We know London is great for many things, why, it’s our home, headquarters and the whole DC crew’s nesting ground but what of London for the retired? Stats show that more people are flocking to the capital for downtime during post-work years. This is no new revelation. Here’s a link from the BBC, to a film taken 3 years ago following those who are returning to The Smoke for a more well-balanced life.
‘London is often thought of as a young person’s city, but – despite what many might think – some pensioners now regard it as a “retirement nirvana”‘.
Mark Breeze told viewers; “… the big city and its anonymity, where everybody doesn’t know their own neighbours, I think creates a freedom for people who might meet disapproval, more from a lack of education and understanding (elsewhere).”
Another man interviewed for the article stated: “As one gets older, one’s brain needs a good stimulus in order to avoid some of these rather nasty conditions that one seems to get in old age, and I think living in the country, no matter how attractive it is, one doesn’t get that level of stimulation.” -Mark Bostock.
Interaction is imperative to maintain healthy brain activity. What we mustn’t do is stop doing what we love. Exercise is important and social interaction but maintaining your ‘joie de vivre’ is really the key to a long healthy life I think. Fall in love with your life!
15 years a Londoner myself, I know all too well the upsides to London-life. In this cosmopolitan capital, aside landscape, we really do have it all. Transport for those who might not be able to access the tube or buses is readily available, Dial-A-Ride being a great initiative by Transport for London. There are days out for those who have the time: river cruises or a short trip aboard the Thames Clipper is enough to brighten anyone’s day and get you ‘around town’ without breaking the bank. You’re rarely stuck for things to do and people to meet, it’s about getting ‘out there’ and if you can get out there because transport links provide that, you’ve ticked both boxes.
For some, a move to a city when you’re not used to city life may seem daunting or even revered as a stressful existence. Having experienced rural living as well as being in the metropolis I think on balance, it’s a mindset. London moves at a pace that maintains it’s status as a global power but that’s not to say one personally needs to! The key to city living is to not be swept up in the hustle and bustle and take your life at your own pace. What London does have going for it aside business as mentioned in the BBC’s article is entertainment, every type of cuisine, spa, museum, night out, day out…and the list continues regarding practicality; from hospitals, specialist consultants, to airports, swift home food delivery…you name it you can probably get it here. There’s almost 10 million of us, that’s potentially a lot of people to reach out to and interact with. The saying goes: “Bored of London, Bored of Life” couple this with TFL’s motto: Every Journey Matters, we couldn’t agree more with retirement choices being directed toward the capital. Reaching those in need in a city seems a lot more practical than trying to provide for those harder to reach, further afield in area’s lacking in resources and individuals to provide it.
If you want a change of scene and fancy a day at the seaside, a jaunt to Hampton Court or a short-hop via one of our many airports to Europe and all that’s on offer there; cafes, culture, mountain air…you’re in the right starting place. From London, the world is your oyster. London is open and is quite possibly the gateway to the rest of the globe. If you want to stay connected, The Old Smoke is a friend, not foe.
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