high quality facilities and town centre location,
There’s also a hair salon and treatment rooms for those who like a bit of pampering, as well as a bowling green.
Residents have the option of entirely independent living or assisted living, which includes household chores, bills and meals being taken care of. There’s also a care home on site if more acute care is needed.
Bedrooms: 53 independent living apartments, 19 assisted living apartments, plus 41-bed care home.
Cost: Apartments from £240,000. Rentals from £1,335 pcm.
Gradwell Park, South Chailey, East Sussex
This retirement village offers community gardening projects, a nature trail and a clubhouse with a lounge and bistro
With a focus on nature and wellbeing, this retirement village offers community gardening projects, a nature trail and a clubhouse with a lounge and bistro.
Gradwell Park is located in the East Sussex countryside, in the small village of South Chailey. Artelium, an English wine estate and art centre can be found nearby, as well as a butterfly garden and golf club.
The village has its own bees which have just started producing enough honey for residents to use it for baking. There’s also fitness and dance classes and monthly themed events.
On site, there’s a 24-hour care line for piece of mind and more tailored help can be arranged for an additional fee.
Bedrooms: 65 apartments
Cost: Apartments from £487,000 and rent from £3,550 pcm.
Highland Park, Scotland
Priding itself on community spirit and a rural setting, the main meeting point is the on-site club house which hosts exercise classes, craft evenings and can be booked for private gatherings
Based on the concept of Australian ‘lifestyle’ retirement villages, Highland Park offers lodging for the over-55s on the edge of the Scottish Highlands.
Priding itself on community spirit and a rural setting, the main meeting point is the on-site club house which hosts exercise classes, craft evenings and can be booked for private gatherings.
Facilities include a large lounge, fitness room, hair salon, snooker and games room and a large private car park.
Invergordon is the nearest town with access to supermarkets and it can be reached in eight minutes by car.
Bedroom: 47 two-bedroom detached bungalows with carport, conservatory and patio area
Cost: Bungalows from £135,000.
Roseland Parc, Tregony, Cornwall
Roseland Parc is an idyllic setting for retirement by the sea, surrounded by exotic plants
Just a ten-minute drive to the coast and surrounded by palm trees and exotic plants, award-winning Roseland Parc is an idyllic setting for retirement by the sea.
With a heated pool, gym and spa, there’s plenty on offer for residents to keep fit. There’s also a space for crafts, hobbies and fitness classes, as well as coffee mornings and afternoon tea.
The apartments have views of Roseland Peninsula and are located close to a local shop, pub and chapel. There’s also a 24/7 support line if residents need any additional help.
Bedrooms: 59 one and two bedroom apartments
Cost: Apartments from £250,950 to £600,000. Rent from £2,200 pcm.
Elmbridge Village, Cranleigh, Surrey
Residents told the Mail the village has offered them a ‘whole new, exciting life’, with some saying it feels like they are ‘on holiday’
From keep fit classes and line dancing to croquet and greenhouses, Elmbridge is a well-regarded retirement village which offers the over-60s a full roster of activities in a picturesque setting.
Residents told the Mail the village has offered them a ‘whole new, exciting life’, with some saying it feels like they are ‘on holiday’.
Set close to the Surrey Hills, the village has a bistro, GP surgery that runs twice a week and hair salon, as well as a coffee lounge and a library. Care is provided by a 24/7 call line, but more tailored assistance can be arranged.
Bedrooms: 236 apartments and bungalows
Cost: Apartments from £160,000. Rent from £2,150 pcm.
Lavender Fields, York
Lavender Fields accommodates people of any age who want to live independently, but who initially need a low level of care, all the way through to those who require residential care
Nestled in countryside on the outskirts of York, the family-run Lavender Fields is a unique care facility for those with specific needs.
It accommodates people of any age who want to live independently, but who initially need a low level of care, all the way through to those who require residential care.
