After decades of hard work, your retirement is the time to kick back. So, where better to see out your senior years than in the lap of luxury? These prestigious residences are more like high-end hotels than anything else – plus, they come with some pretty amazing added extras! From state-of-the-art fitness centres to fine dining restaurants, these incredible homes for the over 50s will be enough to encourage you to an early retirement...

This recently refurbished Victorian Gothic hall in Royal Leamington Spa, UK, forms the beating heart of the Audley Binswood offering and is as palatial as retirement communities get. This kind of lavish living will cost you, though. Its 90 apartments vary in price from $298,000 (£225k) for a cosy one-bed cottage to $680,000 (£513k) for a two-bed apartment. There's also an annual ground rent of $662 (£500) on top of this. 

Ideal for the more discerning retiree, the community has its very own exclusive private members' club on site that offers a bistro, bar, library and lounge, as well as a blissful spa in which to relax and unwind. The well-appointed apartments – which are only available to people aged 55 or over – are spacious and light, boasting tasteful period features and high-end furnishings, along with state-of-the-art kitchens and sleek bathrooms.

The community at Binswood Hall isn't only about relaxation. The rather grand gym is packed with the latest exercise equipment and residents have the services of a personal trainer at their disposal. There's also a heated indoor swimming pool in the complex that offers aqua aerobics classes.

Talk about living in the lap of luxury! The palatial property also has a well-appointed library for those who prefer their pastimes to be a little more cerebral. Who wouldn't want to read under that amazing candelabra? ​

Tapestry at Village Gate West can be found in Toronto’s central Etobicoke neighbourhood. Purpose-built to surpass the amenities, services and style of traditional retirement communities, Tapestry is dedicated to offering its residents remarkable levels of comfort and care. Here, studios can be rented for $3,182 (£2,394) a month, while large two-bedroom apartments can cost as much as $5,343 (£4,019).

The spacious facility offers idyllic gardens and a variety of wellness-based activities for its residents to enjoy. There’s an à la carte restaurant and a pub-style dining room, as well as scheduled transportation, town car and driver services, so retirees can venture out whenever they like. Each apartment aims to help its occupier be truly independent. There's a kitchen for cooking, a lounge for relaxing, and a dining area for entertaining.

For your money, you’ll receive a weekly housekeeping and linen service, as well as access to a fitness centre, salon and spa. There’s secure underground parking and complimentary laundry rooms on each floor. Those wanting to responsibly socialise can head to the fireside lounge, the business centre, the library or the games room to mingle at a social distance. The community is also keen to assist individuals with physical, mental and spiritual independence and offers optional medical and personal assistance.

If all this wasn’t enough, this deluxe retirement community also boasts an outdoor patio, where people can partake in a spot of gardening, as well as a barbecue area for alfresco meals. There’s even a demonstration kitchen, a therapeutic aquafit pool, a golf simulator, a media room, a billiards room and daily group fitness classes. What more could anyone possibly need?

You'll need very deep pockets if you decide to spend your retirement years at the Sarasota Bay Club in Florida, arguably one of the best retirement villages in America. Apartments at this ultra-exclusive senior community range from between $440,000 (£332k) for a one-bedroom, 983-square-foot abode, to $2 million (£1.5m) for a lavish 2,326-square-foot, three-bedroom pad.

Yet this costly retirement community can justify its sky-high pricing by providing its occupants with an impressively high staff-to-resident ratio, superior care and incredible five-star amenities. Every apartment is kitted out with the finest furnishings and equipment, so residents can enjoy a laid-back lifestyle while soaking up unobstructed coastal views.

The elegant dining room specialises in Mediterranean-style dishes, serving organic meat, vegetables and wild fish, in order to keep its diners at the peak of health. The club's renowned chefs can also cook to order, so residents can request whatever they fancy, wherever they want to eat it!

Residents can stay in shape by hitting the in-house gym and working out with a personal trainer. The club also boasts an indoor pool, a beauty salon, a spa and a home theatre, as well as 24-hour valet and concierge services. But who needs to stay indoors when you have the beaches and sights of Sarasota on your doorstep? Now, that's what we call the good life!

Set in the heart of the picturesque in Queensland, Australia, the upmarket North Lakes offering is more akin to a high-end resort, with everything you'd expect from an all-inclusive, luxury holiday on offer 24 hours a day!

