Pretty seaside town where people live longer than anywhere else in the UK

17 December 2023 , 09:19

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The pretty Sussex resort topped the list of places with the highest number of residents over 100 years old (Image: Getty Images)

Research has revealed the oldest town in the UK where the locals live longer than anywhere else in the country.

The pretty seaside town topped the list with more centenarians living there than anywhere else. Research by Oldest in Britain shows that where you live can have an impact on how long you live. The data pinpoints exactly where in the country residents can expect to live the longest. They looked at different towns and cities, specifically how many centenarians lived in each part of the country over a 12-year period, The Express reports.

The greatest number of people aged over 100 were found to be living in the south east of England overall. It is unknown if this is because it is an area where many choose to retire to, or if living in the south east promotes longevity, perhaps due to the milder climate there than other parts of the country.

Whatever the reason, within the south east region, the place with the highest number of centenarians turned out to be the pretty seaside town of Worthing. The resort town in West Sussex, was awarded a longevity score of 15.432 - the highest of anywhere in the UK. This score was calculated by finding the number of people aged over 106 compared to those over 90 in the region.

The tranquil spot is just 10 miles down the coast from the bustling city of Brighton and shares some features with its more youthful neighbour. The town was also a popular seaside resort during the Georgian and Victorian period and still has some of the architectural features from that time. Just like Brighton it has as a promenade and pier as well as many beautiful period buildings.

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Howeve, although both were once popular seaside getaway spots, Worthing’s popularity waned during the 1960s and 70s as families opted for trips abroad instead. Now it is a popular spot for retirees, as well as families, and professionals who can’t afford to live in Brighton or London.

The full list of the UK districts that live the longest is as follows:

• Worthing
• Preston
• Fylde
• Chesterfield
• Merton
• Woking
• Kettering
• Adur
• Blackburn with Darwen
• Gedling
• Elmbridge
• Derbyshire Dales
• South Oxfordshire
• Mid Sussex
• Stroud
• Stirling
• Mole Valley
• Portsmouth
• Camden
• Flintshire

Ranking second, Preston in Lancashire had a longevity score of 14.541. While neighbouring Fylde had a rating of 13.112. Of the home nations Wales had the highest ranking and Northern Ireland fared the worst.

Fiona Callingham