Retirement creates a unique opportunity to spend time exploring new places, discovering local adventures and doing more of what you love. The UK’s mix of stunning coastline, breathtaking countryside and rich history, makes it a great place to plan your next holiday or staycation – the only challenge is deciding where to go.
Whether you’re approaching retirement or well into your post-work years, chances are you’ve already given some thought to how you’d like to spend your time. If travel forms a part of your vision for retirement, it’s a good idea to factor it into your considerations when it comes to deciding where to live.
With UK holidays and staycations offering a diverse range of qualities, attractions and points of interest, planning a trip here is a great place to start. From hiking in rolling hills and exploring shaded forests by bike, to relaxing by crystal clear waters and admiring ancient monuments, there truly is something for everyone.
So where to begin? With so many incredible holiday destinations easy to access from our Retirement Villages locations, it can be difficult to know where to start when choosing the place you want to be. Plus, with the lock up and leave freedom of our properties, why choose just one?
We’ve put together some useful information about some of our most popular areas to help you get a feel for the journeys and adventures that could lie in store for your retirement. Here are some of the best ways to turning retirement holidays into great memories.
Explore holidays in Devon
Devon is home not only to some of Britain’s most beautiful beaches, but also to some of the country’s best-loved landscapes and countryside. You could easily holiday in Devon for months at a time and never run out of things to do. From experiencing serenity at Woolacombe Bay and hiking Dartmoor’s rugged landscapes, to taking a boat out on Salcombe Estuary and checking out the fishing at Slapton Sands, Devon holidays really do have it all.
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Plan a Cornwall holiday
With more than 300 beaches and what feels like endless vistas of incredible countryside, holidays in Cornwall promise diversity, drama and days full of doing what you love. Head to Newquay to experience a thriving beach town, or brave the wilderness of Bodmin Moor to hike to your heart’s content. If you’re looking for a spot of history from your Cornwall holiday, why not explore medieval Tintagel Castle, or travel to Truro to take in the cathedral and museum? More beauty can be found in St. Ives, where the creative atmosphere creates a haven for artists and great restaurants alike.
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Discover holidays in Taunton and Somerset
Located on the edge of the River Tone, Taunton is a historic market town with a wide range of attractions, points of interest and opportunities to explore the rest of Somerset. Start your Taunton holiday with a trip to Taunton Castle, or by admiring views of the Church of St Mary Magdalene and St James. If you’re here in the summer, you could even take in the famous flower show and carnival, which bring the streets to life in the sunnier months. Further afield, make it a Somerset holiday with a trip to traditional beach town, Burnham-on-Sea; an atmospheric escape into the stunning Quantocks; or a quieter coastal getaway at Watchet or Brean Beach.
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Find your ideal holiday in Bath and Wiltshire
Bath and its neighbouring county of Wiltshire have plenty to offer when it comes to planning a memorable UK staycation. Take a holiday in Bath, where you can admire the spectacular Royal Crescent, cross the iconic Pulteney Bridge and stroll through the tranquility of Prior Park Landscape Garden. If you’re keen to head further afield, the UK’s most historic county has plenty more to offer. No holiday in Wiltshire would be complete without a trip to Stonehenge, or why not head over to Salisbury to discover the home of the Magna Carta and explore the streets of this stunning medieval city?
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Plan your next holiday in Boston and Lincolnshire
Choose Boston, Lincolnshire for your next holiday and prepare to be immersed in a medieval market town full of fascinating history and a unique thriving atmosphere. Make the most of the town’s riverside location with a boat trip on the River Witham, admire the splendour of St Botolph’s Church or spot some freshwater wildlife over at the RSPB Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve. A Lincolnshire holiday also has some great options, whether you’re exploring the stunning natural coastline at Anderby Creek or Chapel Point, enjoying the quaint history of Lincoln itself, or sampling some of the region’s famous food.
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Explore Woking and Surrey holiday options
As Surrey’s largest town, Woking makes a great base for exploring this beautiful county and discovering some great local attractions too. Holidays in Woking offer plenty of ways to fill your time, whether it’s a wander round the town’s gallery-come-museum, the Lightbox; a visit to Shah Jahan, the UK’s first purpose-built mosque; or even a trip out to the vibrant, 240-acre RHS Wisley. Further afield, holidays in Surrey make for varied adventures full of great scenery and culture alike. If you’re heading out of town, you could climb Box Hill for breathtaking views of the South Downs, visit Winkworth Arboretum to discover more than 1,000 tree species, or take a tour of Denbies Wine Estate to sample some of the country’s best homegrown tipples.
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