It’s warm weather and abundance of orchards have made Kent a magnet for seasonal workers for centuries – but now the Garden of England is attracting a new demographic.
Retirees are heading to the county in droves with its lush countryside and pretty coastal resorts.
They are choosing to join a host of older celebrities, including Gloria Hunniford who is a proud resident of Sevenoaks, Miriam Margoyles, who lives close to the famous White Cliffs of Dover and Jools Holland, who lives in Cooling near Rochester, who have chosen to make the county their home in later life.
Trendy seaside towns like Margate and Broadstairs are also proving a bit hit with the people looking to make the most of their golden years.
Even traditional retirement hot spots like Bournemouth, Eastbourne and Lytham St Annes are being left in the shade.
The UK has an estimated 11 million people aged over 65. According to the latest research by McCarthy Stone, one of the country’s leading developers and managers of retirement communities, 4.3 million are considering moving.
Based on visits to its website by prospective buyers and combining its own findings with the latest data from Google Trends, Kent came out as the most popular place to retire to.
Kim Caldwell, the firm’s national sales and marketing director, said: “Kent has the advantage of well-connected towns, and areas offering countryside living, but all with fantastic transport links to the centre of London, the Eurostar, and ferries from Dover.
“Beautiful locations such as Deal offer a traditional British seaside town setting whereas others love having rich history on their doorstep, including the likes of Canterbury’s historic cathedral.”
Searches for “retirement flats in Kent” have risen by 75 per cent in the past six months and by 250 per cent over the past year.
South Yorkshire came in second due to its affordability, friendliness and countryside.
Hampshire was the third most popular county for retirees with a 75 per cent increase in searches for homes. Devon and Essex made up the top five county choices.
Devon’s coastal beauty, mild climate, and charming towns and villages were top reasons for retiring there while Essex’s estuary coast with easy access to London make it attractive.
Bryan Sweetland, chairman of Kent County Council said: “Our county has beautiful countryside and an extensive coastline with over 350 miles of chalky white cliff and glorious views stretching out across the English Channel.
“It is also one of the warmest parts of the UK. It’s a great place to live and we are very proud of our many landmarks and historic sites.”
And Deirdre Wells, CEO of Visit Kent, said: “We are delighted to hear more people than ever are choosing to retire to our county.
“We are sure these new residents will join the many Kent locals who regularly welcome friends and relatives, and help us showcase the fabulous county that is the Garden of England.”