There are 24 two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalows for assisted independent living. The only requirement is needing a degree of care, so it could be people with arthritis who need a little help with tasks to those living with the early stages of dementia. There is also a care home residents can move into later in life.
Each bungalow is linked to a nurse call system, 24 hours a day There is also a concierge service.
On site there’s a pub, cafe and bistro as well as a hairdresser, village shop, post office, nail bar, gym and a cinema room.
A minibus service regularly takes residents on days out to local villages, pubs and points of interest in the East Riding of Yorkshire and beyond.
Chris Mitchell, chairman of Lavender Fields said it’s important get care homes and retirement facilities away from the image of ‘God’s waiting room’.
He adds: ‘Our aim is for everyone to live as full a life as possible and to make new memories. We are creating a supportive environment for our residents living in the bungalows to live independently in their own home, yet with easy access to help and assistance whenever they need it.’
Bedrooms: 24 assisted independent living bungalows.
Cost: Bungalows from £400,000 and close care fees from £33 per hour.
Wildernesse House, Sevenoaks
Wildernesse House is a grade II-listed Georgian manor house turned retirement community
Hoping to retire in country grandeur? Look no further than the award-winning Wildernesse House, a Grade II-listed Georgian manor house turned retirement community.
It has a pool, gym and stretch studio as well as a sauna, steam room and treatment rooms.
There are plenty of activities to keep resident busy including art classes, yoga, wine tastings, cookery courses, theatre trips and lectures.
Wildernesse House also offers flexible and tailored care assistance.
Bedroom: 83 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and houses
Cost: Properties from £595,000 to £1million+.
Richmond Villages Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
This retirement village is close to the heart of Cheltenham, with its boutique shops, cafe and restaurants, while also being nestled in a woodland surrounding
This retirement community in Cheltenham combines the best of town living with a countryside twist.
Its location is convenient for getting into the heart of Cheltenham, with its boutique shops, cafe and restaurants, while also being nestled in a woodland surrounding.
There are tailored packages of support available from independent living to a more hands-on care approach.
Onsite there’s a hair and nail bar, restaurant, library and lounge area, as well as a rooftop terrace with countryside views.
Bedrooms: Seven independent living apartments, 48 assisted living apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £262,995 to £629,995.
Fern House Independent Living, Bingley
Residents at Fern House can enjoy gardening, singing groups, exercise classes, crafts, social evenings and movie afternoons
Set in the Yorkshire town of Bingley, this award-winning development has a range of retirement options from independent living apartments to residential care for those with dementia.
Fern House has a coffee bar, shop, hair and beauty salon, assisted bathing and spa rooms, and communal lounges. Two meals a day are included, and pets are welcome.
Residents can enjoy gardening, singing groups, exercise classes, crafts, social evenings and movie afternoons.
The on-site staff provide 24-hour care and support whenever residents may need it.
Bedrooms: 49 independent living with extra care apartments and 30 residential apartments for individuals living with dementia
Cost: Rental apartments from £2,265.28 to £2,521.19 pcm.
Llys Isan, Cardiff, Wales
Located just north of Cardiff in Llanishen, Llys Isan has 24-hour staffing and a communal lounge, bistro, hair salon, landscaped gardens and courtyard
For assisted living in the Welsh capital, Llys Isan offers retirement apartments for the over-70s who wish to live independently with a little help.
Located just north of Cardiff in Llanishen, Llys Isan has 24-hour staffing and a communal lounge, bistro, hair salon, landscaped gardens and courtyard.
There are also fitness classes, coffee mornings and games and quiz nights to keep residents occupied.
Bedrooms: 49 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Cost: One-bedroom apartments from £285,000 and two-bedroom apartments from £365,000.
Landale Court, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Lansdale Court is a modern retirement village with plenty of green space and sea views
A modern retirement village with plenty of green space and glorious sea views, Landale Court has a brasserie, bar and coffee lounge and a communal hobby room. Residents can also enjoy the fitness suite or wander around the manicured gardens.
There’s a range of accommodation on offer including one and two-bedroom cottages and apartments for residents 65 and over and pets are welcome.
