10 safest places to retire in England

June 20, 2023

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There are lots of different factors to consider when finding somewhere to retire - safety and crime rates being important ones. Here are the safest and most dangerous places to retire in England.

When choosing somewhere to retire there are lots of different factors you may want to consider, distance from loved ones, house prices, public transport links, the community, access to healthcare and safety and crime rates. We have taken a look at the safest places to retire to in 2023.

Using CrimeRate, we have looked at the population centres of each region in the UK to find some of the safest areas to retire.

Where is the safest place to retire in England?

Location	No. of crimes per 1,000 people
Staffordshire	29
Rutland	35
Cornwall	45
Gloucestershire	47
Surrey	50
Devon	51
Herefordshire	51
Wiltshire	52
Shropshire	58
Somerset	58

With the lowest crime rate of just 29 crimes per 1,000 people, Staffordshire is the safest place to retire in the UK. Its beautiful countryside also provides a peaceful and scenic place for people to retire. As it is home to parts of the Peak District National Park, you can spend your days walking and exploring nature.

Rutland came in close second having had one of the lowest crime rates over the year. Rutland doesn’t only have a low crime rate of 35 crimes per 1,000 people, Rutland residents also tend to live longer! They have an average life expectancy of 81.2 compared to the national average of 80.9 years.

Also ranking in the top 3 safest places to retire in England is Cornwall. Lots of people choose to retire in Cornwall to enjoy the relaxing coastal lifestyle. As well as the beautiful beaches, Cornwall has a range of activities suitable for retirees, including coastal walks, fishing, and beachcombing.

Where is the most dangerous place to retire in England?

Location	No. of crimes per 1,000 people
City of London	819
Westminster	298
Middlesbrough	187
Leeds	172
Halifax	170
Doncaster	167
Blackpool	162
Bradford	159
Stockton-on-Tees	157
Birkenhead	154

Our research revealed that two areas in London, the city of London and Westminster, were the most dangerous places to retire in England. The high crime rate in London is influenced by a variety of factors; it’s a highly populated city with a diverse range of socio-economic conditions and gang activity and knife crime is also a prevalent issue in London.

Three areas of West Yorkshire have also featured in the most dangerous places to retire in England. Some of the most common crimes include violence and sexual offences, public order, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour.