
Best Villages: the best villages for retirement or downsizing
Explore the best retirement villages in England, offering comfortable living, vibrant communities, and top amenities for an enjoyable retirement.
As we age and our priorities shift, so does our idea of the perfect home. Whether you’re looking to move to a new area, or you want to keep your postcode the same, downsizing - or ‘resizing’ – can be an opportunity to rethink your needs and consider what type of home fits your new lifestyle.
We’ve picked five homes currently for sale that could be ideal for this next step – and crucially, they can all be found in some of Britain’s best villages. From a new-build home overlooking open green space, to a bungalow in the South West where you can walk into the village, which one will you pick?
Choose from a three- or four-bedroom house in this boutique development of just 10 new homes. Found on the edge of Gold Hill Conservation Area, some of the properties even have views overlooking Gold Hill Common – a 16 acre park with a mix of open greenery and pathways. Built by Oakford Homes, each of the homes have high-spec finishes and a range of eco features, including air source heat pumps and EV charging points.
A Grade II Listed home in a rural position on the edge of West Brabourne. The open-plan kitchen/dining room is the heart of the home, and the impressive outdoor kitchen with bar and BBQ is ideal for hosting friends and family. In the main house there’s a dedicated study, perfect for admin or those who are semi-retired.
This bungalow sits in 2.3 acres of gardens, which includes a covered heated swimming pool that guarantees to be a hit with family members and grandchildren. The home sits in a wonderfully elevated position, offering views across open countryside and is a short walk into the village which has a shop, popular pub, church and village hall.
A period cottage which has been under the same ownership for 25 years. There’s a fabulously manageable 1/3-acre garden, which also has useful outbuildings – including a heated shed that would be an ideal space to dedicate to a hobby. The four-bedroom home sits in the heart of the village, with a local store, tearoom, pop-up bakery, and two pubs on its doorstep.
Perhaps better suited for those looking to ‘resize’ rather than ‘downsize’, this five-bedroom home is found in the centre of Baschurch but has the feel of a grand townhouse. With a contemporary finish throughout, the home has plenty of space for multi-functional purposes – whether it’s room for hobbies or hosting visiting family and friends.