Bedrooms: 94 properties.
Cost: Apartments from £173,250 to buy and £868 pcm to rent.
Thomas Court, Cardiff, Wales
Thomas Court offers independent living for the over-70s with different levels of care ranging from a wake-up call in the morning to more tailored help
Near to Roath Park in the east of Cardiff, Thomas Court offers independent living for the over-70s with different levels of care ranging from a wake-up call in the morning to more tailored help.
Residents can enjoy meals and drinks in the on-site restaurant and there’s a neat communal garden with a calming pagoda.
Community activities on offer include exercise classes and quiz nights.
Bedrooms: 58 one and two-bedroom apartments
Cost: Apartments from £170,000.
Sandstone Apartments, Belong Chester, Cheshire
This pioneering retirement village offers the UK’s first integrated children’s day nursery, where residents interact with the children through art classes, walks and storytelling
This pioneering retirement village offers the UK’s first integrated children’s day nursery.
Sandstone Residents interact with the children who attend the nursery through art classes and daily ‘prambles’ – walks with the pram to feed the ducks – as well as storytelling sessions and shared lunches.
Families on both sides praise the interactions and say the children develop their social skills and the elderly ‘come alive when the children are around’. These positive outcomes have won this retirement home the LaingBuisson Award for Innovation in Care in 2023 and Excellence in Retirement Living in 2024.
Residents can also join the mixed-age community choir, the Sankofa Songsters, who often travel the country for performance. There is also a gym and personal trainers who help residents with one-to-one guidance, as well as a dementia friendly sensory garden.
Bedrooms: 23 apartments to rent or buy – sixteen of these are one-bedroomed and seven are two-bedroomed
Cost: Apartments from £225,000 to £504,000.
Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
This retirement village includes a grade II-listed former pottery, which has been restored with the help of Heritage Lottery Funding into a gallery and exhibition space
At the heart of this award-winning retirement village is a Grade II-listed former pottery, which has been restored with the help of Heritage Lottery Funding into a gallery and exhibition space, with a focus on dementia services.
Belong focuses on artistic opportunities for residents, from pottery to painting and community writing workshops to drama. The community has also been involved in writing then performing its own play, both in the gallery and the local New Vic Theatre.
The art programme is supported by partnerships with local artists, museums and theatres, and resident outcomes won the IRC, a 3rd Sector Care Award and an NAPA Award for Creative Arts in 2022.
With independent living apartments and lodgings for those who require more care, this retirement village caters to all needs.
Bedrooms: 28 apartments (16 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom) for sale, rent or shared ownership
Cost: Apartments from £195,000. Rent from £810 pcm.
Audley St George’s Place in Edgbaston, Birmingham
St George’s Place is just a stones’ throw from the centre of Birmingham in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston
Centred around two Grade-II listed villas and additional apartment buildings, St George’s Place is just a stones’ throw from the centre of Birmingham in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston.
St George’s Place is fully accessible and has an on-site restaurant, lounge and bar as well as a library, swimming pool and gym.
New residents are welcome from 55 years and over and the place is generally pet friendly.
Bedrooms: 95 cottages and one and two bed apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £224,250.
Chapelwood, Wimslow, Cheshire
The facilities at Chapelwood include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, sun terrace and a well-equipped gym
For those looking for luxury lodgings, Chapelwood in Wimslow is a solid option.
Its facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, sun terrace and a well-equipped gym. Tai chi classes are also on offer.
Convenient for getting to the both the Peak District and the amenities of Manchester, Chapelwood is well located, just a ten-minute walk from Wimslow town centre in Cheshire.
Foodies love the smart lounge, restaurant and deli serving fresh produce.
Bedrooms: 57 apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £280,000 and rent from £2,650 pcm.
Richmond Villages Bede, Warwickshire
Offering everything from independent living apartments to a care home facility, Bede is an award-winning retirement village just outside Coventry.