The community boasts a heated pool, spa, gym, restaurant, library and even a hairdressers. If you fancy being a little more active you can head to the croquet lawn or bocce court for a game or two.

To make sure residents are fighting fit, there's a nurse clinic available on-site, along with a 24-hour emergency call service. The village bus provides pick-up and drop-off services around the complex, as well as transportation to regular day trips and events in the local town.

Living in a beautiful spot comes at a price though. Independent living units range from $180,000 (£136k) for a one-bed serviced apartment, increasing to $332,000 (£250k) for a two-bed, two-bath resort villa. Those that opt for a serviced apartment will have their meals prepared for them and will be assisted with everything from household chores to linen changing. With this unit option, help is on hand 24 hours a day.

Monte da Palhagueira is nestled in the tranquil hills of Gorjôes, Portugal. Offering 33 unique properties in a development stretching 22 acres, this retirement complex will even allow you to try before you buy, with trial villas on offer.

Love the idea of living in the mountains but need some extra support? This deluxe retirement community offers independent living apartments, with one-bedroom townhouses costing from $225,000 (£169,500) for lifetime residency. There's also the added reassurance of medical assistance, available 24-hours a day.  

The on-site nursing home offers full-time care and also respite and day care services, with ensuite rooms ranging from $1,306 (£984) to $1,613 (£1,216) a week for long-term occupants. Couples sharing can stay for $1,920 (£1,447) a week, while those wanting to visit for the day can pay $237 (£178) to enjoy the resort's facilities.

The landscaped grounds also contain a church, restaurant, tennis court, two swimming pools and an ornamental lake, which are all set within the traditional-style village, scattered with idyllic stone-walled lanes and terracotta tiled buildings. 

This 79-acre retirement village, known as Amonsagana, is located in the scenic Mandayao Hills of Balamban, a peaceful seaside town in Cebu, the Philippines. Ideal for those looking for an active retirement, the resort features an impressive array of wellness facilities.

Take a scenic walk along the nature trails, or treat your feet by strolling barefoot along the reflexology paths. If you are looking for something more strenuous, you can hit the gym with a personal trainer and head to the spa to relax afterwards.

Residents can choose to live in one of six villa designs, which range in price from $275,000 (£207k) to $326,000 (£246k), each with a reservation fee of around $1,960 (£1,478). 

Each eco-friendly villa comes with a vegetable garden, as well as edible landscaping. Inside, the designs have been kept neutral with dark wood, white soft furnishings and plenty of greenery. 

Billed as London's first luxury lifestyle retirement community, Battersea Place has all the trappings of a five-star hotel – with prices to match. Apartments start at $863,000 (£650k) and go up to $3.8 million (£2.9m), with an additional monthly service charge starting from $1,327 (£1,000), for maintenance, gardening and cleaning.

Described by The Telegraph newspaper as “one of the world’s top three luxurious retirement communities", Battersea Place offers chic and sophisticated apartments. They feature contemporary décor and stylish furnishings, while nursing staff are on-site 24/7 to offer care if required. 

Residents can while away their leisure time sipping champagne and dining on gourmet food in the chef-led restaurant, enjoying a pamper session in the spa or a treatment in the onsite beauty salon.

There's even a stunning heated pool and a fully equipped gym suite. Residents also have access to a concierge and personal chauffeur service to cater to their every whim. If this is retirement, we don't want to stay young forever!

Australia isn't short of super-premium retirement homes and this beauty, on the gorgeous Gold Coast, is a prime example. Residents can lease one of the home's 120 suites, paying from $33 (£24.85) a day for the privilege, with additional services offered as costly extras. As for property purchases, a one-bedroom apartment for single occupancy begins at $292,00 (£220K), while a premium, extra-spacious suite will cost you $548,000 (£413k).

The complex's neutral décor features notes of Art Deco style, with suites boasting amenities such as air conditioning, high-speed internet and direct access to a balcony or courtyard.

A cut above the typical retirement home, Arcare Hope Island includes an alfresco café offering delicious treats, a fine dining restaurant and a stylish piano bar, which looks like the perfect spot for an after-dinner cocktail or two.

While some facilities – such as the movie theatre with a large projector screen and ultra-comfy chairs – may be restricted for social distancing, the elegant individual living spaces are more than comfortable enough to while away the hours and watch your favourite films.

