Scottish hotspots named among the UK’s best places to retire

Glasgow and Edinburgh were featured alongside locations across the country, including York and Cornwall.

A number of factors were considered when curating this ranking, such as property prices, crime rates, amenities and entertainment.

Glasgow and Edinburgh named among the best places to retire to in the UK

Crime rates, property prices and amenities were considered when making this ranking (Image: Getty Images) Glasgow and Edinburgh, which were the only Scottish locations to be named among the best to retire to in the UK by Rest Less, were praised as “beautiful” cultural centres full of cafes, bars and museums.

Discussing Scotland’s capital, the website said Edinburgh has consistently ranked as one of the most desirable retirement locations in the UK, with it claiming the top spot all the way back in 2019.

The research, which was undertaken by estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk, looked at where the highest proportion of retirement properties for sale were, as well as the ratio of homes to stock sold.

Discussing the spot further, Rest Less dubbed it a “cosmopolitan town” with “plenty going for it.”

With dozens of historic sites, museums and attractions, as well as the world’s largest arts festival, the city is sure to keep those in their golden years busy.

However, it was noted that these “attractive points” mean house prices here are much higher than the Scottish average, standing at around £338,307.

Glasgow was praised as a cheaper Scottish alternative to Edinburgh (Image: Getty Images) Glasgow, on the other hand, was celebrated as a cheaper alternative to the Scottish capital.

House prices here average at around £229,959, according to the site, and while the city has had a reputation for being “rather gritty” in the past, it is now undeniably a “national hub of culture”.

The city is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, ensuring there is plenty to go and see.

Last year, Glasgow was named one of the best cities to retire to because of “key factors” like its cost of living and the amenities on offer.

Using these metrics, each location listed by Moneypenny was given a score.

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Glasgow was given a rating of 3.8, putting it above other popular retirement hotspots like Newport and Kingston upon Hull.

It ranked well for its cost of living as well as the number of cafes and golf clubs around the city.

The Scottish location was also praised for its great number of fitness clubs and green spaces.