With a restaurant, lounge, bowling green and on-site hair salon, the village has all the necessary amenities but also arranges transport for regular trips to local supermarkets, medical appointments and excursions.
There is also the option to stay for two nights to see if you like the facilities.
Bede’s care facility was rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission and its overall operator Richmond Villages is part of Bupa.
Bedrooms: 98 properties including one and two-bed apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £70,000. Rental from £834 pcm.
Avonpark Village, Wiltshire
Avonpark Village is just 15 minutes from the quaint spa town of Bath, and residents can enjoy the on-site allotment as well as painting classes
Set in 15 acres of glorious green gardens, Avonpark Village is just 15 minutes from the quaint spa town of Bath.
Hobbies are centre stage at the village; residents can enjoy the on-site allotment as well as painting classes, table tennis, bowls, singing sessions and a weekly Scrabble group.
Facilities include a lounge, restaurant, bistro and library with the addition of an on-site GP surgery.
Guest speakers, days out, drinks parties and theatre trips are organised regularly.
Bedrooms: 91 apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £210,000 and rent from £2,300 pcm.
Cedar Court Apartments at Belong Morris Feinmann, Didsbury
This retirement village is culturally inclusive but has a particular focus on catering to Jewish residents, with an on-site synagogue, kosher meals and weekly Shabbat traditions
Set on the grounds of a former Jewish care home founded by First World War refugee Morris Feinmann, this retirement village is culturally inclusive but has a particular focus on catering to Jewish residents, with an on-site synagogue, kosher meals and weekly Shabbat traditions.
Music is at the heart of the village, with a great choir, music therapist opera workshops in conjunction with the Royal Northern College of Music, and a range of concerts from pianists to harpists – all taking the lead from residents’ interests. Alternative activities include French lessons, chair yoga and rabbi chats.
The village also has an on-site gym, bar and hair salon and is just 20 minutes from the centre of Manchester.
Bedrooms: 13 independent living apartments, 72 rooms in the care assisted facility.
Cost: Apartments from £293,000.
Stratton Court Village, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stratton Court is set in the picturesque market town of Cirencester, with an on-site restaurant, bar and cafe, gym, library, hairdresser and cinema
From aromatherapy massages in the spa to cheese and wine nights and music events, Stratton Court Village offers a wealth of amenities.
Set in the heart of the picturesque market town of Cirencester, there’s also an on-site restaurant, bar and cafe, gym, library, hairdresser and cinema.
Stratton Court also offers tailored care services for couples with differing need levels, as well as an on-site care home.
Bedrooms: 31 one and two-bedroom independent living apartments available to buy or rent.
Cost: Apartments from £300,000.
Cooper’s Hill, Englefield Green, Surrey
Cooper’s Hill was once part of Brunel University and is now a grand retirement village with tennis courts and a putting green
One of the more luxurious options, Cooper’s Hill was once part of Brunel University and is now a grand retirement village with tennis courts and a putting green.
Housed in a Victorian Gothic building, there are 128 apartments to rent or buy and the 68-acre Magna Carta Park to explore.
The Langton’s bistro and restaurant is open to the public as well as residents, and there are tennis courts, a gym and a golf putting green to enjoy.
Bedrooms: 128 apartments available to rent or buy.
Cost: Apartments from £629,950. Rent from £6,000 pcm.
The Priory, Abbotskerswell, Devon
The Priory is surrounded by woodland, meadows and a putting and croquet green
Housed in a listed former Catholic convent and close to the quaint village of Abbotskerswell, residents praise The Priory for its beautiful setting, which includes woodland, meadows and a putting and croquet green.
There’s a chapel in the woods nearby, an indoor pool and library and a host of activities including yoga and art classes.
There’s also table tennis, allotments and 24/7 emergency support and pets are welcome.
Bedrooms: 43 one and two-bedrooms apartments and cottages.
Cost: Two-bedroom apartments from £320,000 to buy or one-bed apartments to rent from £2,360 pcm.
