Chesham and Amersham, a Buckinghamshire constituency more commonly associated with the commuter belt than seaside serenity, has been named the best place to retire in Britain, according to new analysis from Legal & General’s Retail division.

The research, which ranked all 632 UK parliamentary constituencies, assessed retirement wellbeing across six key dimensions: housing, health, social and community connections, financial security, access to nature, and local amenities.

Each area received a score out of 100, providing what L&G describes as a holistic portrait of later life quality.

Chesham and Amersham emerged as the clear frontrunner with an overall score of 74. Notably, it excelled in the health category, achieving a score of 93, thanks to high levels of physical and mental health among over-65s and strong access to GPs.

The constituency also performed well in financial security (78), nature (72), and social and community factors (69), with respectable scores in housing (66) and local amenities (64), reflecting a balanced and supportive environment for retirement.

The findings suggest that leafy home counties such as Buckinghamshire, Surrey and West Sussex offer some of the most favourable conditions for a fulfilling retirement.

Beaconsfield, Dorking and Horley, Godalming and Ash, and Mid Sussex were all ranked among the top-performing constituencies.

Lorna Shah, managing director of retail retirement at L&G, said: “This research gives us a more complete picture of what shapes a happy later life.

“It’s not just about one factor – it’s the combination of health, social connections, environment, and financial security that all play a part in retirement wellbeing.

“Financial security in particular is an enabler for many of the other measures, giving people the freedom to choose where and how they want to live in later life.”

L&G’s analysis highlighted the importance of consistent income in supporting wellbeing. Previous research carried out by the insurer and the Happiness Research Institute found that the happiest retirees had an average income of £1,700 per month, but just 38% of retirees in the UK meet or exceed this threshold.

Those with a guaranteed income, such as from an annuity, reported lower levels of stress and greater financial confidence than those relying on fluctuating sources of income.

CAPITAL CONSTITUENCIES

While London overall fared poorly on the financial metric, some of its constituencies rose in the rankings due to excellent access to amenities. Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner ranked 14th nationally.

Meanwhile, central London constituencies including Cities of London and Westminster, Holborn and St Pancras, and Islington South and Finsbury led the country for amenity access.

Beyond the capital, regional strengths were also evident. Mid Dunbartonshire in East Dunbartonshire was the highest-ranked Scottish constituency, while Monmouthshire led in Wales. Fylde in Lancashire topped the rankings for social and community connection, followed by Lowestoft and Dorking and Horley.

The South West was prominent in the housing pillar, which considered the availability and suitability of retirement properties and care homes. Bristol Central, Gloucester and Bournemouth East were standout performers in this area.

HEALTH DIFFERENTIATORS

Good health outcomes, long recognised as crucial to later life satisfaction, proved a significant differentiator in the rankings. Winchester and Beaconsfield joined Chesham and Amersham as the top three constituencies for health.

Meanwhile, England’s eastern constituencies dominated the nature pillar, with Castle Point in Essex, South Holland and The Deepings in Lincolnshire, and South Cambridgeshire scoring highly for air quality, outdoor space, and sunshine.

The data paints a varied picture of retirement wellbeing across the UK, emphasising that later life satisfaction is influenced by a wide set of factors, from income stability to green space.

For those contemplating where to spend their retirement years, it suggests that the ideal destination may lie not at the seaside, but in the well-connected, well-resourced heart of the home counties.