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The UK offers plentiful options for people looking to relocate, with the possibility to embrace a new lease of life for soon-to-be-retiree

Whilst numerous Britons reach retirement contentedly settled in their ‘forever home’, others may discover they fancy relocating somewhere fresh – whether that’s seizing the chance to downsize, relocate nearer to relatives, or experience a different rhythm of life, reports the Express.

The UK provides abundant choices for those considering a move, with the prospect of different surroundings, the opportunity to release some equity when downsizing, and the capacity to embrace a fresh start all thrilling possibilities for the approaching retiree.

“Identity is a big issue in retirement, and when you move house, you can reinvent yourself,” wrote Celia Dodd, author of Not Fade Away: How to Thrive in Retirement. “People don’t know you as the person who used to go off to work on their bike every day, they don’t have preconceptions of you. Your new surroundings will encourage you to think differently about things.”

So where might the over -60s consider relocating to ‘shake things up’? Have a look at our compiled selection below.

Amersham and Chesham

Legal and General this year named verdant Amersham and Chesham as the premier destination for retirement, drawing on information concerning six ‘pillars’ of contented living, encompassing accommodation, wellbeing, social connections and community, financial circumstances, countryside and facilities. The Buckinghamshire area topped the list in a study by a financial services group, scoring an impressive 93 out of 100 for health.

This reflects the high number of over-65s in good physical and mental health, as well as excellent access to GPs. All other ‘pillars’ scored over 60, making this constituency a well-rounded environment for later life.

Tucked away in the picturesque Chiltern Hills, these towns offer a mix of rural charm and city convenience. The market town of Beaconsfield and Surrey Hills towns Dorking and Horley took 2nd and 3rd place in the rankings, respectively.

Llandudno

For those seeking a peaceful seaside retirement, the Welsh coastal town of Llandudno came out on top in a study conducted by personal alarm supplier Taking Care this year.

The research considered various factors, from life expectancy and property prices to the average cost of care homes if needed. In addition to these key statistics, the study also looked at the amount of green spaces, bingo halls, English Heritage properties and other leisure facilities.

This Victorian resort features a delightful promenade overlooking a breath-taking peninsula between the Great and Little Orme headlands. Other locations that made the cut were Glossop, Tynemouth and Ilfracombe.

Exeter

The Telegraph – alongside estate agents Savills – compiled a ranking this year of the top 10 retirement destinations, taking into account various crucial elements such as ‘the number of hospitals, GPs and dentists per 10,000 people and the availability of shops and green spaces nearby’.

Leading their rankings was the south coast gem Exeter. ‘Compact and convenient’, yet brimming with natural splendour, the historic city offers heritage at its doorstep, boutique retailers and independent coffee houses, plus a lively social atmosphere.

Regularly hailed as amongst the finest places to reside, work, and learn in the UK, there’s abundant choice for pensioners seeking to embrace a fresh chapter in life. Runner-up in the survey was Merton, South West London, whilst nearby Richmond-upon-Thames claimed third spot.

Wimborne

Analysis by retirement community developer McCarthy Stone reveals growing appetite for developments in more obscure towns, with Wimborne, Dorset leading their rankings.

Chrissy Fice, Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone, commented: “With access to local amenities being named as the top ‘must-have’ by three quarters of over 65s, other things people are looking for include good transport links, handy supermarkets, a central location within a 15-minute walk, and either a coast or country backdrop.”

Market town Wimborne fulfils those criteria – and beyond – offering waterside serenity, cultural attractions, independent retailers and dining establishments, plus a thriving retired population. Other hidden treasures that made the list by McCarthy Stone include the verdant Sutton Coldfield, the historic Stratford-upon-Avon and the medieval Waltham Abbey.

There’s a lot to think about when you’re moving for retirement, like healthcare access, chances to make new friends, being close to nature, local facilities and financial stability.

For those considering a move, Rangeford Villages, a retirement village firm, offers the following advice:

• Research and visit prospective areas – chat to locals already living there to get a well-balanced picture of a place
• Review your budget – if necessary, consult a financial advisor to ensure fiscal planning is thorough
• Assess your desired lifestyle – does the area you’re looking at provide the opportunities you need?
• Location evaluation – consider proximity to family and friends, healthcare, shopping and nature.

