# Retiring to the UK **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648 "2016-12-14T01:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/21 "2016-12-15T05:48:56Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Thanks for the info. Ignorance fought. > > As far as why anyone would want to leave the US to move to the UK, some of us are closet anglophiles. I have visited the UK many times, for both business and pleasure. I can imagine myself living there. My wife is not so sure. Ok I guess I can see the appeal of living somewhere like Cornwall or Devon as a retiree. Amazing landscape and so many old castles, pubs and standing stones everywhere. I spent most of my time in London unfortunately, fun for a few years but quickly becomes depressing. Apparently they do still have a process where you can apply to settle in the UK as a “retired person of independent means”. Forms are here: > **[Settle in the UK in various immigration categories: form SET(O)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-the-uk-form-seto)** > > Form to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK in various immigration categories and for a biometric residence permit. If you’re serious about it, contact an immigration law firm, they’ll usually give you an initial consultation for free and know all the rules, drawbacks and exemptions far better than you’d ever understand from reading on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/22 "2016-12-15T06:14:14Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Apparently they do still have a process where you can apply to settle in the UK as a “retired person of independent means”. Forms are here: > [Settle in the UK in various immigration categories: form SET(O) - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-uk-form-setbus) You need to have already been living in the UK for a continuous period of at least 5 years in order to apply under this head. It’s no use to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/23 "2016-12-15T07:55:13Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > And biting insects, and **poisonous things like ivy** But you have stinging nettles. All over the place. When I was a child living in England, I was _terrified_ of nettles. [/hijack. even though we’re past the 20h post 🙂] ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/24 "2016-12-15T11:29:37Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But you have stinging nettles. All over the place. > > When I was a child living in England, I was _terrified_ of nettles. > > [/hijack. even though we’re past the 20h post 🙂] As I understand it, stinging nettles are junior league compared with poison ivy. I keep a patch at the top of my garden - butterflies love them. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/25 "2016-12-15T11:57:52Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > As I understand it, stinging nettles are junior league compared with poison ivy. I keep a patch at the top of my garden - butterflies love them. The crucial part there is _all over the place_. I’ve _maybe_ gotten hit by poison ivy once in the thousands of miles i’ve hiked in America. In England, in the 100 or so miles I’ve hiked I got stung around once an hour. On the other hand it’s true that I’d much rather get nettled: after the first one I was able to just ignore it. The first one though, I wasn’t sure what it was and it was right on my knee, so the numbness made me wonder if I’d blown out my knee :eek: ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/26 "2016-12-15T12:01:07Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > You need to have already been living in the UK for a continuous period of at least 5 years in order to apply under this head. It’s no use to the OP. Ah ok I missed that. Well if you have 1 million pounds lying around (or 2 million in assets) then you can get an investor visa that leads to permanent leave to remain. > **[Business Visa | UK Tier 1 Investor Visa - Migration Expert](https://www.migrationexpert.co.uk/business_visa/tier_1_investor_visa/)** > > Applying for a UK business visa? Take our free Eligibility Assessment now & see if you qualify for UK tier 1 investor visa. Online visa services and advice - Migration Expert UK If you’ve got enough money, there’s always a way. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/27 "2016-12-15T21:15:23Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > In England, in the 100 or so miles I’ve hiked I got stung around once an hour. On the other hand it’s true that I’d much rather get nettled: after the first one I was able to just ignore it. The first one though, I wasn’t sure what it was and it was right on my knee, so the numbness made me wonder if I’d blown out my knee :eek: British kids learn, at a very early age, that nettle stings are treated by rubbing the irritated area with a [dock leaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumex_obtusifolius). It’s an acid/alkali thing. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/28 "2016-12-15T23:59:58Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Thanks for the info. Ignorance fought. > > As far as why anyone would want to leave the US to move to the UK, some of us are closet anglophiles. I have visited the UK many times, for both business and pleasure. I can imagine myself living there. My wife is not so sure. Interesting. I am there a fair bit and have many friends there. My wife has given me the OK to seek a transfer (about half my team is near London) and we may make a go for it. So I understand where you’re coming from ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/29 "2016-12-16T11:27:50Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Some of us prefer the grey weather. I’d like to live in a castle by the sea, lashed by rain and wave. That brings up another potential issue. Property in the UK is ridiculously expensive. Forget castles by the sea, if you want to live anywhere in the south east then even for a poky retired-person’s bungalow you are looking at well over a quarter of a million pounds. If it’s by the sea, half a million. Of course, if you don’t need to be near London you can find much cheaper property. Go to Wales and you can buy [your own island fort](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-37989160) for £550,000… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/30 "2016-12-16T12:20:21Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I never go to McDonalds in either place, so I don’t know if this is correct, but 2016 prices appear to be: > > US $3.99 > [Burger King Menu Prices [Updated Aug 2024] | SecretMenus](http://secretmenus.com/mcdonalds/full-menu/) > UK £2.69 > [http://menuprices.co.uk/mcdonalds-menu-prices/](http://menuprices.co.uk/mcdonalds-menu-prices/) > > So Big Mac PPP is 1.48, meaning that sterling at 1.25 is 18% undervalued. Well there goes my moral outrage. I had assumed that even with the exchange rate change the cost of living was still substantially higher instead of similar. If it were higher, as in more than 25% higher, then the UK still wouldn’t have me but at least then I could say “I can’t be a health care refugee, since after the cost of living adjustment it will cost me about the same.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/31 "2016-12-16T12:26:14Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > That brings up another potential issue. Property in the UK is ridiculously expensive. Forget castles by the sea, if you want to live anywhere in the south east then even for a poky retired-person’s bungalow you are looking at well over a quarter of a million pounds. If it’s by the sea, half a million. > > Of course, if you don’t need to be near London you can find much cheaper property. Go to Wales and you can buy [your own island fort](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-37989160) for £550,000… Or go live in Grimsby. Plenty of affordable housing there if you’re not concerned about finding work. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/32 "2016-12-16T15:49:12Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Of course, if you don’t need to be near London you can find much cheaper property. Go to Wales and you can buy [your own island fort](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-37989160) for £550,000… Yes but it’s in Wales… (again I’m half welsh so I’m allowed to disparage them). Find me a castle and island for that price in Cornwall and I’m interested… ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/33 "2016-12-16T16:07:44Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Yes but it’s in Wales… (again I’m half welsh so I’m allowed to disparage them). Find me a castle and island for that price in Cornwall and I’m interested… Cornwall is just Wales sans attitude. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/34 "2016-12-16T20:51:06Z")
We spent 2 weeks in Wales a couple of years ago. I’d LOVE to retire there. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/35 "2016-12-16T20:59:01Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > We spent 2 weeks in Wales a couple of years ago. I’d LOVE to retire there. “I spent a week in Watertown one afternoon…” _-Harry Chapin_ ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648/36 "2016-12-16T22:30:44Z")
In Wales there are also redundant, mostly remote and isolated, adorable Anglican churches that are cost about one 15th of that fort. Depends whether you can get along with the neighbours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-to-the-uk/774648.md?page=1)