Retiring is important because it gives people a break from working after many years of struggle, financial complications, and outright exhaustion.
It’s a time to relax, enjoy life, and do things you couldn’t do when you were working full-time, and Merton has been dubbed one of the best places to do so in the UK.
The Telegraph has listed Merton as one of the best places in the United Kingdom to retire, mentioning its property prices, low crime rate, natural areas, and convenient transport links.
Merton ranked number two on the Telegraph’s list and was the top London location.
Exeter in Devon and Richmond-upon-Thames ranked at number one and number three respectively.
Merton is the fourth-cheapest London location on their list, with Kingston, Sutton, and Westminster getting a mention too.
Properties in Merton cost just under half of what they do in Westminster, with an average house price of £722,000.
It also has convenient links to Central London, with several train stations and two London Underground lines.
The Telegraph highlights that the scenic charm of Merton lies in its numerous parks and commons, with the “National Trust site of Morden Hall Park at its beating heart”.
Parks include Wimbledon Common, Mitcham Common, Cannon Hill Common, and Ravensbury Park.
Merton is a vibrant borough with rich cultural ties.
It most famously hosts the world-renowned Wimbledon Tennis Championships each year.
The Telegraph worked alongside Savills Research to examine key factors, like the number of hospitals, GPs and dentists per 10,000 people and the availability of shops and green spaces nearby.
Crime levels, apart from fraud, were also taken into account before the figures were cross-checked against average property prices.
Dan Miller, of Savills, said: “For many retirees, Wimbledon Village is the ultimate London location due to its slower pace of life, close-knit community feel and good range of boutique shops, independent cafes and pubs.
“Downsizers will often comment that the village gives them the best of both worlds: a taste of the country while also being well-located for all that the capital has to offer. In addition, it’s an easy bus ride down into Wimbledon Town with its theatre, tube and train connections.”
Frances McDonald, of Savills Research, said: “Owner-occupiers aged 65-plus hold an estimated £2.6 trillion of net housing wealth, with many having reached the point where they have paid off their mortgage debt.
“In some cases, these movers are likely to reconsider the location of their home to ensure the convenience and proximity of local amenities and health services, so they can be less reliant on others in later life.”
