Research for The Sunday Times suggests that well-connected towns and cities are delivering the best physical and mental health outcomes for older people. The study, carried out by Health Connect Global, underpins The Sunday Times’ new Growing Old Index, which ranks the healthiest and happiest places to retire in England. Solihull ranks third, supported by a strong happiness score and longer-than-average life expectancy. Wolverhampton takes fourth place, driven by shorter A&E waits and a higher-than-average number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people. Walsall doesn’t make the top ten overall, but it receives a special mention for having the highest number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people in England.

Source: The Times March 01, 2026 05:36 UTC