The top three West Midlands locations that prove sleepy villages are not the 'best' places to retire

By Mimi Ibrahim
Published 26th Apr 2026, 02:00 GMT

For those reaching retirement age, it’s not the sleepy villages that people should flock to. Rather research shows its the bustling towns and cities that will ensure older people thrive.

When you think of retiring you may think it’s best to escape to a sleepy village in the middle of nowhere.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, many flock to in search of job opportunities.

However, research from the Sunday Times, reveals actually the best places to retire are those very same bustling hotpots, that many dream of vacating away from.

The newspaper ranked the best locations that older people should retire to once after spending decades in the workforce.

The research from the Sunday Times published in January 2026 supplied by Health Connect Global called ‘The Sunday Times’ Growing Old Index’ looked at the healthiest and happiest places to retire in England.

The Sunday Times’ Growing Old index evaluates six factors.

This includes: average life expectancy, GP provision, A&E waiting times, referral times for trauma and orthopaedic services, the number of care home beds, and each area’s score in the ONS happiness index.

On the Sunday Times’ piece, Windsor and Maidenhead chart at the top. This is due to having the fastest trauma and orthopaedic referral times. As, Hartlepool comes in at second place due to its leading A&E performance.

Though, have a look below at the three West Midlands locations mentioned in its index and why?

The West Midlands affluent town of Solihull comes in at third place. The Times interviewed, retiree Phil Rosenbloom, 74 praised the area's NHS services. He said, you can usually see a GP within two or three days

1. Solihull

The West Midlands affluent town of Solihull comes in at third place. The Times interviewed, retiree Phil Rosenbloom, 74 praised the area's NHS services. He said, you can usually see a GP within two or three days | David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wolverhampton comes in at 4th place. This is driven by shorter A&E waits and a higher-than-average number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people. Residents there also reported higher happiness levels than those in York, Sheffield, Reading and Wokingham.

2. Wolverhampton city centre

Wolverhampton comes in at 4th place. This is driven by shorter A&E waits and a higher-than-average number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people. Residents there also reported higher happiness levels than those in York, Sheffield, Reading and Wokingham. | Local Library

Walsall was praised by the Times for having the have the most GPs per 100,000. It's important to note that the town didn't make the top ten, but was mentioned in the Times' article for this reason.

3. Walsall

Walsall was praised by the Times for having the have the most GPs per 100,000. It's important to note that the town didn't make the top ten, but was mentioned in the Times' article for this reason. | Derek Bennett / Walsall town centre / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Related topics:West MidlandsGP surgeriesWalsallSolihullWolverhampton
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