New Larchwood Extra Care Housing, Brighton
New Larchwood is welcoming of diversity and it has been praised as a ‘promising’ example of inclusive living for older LGBT+ people by the Social Care Institute for Excellence
Service provider Anchor wanted to create a space where older LGBT+ people can share their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of discrimination or stigma.
As a result, New Larchwood is welcoming of diversity and it has been praised as a ‘promising’ example of inclusive living for older LGBT+ people by the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
The village offers accommodation for those over 55 who wish to live independently but may need some help.
Each apartment has its own front door, but there are also shared spaces including a lounge, cafe, cinema, restaurant and hair salon.
There is a GP surgery nearby and regular buses take residents into the centre of Brighton.
Bedrooms: 38 one and two-bedroomed properties
Cost: From £1,406.88 pcm which includes rent, service charge, heating, hot water and water rates.
Seymour Court, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
Onsite at Seymour Court there is a communal lounge where bridge, painting and poker sessions are held, as well as a guest suite, bistro, pub and beauty salon
This McCarthy Stone development for the over-60s offers stylish apartments with balconies or patios.
Onsite there is a communal lounge where bridge, painting and poker sessions are held, as well as a guest suite, bistro, pub and beauty salon.
The bus stop into the coastal town of South Shields is just outside. Companion services and help with domestic duties – including feeding pets during the day – is also available.
Bedrooms: 49 one-bedroom apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £170,999 or £1,250 pcm to rent.
Millfield Green, Caddington, Bedfordshire
Millfield is the UK’s first net carbon zero regulated retirement village, with ground source heat pumps that generate renewable energy
For those focused on green living, Millfield is the UK’s first net carbon zero regulated retirement village.
It benefits from the installation of ground source heat pumps to generate renewable energy, improved building fabric and insulation and mechanical heat vent recovery units, to make it as energy efficient as possible.
Electric vehicle charging points have been installed in 10 per cent of parking bays, with infrastructure in place to increase it to 100 per cent once demand grows.
Residents can paint, draw and create in the on-site craft room or relax with a book or film in the library and cinema room.
There’s an outdoor kitchen and BBQ to enjoy in the summer months as well as a cafe, restaurant, swimming pool, hair salon and sauna.
Bedrooms: 86 apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £369,000 or £2,153 pcm to rent.
Middleton Hall Retirement Village, Darlington, County Durham
Set in 45 acres around a Grade II-listed former farmhouse, the estate includes allotments, a lake, wetland area, a village green and butterfly garden
This award-winning retirement village is perfect for those who love nature,
Set in 45 acres around a Grade II-listed former farmhouse, the estate includes allotments, a lake, wetland area, a village green and butterfly garden.
Residents can enjoy the Orangery cafe and purchase seasonal produce and eggs laid by the village’s chickens.
Middleton Hall has a swimming pool and putting and bowls green, and residents can enjoy activities such as pot making or painting classes.
Bedrooms: 86 one and two-bedroom apartments and bungalows.
Cost: Bungalows from £300,000 and one bedroom apartments and £290,000.
Richmond Villages Willaston, Cheshire
Willaston offers support for those wishing independently for as long as possible
Based on a transformational approach to dementia care from the Netherlands, Richmond Villages Willaston offers support for those wishing independently for as long as possible.
The village has ‘households’ of six ensuite bedrooms and shared living quarters, plus household assistants on hand to help.
Part of Bupa, the retirement village works with dementia specialists to tailor support and there is also a care home onsite for when residents require more hands on assistance.
Daily activities include reminiscence sessions, giving residents the opportunity to discuss shared histories, and musical therapy.
Bedrooms: 36 assisted living bedrooms within six households.
Cost: As a dementia care provider, costs are calculated weekly based upon care needs but start from £1,495 per week.
The Spindles Retirement Village, Menston, West Yorkshire
Residents can enjoy a coffee lounge, restaurant, hair salon, therapy suite, activities studio and cinema room, as well as a guest suite for visiting friends and family who wish to stay overnight
Perfect for walkers who wish to have a little assistance in later life, The Spindles is surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside.