If you want ideas and inspiration to plan your next UK adventure plus selected offers and competitions, sign up for our 2Chill weekly newsletter here

A survey conducted by consumer group Which? placed Manchester’s Terminal 3 at the bottom of the list for the fourth consecutive year, with a customer satisfaction score of just 43%

Travellers have delivered their verdict on the UK’s airports – and Manchester has been branded the worst to fly from.

A survey conducted by consumer group Which? placed Manchester’s Terminal 3 at the bottom of the list for the fourth consecutive year, with a customer satisfaction score of just 43%. The terminal received a dismal one-star rating out of a possible five for measures such as security queues, seating, and the pricing in shops and food outlets.

One frustrated Terminal 3 passenger fumed: “It’s impossible to get a drink or something to eat, but much worse than that – there is nowhere to sit.” Manchester’s other two terminals didn’t fare much better in the survey. Terminal 1, which is set to close later this year, was ranked second-worst.

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Another traveller said: “The cleanliness in Terminal 1 is appalling. Toilets are often overflowing, and there’s rubbish everywhere.”

Terminal 2 at Manchester could only muster fourth from bottom, with a customer satisfaction score of 53%, although there was at least some positive feedback. One traveller commended its “good facilities prior to long-haul flight and helpful staff at baggage check-in”.

At the other end of the scale, Exeter Airport topped the list with an overall customer satisfaction score of 80%.

However, Exeter serves around 500,000 passengers annually, compared to 29 million at Manchester or 84 million at Heathrow.

Close behind, with a score of 78%, was Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which now caters to five million passengers each year. Passengers lauded its swift, efficient process and friendly staff.

You can search for your closest airport and check the ratings using our interactive gadget.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director, has hit back at the Which? survey and criticism the airport has received. He said: “Through our historic £1.3 billion transformation programme, we have created a world-class and award-winning Terminal 2. We have also announced plans to invest significantly in Terminal 3 – starting this year.

“I am also proud to say customer satisfaction has increased significantly over the past four years. We know how customers feel about their experience because we asked hundreds of them every week about it. Between January and June this year, 91% of 3,045 people surveyed told us their experience was good, very good, or excellent.

“That is how I know this latest outdated and unrepresentative report from Which? bears no resemblance to the experience people receive at Manchester Airport day in, day out.”

A Gatwick spokesperson added: “In the first half of 2025, passengers received great service, as the airport significantly improved its on-time performance, following excellent collaboration with airline partners and National Air Traffic Services.”

A statement from Heathrow read: “Which? has relied on unrepresentatively small sample sizes and recollections to assess an industry that already collects vast amounts of data on a daily basis, all verified and published by an independent regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority.”

While London Luton Airport’s spokesperson said: “Whilst we value all feedback, a sample size of just 255 Which? readers is simply not representative of the 16.7 million passengers who travelled with us in 2024.”

London Stansted’s spokesperson said it was “proud to have welcomed a record-breaking 30m passengers to the airport in the last year, driven by the great value and reliable service on offer, and convenient access to over 200 destinations across Europe and beyond.”

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival series is fast approaching and it’s time to revisit some of the show’s most memorable villains.

*Warning – this article contains major spoilers for all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.*

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is chock-full of unforgettable baddies, but while some subtly slay, others just… suck?

With the reboot series led by Buffy icon Sarah Michelle Gellar on the cards, it’s only right to take a nostalgic look back at the good, the bad and the chaos-demon-ugly from all seven seasons of the cult classic, which is currently available to stream on ITVX.

The TV sensation created by Joss Whedon, which originally aired between 1997 and 2003, still boasts a loyal fanbase eagerly awaiting the return of the legendary character, reports Surrey Live.

In the meantime, from the ‘big bads’ of each season to the wicked ones lurking in the shadows, we’ve picked out 12 characters who might give you the heebie-jeebies – and one of them may catch you off guard.

12. Adam

Adam commits plenty of gruesome acts during his short time in season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but his biggest sin is being entirely forgettable.

While we spend the season getting to know Riley, Professor Walsh and other members of the Initiative, we learn almost nothing interesting about this Frankenstein-like creation except that he wants to kill everything in sight.

11. The Master

The Master is the first major villain Buffy ever has to face but, while her season-long struggle to defeat him feels epic the first time you see it, he seems pretty bland on a re-watch.

In the end, the prosthetic effects and his somewhat corny dialogue makes him appear less threatening and, like Adam, we don’t learn much about him except that he wants evil to triumph.

