Powys one of best places to retire – but Shropshire fails to make list

Mid Wales came third in a pensioner well-being index as the place to go to enjoy a long, healthy and safe retirement.

It was only pipped to the top by Devon and Dorset in the poll by Prudential, which used census data and results from the insurer's own retirement research.

1. Devon

2. Dorset

3. Powys

4. Norfolk

5. East Sussex

6. Surrey

7. Gloucestershire

8. West Sussex

9. Suffolk

10. North Yorkshire

11. Cambridgeshire

12. Wiltshire

13. Somerset

14. Hampshire

15. Herefordshire

16. Conwy

17. Buckinghamshire

18. Oxfordshire

19. Cornwall

20. Monmouthshire

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said he was not surprised, but believes the county should have come out on top. He said: "I thought it (Powys) should be number one. Everyone here knows it is the perfect place to retire, with beautiful scenery, relaxing activities and friendly people.

"I would recommend anybody who is thinking of retiring to Mid Wales to come and see for themselves how perfect it is.

"I am a little surprised Shropshire didn't make the list as it shares a number of qualities with us across the border."

Former Conservative Party leader William Hague is currently in the process of moving to the county after 26 years as an MP. He has bought the £2.5 million 10-bedroom Cyfronydd Hall, near Llanfair Caereinion, where he is moving with his wife Ffion.

However, Oswestry town councillor Paul Milner said he is shocked Shropshire did not make the list.

He said: "I love Shropshire and I love living here and will never move. I plan to spend all my days in the Oswestry area and can think of nowhere better.

"We have beautiful scenery, wonderful people and a whole host of exciting events and venues for people with time on their hands to visit. In Oswestry alone we have the fantastic food festival and the outstanding British Ironwork Centre, then there's more and more as you head across the county.

"I am sure Shropshire should be high on the list."

Previous analysis by Prudential found that Christchurch in Dorset is the UK's "retirement capital", with more pensioners per head of the population than anywhere else in the country.

Vince Smith Hughes, retirement income expert at Prudential, said that the recently-introduced pension freedoms may encourage more people to relocate to somewhere that better suits their needs when they retire.

The freedoms give people aged 55 and over with a defined contribution pension more flexibility to access their money how they wish, subject to tax.

Mr Smith Hughes said: "For people hoping to have the most comfortable lifestyle in retirement the best approach remains to save as much as possible as early as possible during your working life - but while being financially secure in retirement shouldn't be overlooked, issues such as safety, security and health play an important part in a pensioner's overall quality of life.".