Menston Park is nearby, Ilkley Moor is 15 minutes by train, while the Yorkshire Dales can be reached by car in an hour.
Margaret and Keith, homeowners at The Spindles, enjoy getting out in the great outdoors.
‘We do brisk walking. We’ve always done it. About eight or nine miles was my maximum when I was in a walking group. But now we do a mile and a half every morning, and then we go out again on some days.
‘It’s lovely in the Yorkshire Dales. We have a cup of coffee and then walk back.’
Residents can enjoy a coffee lounge, restaurant, hair salon, therapy suite, activities studio and cinema room, as well as a guest suite for visiting friends and family who wish to stay overnight.
Bedrooms: 72 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £195,000.
Mote House, Bearsted, Kent
A lovingly restored grade II-listed Georgian mansion acts as the focal point for communal activities including the library, lounge, bistro, wellness centre and swimming pool
Another picturesque location to retire in, this retirement village is situated in the grounds of the 450-acre Mote Park.
Mote House, a lovingly restored Grade II-listed Georgian mansion acts as the focal point for communal activities including the library, lounge, bistro, wellness centre and swimming pool.
The park, Maidstone’s largest, is also home to a miniature railway, pitch-and-putt course and a 30-acre boating lake.
Bedrooms: 101 cottages and apartments.
Costs: Apartments from £320,000, two-bedroom cottages from £500,000.
Inglewood, Berkshire
Set in 39 acres in Berkshire, the main building of Inglewood is tastefully decorated with art and ornaments and has a grand library with an open fire as well as a bistro and bar.
Aqua fit, tai chi and Zumba, as well as seated yoga for those who need more gentle activities, are offered as part of the daily programme, as well as table tennis and family swim sessions where residents can bring their children and grandchildren.
Bedroom: 91 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and cottages.
Cost: One-bedroom apartments from £425,000.
Sunningdale Park, Sunningdale, Berkshire
Sunningdale Park has a striking horseshoe bar, Kempton’s, which is open to the public as well as residents
At the heart of this village is the neo-Georgian style mansion Northcote House, which has a rich history and was most recently used as a wedding venue.
It has a striking horseshoe bar, Kempton’s, which is open to the public as well as residents, and many ornate rooms decorated in jewel tones.
There’s the usual restaurant, lounge, library, hobbies room and equipped gym, fitness studio, heated indoor swimming pool but, unlike many other retirement villages, Sunningdale has the addition of a sauna, steam room, and treatment rooms for holistic therapies.
Residents can stroll in the 79 acres of gardens, lakes and woodland or pop into nearby Ascot.
Bedroom: 125 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £739,950 to £1,230,00.
Binswood Hall, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
With open fires and ornate decoration in the bar and bistro, and stained glass windows in the beauty and treatment room, Binswood Hall has plenty of character
Centred around an imposing Grade II-listed Victorian Gothic mansion, Binswood Hall is a retirement community for those who wish to mix the old with the new.
With open fires and ornate decoration in the bar and bistro, and stained glass windows in the beauty and treatment room, Binswood Hall has plenty of character.
The independent living apartments, by contrast, are modern and there is an indoor pool, sauna and gym. Massages and physiotherapy are also available
Residents can enjoy Pilates and dance classes, as well as organised days out sightseeing, and a range of care options are available for those who need a little help.
Bedrooms: 114 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £299,950.
Tonic@Bankhouse, Vauxhall, London
Tonic allows residents to embrace their LGBT+ sexuality or gender identity without fear of stigma or discrimination
Just a ten-minute walk from Vauxhall Tube station in London is Tonic, the UK’s first LGBT+ retirement home.
There are 84 retirement apartments in the Bankhouse building and Tonic own 19 of these, spread across the top four floors.