10. The First

The First Evil is billed as the final, ultimate villain Buffy must defeat before the entire town of Sunnydale is swallowed into the hell mouth forever.

The First’s introduction to season 7 is chilling, as it uses imitation to trick Buffy and her friends to exploit their grief and insecurities.

However, as the season goes on its lack of physical presence becomes increasingly unexciting, and we spend far too much screen time with the minions doing its bidding.

9. Buffy’s Dad

While Buffy’s Dad isn’t strictly evil, he is a strong candidate for this list. At first, Hank Summers makes some effort with Buffy and we even see she has stayed with him over the summer between seasons 1 and 2.

However, by the time Joyce dies, it is apparent he barely speaks to his daughters, not even bothering to show up to the funeral despite Buffy ‘leaving messages all over the place’.

During that time, we learn he was in Spain with his secretary – and he doesn’t even notice when Buffy (temporarily) dies.

8. Caleb

Sadistic defrocked priest Caleb has a pathological hatred of women, which makes him one of the most sinister and unlikeable villains on this list.

We know he killed several girls while still in human form, before The First Evil granted him superhuman strength and other abilities in order to do its bidding.

He also nearly overpowers and kills Buffy before the show’s finale, making him one of her most formidable nemesies.

7. Dark Willow

One of the most tragic and painful storylines across Buffy’s run was Willow’s magic addiction battle in season 6, which mirrored many people’s real-life struggles with addiction.

When Warren kills Willow’s girlfriend Tara, this escalates and she goes on a murderous rampage, at first seeking revenge but ultimately attempting to destroy the world as dark magic consumes her.

This is one of the bleakest chapters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it cannot be denied that Willow makes a powerful and complex villain.

6. Warren

Remember the earlier reference to villains who ‘just suck’? That’s Warren. This misogynistic sociopath is so hateable precisely because he’s still very clearly, pathetically human.

We are first introduced to him when he builds himself the ‘perfect’ robot girlfriend only to then discard her for another woman without bothering to tell her.

He then forms ‘The Trio’ alongside Andrew and Jonathan and, while at first they are painted as fairly harmless, things quickly get disturbing.

When Warren convinces The Trio to help him imprison his former girlfriend as a mindless sex slave, he ends up killing her as she tries to escape.

Later, he tries to shoot Buffy, instead killing Tara in the process before being gruesomely murdered by Willow.

5. Faith

Sometimes a hero and sometimes a villain, Faith doesn’t have an easy ride on Buffy the Vampire Slayer – and she often has herself to blame.

Eventually, Faith finds her redemption and is able to aid Buffy in her final fight against The First.

However, some of the best scenes in the show are when Buffy and Faith throw punches, with their perfectly-matched slayer strength culminating in some pretty epic fight scenes.

4. Mayor Richard Wilkins

Formerly human but now an immortal demon, Mayor Richard Wilkins is one of Buffy’s most memorable villains thanks to his unsettlingly cheery demeanor and wise words of advice.

While ultimately, his primary ambition is to transform into a giant snake and wreak havoc on Sunnydale, he also cares about good manners, cleanliness and forms a meaningful father-daughter bond with Faith.

3. Spike and Drusilla

First introduced in season 2, vampires Spike and Drusilla totally transformed Buffy the Vampire Slayer when they appeared.

Both interesting characters in their own right, they felt decidedly more human than the villains that came before and also introduced plenty of humour and levity to proceedings.

Spike quickly became a fan favourite, being brought back again in season 3 before returning as a main cast member in season 4.

2. Glory

While Buffy is generally in the business of slaying demons, the stakes were raised in season 5 when she came face to face with a literal god.

Glory was a fantastic villain for the show because, while she was capable of witty one-liners, she also had some pretty terrifying powers.

Arguably, the show’s sense of jeopardy never felt stronger than it did in season 5, and Glory’s human weakness (Ben – Ben? I’m sure he was connected to her somehow? Were they roommates?) and backstory made the villain all the more compelling.

1. Angelus

Widely considered to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s ultimate villain, Angelus is one of the most evil characters in the Buffyverse.

However, it is really Buffy’s emotional connection to him that makes the drama all the more intense, as she has already fallen in love with Angel, the version of him with a soul.

After her former lover starts killing her friends and attempting to bring about the apocalypse, Buffy is tragically forced to kill him in order to save the world just moments after his soul is restored.

Rewatch all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on ITVX.