This new retirement home is aimed at wealthy 'perennials'. Located in London's posh Chelsea neighbourhood, the retirement facility was completed at the end of 2019. Auriens caters to style-conscious seniors who expect the very best when it comes to cuisine, services and design. A one-bedroom apartment in this development is priced at $3.9 million (£3m), while penthouses come in at around $13.3 million (£10 million). 

Modelled on a private members' club, the luxe retirement home boasts a bar called Zimmer, a fine dining restaurant serving exquisite Michelin star-worthy dishes, and an atmospheric lounge area in which to kick back with a cognac. As for design, no expense has been spared at Auriens.

Every luxe apartment offers a lavish interior, which was expertly created by the prestigious design company, Richmond International. The firm is famed for its exquisite style, having worked on projects in some of the world's finest hotels, including The Langham and The Beaumont in London. 

Healthcare is of high priority here too. Auriens have partnered with Draycott Nursing, one of the UK's leading and most respected private providers of nursing care, to offer each well-heeled resident personalised care when necessary.

This upscale retirement home in Orange County, California, specialises in memory care and offers residents a wide variety of entertainment and fitness activities in luxurious surroundings. Calling this place home comes at a steep price, however, with a studio costing $4,700 (£3.5k) a month. Yet the monthly costs for living at Vivante may exceed $10,000 (£7.5k), should you opt for larger, more luxurious accommodation.

Accommodation is spacious and contemporary, featuring walk-in closets, patios, quartz countertops, Porcelanosa tiles and stainless steel appliances. Comfortable yet stylish, there are no unsightly, old-fashioned furnishings here!

Dining at Vivante is a refined culinary experience, and with four eateries to choose from residents are spoilt for choice. After dinner, there are a myriad of ways to while away the time, from painting in the art studio to watching a movie in the cinema, relaxing in the piano lounge or playing poker in the games room.

Wellbeing is a key part of residents' day-to-day lives. The community has a health and beauty club, a swish gym, a yoga roof deck, an indoor aquatic therapy pool, and even a dance floor. At Vivante, the possibilities are endless.

Located in Arizona's sun-drenched San Tan Valley, Encanterra is an upscale all-ages community featuring neighbourhoods exclusively for the over 55s. Its Spanish-style homes begin at $292,000 (£220k) and can go up to $462,000 (£348k). There's also a quarterly service charge of around $1,000 (£753), which residents must pay.

Homes tend to be on the large side, so there's plenty of space to entertain friends and family. All properties come with a state-of-the-art kitchen but if cooking is a chore residents can dine in one of the community's four gourmet eateries.

Love a few rounds of golf? The 18-hole private course is the focal point of the community but there are also three huge swimming pools, a tennis centre and even an amphitheatre for plays and concerts.

Amenity-wise, residents pretty much want for nothing here. The award-winning Alvea Spa provides indulgent wellbeing treatments and the gym is top notch, while an around-the-clock concierge service takes care of everything else. Where do we sign up?

Set among 12 rolling acres of idyllic land, Flete House is a retirement village unlike any other. The beautiful Grade I-listed country house contains 29 high-end apartments and its seemingly endless landscape grounds are classified as historically and culturally significant. Located just five miles from the Devonshire coast in Ivybridge, UK, Flete House is the retirement home of your wildest dreams.

Offering its lucky residents an independent lifestyle in a beautiful and secure environment, Flete House epitomises laid-back luxury. Here, an elegant one-bed apartment will set you back just $133,000 (£100k), while a beautifully appointed two bedroom flat comes in at $598,000 (£450k). Each apartment is entirely unique and offers rustic charm alongside contemporary decor. Residents much also pay a monthly service fee of $1,367 (£1k), which covers maintenance, gardening, and 24-hour security.

Many parts of the property date back to the sixteenth century but elements of Flete House were substantially rebuilt around 1620, for Sir Charles Hele. It was further heavily remodelled in the Gothic style in 1835, when classical castellations were added, giving the building its fortress-like appearance. The main communal lounge is perhaps the best place to see the character and history of the property, thanks to its prominent centralised fireplace, its beamed ceiling and timber bookcases.

No matter which apartment you choose, you're sure to end up with a refined and comfortable space to call your own. Many enjoy idyllic views across the Erme Estuary and Dartmoor National Park. Residents can also make use of the elegant panelled dining room, which offers a daily lunch service, the drawing room, where you can relax by the fire, a library, and a billiard room. Outside you'll also find a tennis court and a croquet lawn. Who said retirement has to be boring?

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