Promoting the message of an LGBT+ affirming environment, Tonic allows residents to embrace their sexuality or gender identity without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Bankhouse has community spaces, a bar and restaurant, a community lounge overlooking the River Thames, a floating garden and a roof terrace with views of the London skyline. Plus, a laundry room and bike storage.
Bedrooms: 19 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Cost: Rent from £1,170.30 pcm.
Headbourne Worthy House, Hampshire
Headbourne has a selection of bright and airy lodgings, a communal lounge for socialising, and a guest apartment for friends and family to stay
Set in ten acres of landscaped gardens and grounds, Headbourne Worthy House is a well-regarded retirement community in a quaint village for independent over-55s.
There’s a selection of bright and airy lodgings, a communal lounge for socialising, and a guest apartment for friends and family to stay.
The village of Headbourne Worthy has a farm shop and cafe, and the neighbouring village of Kings Worthy has a pub and a post office. A bus stop at the end of the road whisks residents to the cathedral city of Winchester.
The site is run by an estate manager and there is a 24-hour emergency alarm system if residents need help. The manicured grounds are also tended to by two full-time gardeners.
Bedrooms: 49 cottages, bungalows and apartments.
Cost: Bungalows from £315,000.
Beckett Grange, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Beckett Grange has a range of shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops a short walk away, as well as a chemist, cinema and Post Office
Located in the heart of Barnsley, this retirement village is ideal for those who want all the amenities of a town on their doorstep.
Beckett Grange has a range of shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops a short walk away, as well as a chemist, cinema and Post Office.
Onsite there is also a communal lounge, landscaped gardens, guest suite, a 24-hour call system and an estate manager.
Perfect for hikers, Woodhead and Torside reservoirs in the Peak District are just over 30 minutes away by car.
Pets are also welcome.
Bedrooms: 49 one and two-bedroom apartments to rent.
Cost: Rent from £1,380 pcm.
Adlington’s The Sidings Retirement Village, Lytham, Lancashire
The Sidings is located in the heart of the pretty seaside town of Lytham and offers residents a restaurant, coffee lounge, hair salon, bar and cinema room
Looking to retire by the sea? This village in the heart of the pretty seaside town of Lytham could be just the ticket.
The Sidings offers residents a restaurant, coffee lounge, hair salon, bar and cinema room, and there’s a guest suite for friends and family who come to stay.
Residents have access to 24-hour on-site support and optional personal care packages are available.
Bedrooms: 65 one, two and three-bedroomed apartments
Cost: Two-bedroomed apartments from £316,500.
Monthly service charge is £173 for one bedroomed apartments, £183 for two bedroomed apartments and £192 for three bedroomed apartments.
Richmond Villages Aston-on-Trent
Richmond Village has a social community, offering coffee mornings, arts and crafts and computer skills classes
Swimming in the pool, working out in the gym and facials in the spa are just some of the activities residents can take advantage of daily as this retirement village is located in the pretty English village of Aston-on-Trent.
Richmond Village also has a social community offering coffee mornings, arts and crafts and computer skills classes, as well as a restaurant and bar, rooftop terrace and the ability to access as little or as much care as required.
Bedrooms: 113 independent living apartments and 49 assisted living apartments.
Cost: Apartments from £170,000. Rentals from £1,600 pcm.
Abbeyfield House, Morpeth, Northumberland
Located in the quaint village of Morpeth, it overlooks the River Coquet and is next to the pretty St Lawrence Church
This small retirement community is set in a listed sandstone building which was once a vicarage.
Located in the quaint village of Morpeth, Abbeyfield House overlooks the River Coquet and is next to the pretty St Lawrence Church.
There’s a communal lounge and smart shared grounds that are maintained by gardeners, and an active roster of events such as social evenings and strawberry teas. There’s also a monthly outing decided upon by the residents.
The cost of rent includes all meals, cleaning, on-site staff costs, bills and maintenance, aimed at taking the stress out of daily life.
Bedrooms: Nine en-suite apartments.
Cost: £2,010 per month.
