Beautiful seaside town where Brits live longer than anywhere else in the UK

02 December 2023 , 07:50

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People in Lymington have a longer expectancy than elsewhere (Image: Getty Images)

Britain is blessed with an incredible mix of beautiful places to live - including one seaside town where people live longer than anyone else, a new report has shown

Lymington in the beautiful New Forest National Park in Hampshire boasts postcard-worthy high streets and a wonderfully scenic, boat-filled harbour. Its High Street has several independent shops and designer boutiques as well as a historic market held each Saturday which dates back to the 13th century.

It is full of places to relax, in particular areas of great natural beauty - not least of all Solent Way, a footpath with great views of the Needles and the Isle of Wight. This natural lifestyle clearly has an effect on the local population, as the average life expectancy is 85 for men and 87 for women - compared with the national average of 81.

Lymington in the beautiful New Forest National Park in Hampshire boasts postcard-worthy high streets (Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images)

The town's proximity to the ocean also brings with it some great things to do for people of all ages, including the 110m Sea Water Baths. There is plenty of space to swim or try kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding, and even an inflatable obstacle course as well as water zorbing.

Meanwhile the marina is home to hundreds of yachts and boats, with the Yacht Haven also having its own restaurant, where you can look over the water from the terrace. In comparison, Residents of seaside town Blackpool, famous for its Christmas lights and long sandy beaches, have the lowest life expectancy in the UK, according to official figures.

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The (ONS) says the resort's residents have the lowest life expectancy from birth of any local authority in England. Figures from 2018-2020 show Blackpool men live on average 74.1 years and women 79, both lower than national averages of 78.6 years for males and 82.6 years for females.

Concerningly, men in the least deprived areas of the seaside town can expect to live 13.2 years longer than men in the most deprived areas. For women, this difference is 9.5 years.

In contrast, figures show between 2018 and 2020, the highest life expectancy is found in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where women live 87.86 years. For men it was highest in Westminster, at 84.74.

A report into the town’s mortality reads: “Blackpool faces major health challenges. The early 2000s saw a steady improvement in life expectancy, dropping in 2013-15 before levelling off until 2017-19. However, the gap between Blackpool and the rest of England and Wales continues to grow.”

Antony Clements-Thrower