Southend has been named as one of the UK’s best places to retire if you’re looking for an active social life.

Hearmore UK has conducted research and revealed which 10 places made the list.

Southend ranked 10th on the list, offering a great variety of activities for those at retirement age, including pottery classes, salsa classes and wild swimming.

Another Essex location in Brentwood made the list in ninth, whilst Chesterfield was first.

The home hearing test company Hearmore UK used population data from the ONS to identify the towns in the UK with an over-50’s population of more than 30%. 

Echo: Southend was considered a great place to retire for those seeking an active social life (Newsquest)Southend was considered a great place to retire for those seeking an active social life (Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

It used Tripadvisor to find the number of restaurants and bars in each city and town with population data then being used to find the number of restaurants and bars per 10,000 people.

Hearmore UK looked into the interest in wild swimming, yoga, pottery classes and salsa classes by using Google search data to identify the number of searches for each hobby per 10,000 residents.

Asa Richards, an audiologist at Hearmore UK, said: “Loneliness can be deeply damaging, especially as we age and are at higher risk of cognitive decline. Our research shows the best places in the UK to retire for an active social life.

“Other ways you can expand your social circle include joining a club, getting a pet, volunteering and using social media.

“Socialising helps you exercise your thinking skills and also helps you deal with other damaging issues like stress, anxiety and age-related hearing loss.

“Hearing loss as you age can exacerbate issues like anxiety and depression, as well as being linked to developing dementia. Ensuring you look after your hearing and wear hearing aids when you need them will mean you can stay social for longer.”

Best places in the UK to retire for an active social life revealed

Below is the top 10 list for best places to retire in the UK when it comes to achieving an active social life.

Bars/pubs, restaurants, wild swimming, yoga, pottery classes and salsa classes results have all been determined by using Google search data to identify the number of searches for each hobby per 10,000 residents.

Chesterfield

  • Rank: 1
  • % Aged 50+: 43.24%
  • Bars/pubs: 7
  • Restaurants: 9
  • Wild swimming: 27
  • Yoga: 5
  • Pottery classes: 10
  • Salsa classes: 5

York

  • Rank: 2
  • % Aged 50+: 37.62%
  • Bars/pubs: 13
  • Restaurants: 3
  • Wild swimming: 8
  • Yoga: 8
  • Pottery classes: 14
  • Salsa classes: 21

Cheltenham

  • Rank: 3
  • % Aged 50+: 38.13%
  • Bars/pubs: 8
  • Restaurants: 8
  • Wild swimming: 5
  • Yoga: 19
  • Pottery classes: 8
  • Salsa classes: 22

Scarborough

  • Rank: 4
  • % Aged 50+: 50.37%
  • Bars/pubs: 9
  • Restaurants: 13
  • Wild swimming: 11
  • Yoga: 38
  • Pottery classes: 12
  • Salsa classes: 6

Norwich

  • Rank: 5
  • % Aged 50+: 30.42%
  • Bars/pubs: 3
  • Restaurants: 1
  • Wild swimming: 1
  • Yoga: 10
  • Pottery classes: 29
  • Salsa classes: 13

Gloucester

  • Rank: 6
  • % Aged 50+: 36.15%
  • Bars/pubs: 16
  • Restaurants: 14
  • Wild swimming: 6
  • Yoga: 17
  • Pottery classes: 16
  • Salsa classes: 9

Blackpool

  • Rank: 6
  • % Aged 50+: 42.66%
  • Bars/pubs: 1
  • Restaurants: 2
  • Wild swimming: 7
  • Yoga: 33
  • Pottery classes: 28
  • Salsa classes: 27

Bath

  • Rank: 8
  • % Aged 50+: 38.11%
  • Bars/pubs: 15
  • Restaurants: 17
  • Wild swimming: 2
  • Yoga: 27
  • Pottery classes: 25
  • Salsa classes: 3

Brentwood

  • Rank: 9
  • % Aged 50+: 40.52%
  • Bars/pubs: 38
  • Restaurants: 21
  • Wild swimming: 19
  • Yoga: 1
  • Pottery classes: 19
  • Salsa classes: 1

Southend-on-Sea

  • Rank: 10
  • % Aged 50+: 38.68%
  • Bars/pubs: 20
  • Restaurants: 7
  • Wild swimming: 13
  • Yoga: 2
  • Pottery classes: 35
  • Salsa classes: 18