Almost one million former British residents now receive their British State Pension abroad, with Spain easily heading up the list of relocation hotspots.

While Malaga, Tenerife and Alicante may be the top Spanish holiday destinations for UK tourists, a different location has emerged as the clear favourite of British ex-pats retiring to Spain: the city of Murcia and its surrounding region.

Found in the south-eastern corner of Spain, Murcia has a hot semi-arad climate, with mild winters and warm-to-hot summers. It averages more than 300 days sunshine a year although, occasionally, the region can experience heavy rains where the entire year’s precipitation falls over the course of a few days!

Natural beauty

Despite Murcia City being the seventh largest in Spain, the surrounding region is one of the country’s least densely populated, making it easy to find the peace and tranquillity that many retirees seek. Murcia offers numerous world-class golf courses and many beautiful beaches such as Aguillas, La Manga and Mar Menor.

Murcia is known as ‘Europe’s Orchard’ due to its long agricultural tradition as a producer and exporter of fruit, vegetables and flowers. Murcia’s tomatoes, lemons and oranges can be found in most European supermarkets. Murcia is also a major producer of wine, with more than 100,000 acres devoted to grape vineyards.

Modern Murcia

Fiestas are a serious business in Murcia, with local festivals taking place every month across the region. Murcia City’s Holy Week procession is one of the most famous throughout Spain, with the colourful Bando de la Huerta (Orchard Parade) taking place only one week later.

Murcia has one of the largest, most modern shopping malls in Europe, Nueva Condominium, including major retailers such as Ikea, Primark and Mothercare and more than 30 cinema screens. For football fans, the new Murcia FC stadium is close to the shopping complex.

For the grandchildren, the new Paramount theme park, which will be the largest in Europe, has been confirmed for construction in Murcia and is scheduled to open in 2015.

Pointers for pensioners

The World Health Organisation ranks Murcia as one of the five healthiest places in the world to live, however, should you need to use it, the Spanish state healthcare system is regarded as one of the best in Europe. Brits retiring to Murcia should apply for an E121 form from the UK Pensions Service before leaving for Spain. Once you arrive you must register the form at the local social security office. They will issue you with a social security card which must be produced when you go for treatment either at your local GP’s surgery or hospital.

Finally, if you feel ever homesick, there are regular flights to Murcia’s two international airports every day from all over the UK, meaning that you are never more than 4 hours flight-time from your loved ones back home – and vice versa!

James is a travel writer and blogger with a passion for Spain. When not exploring Murcia he can usually be found at home in Edinburgh where he lives and works, planning his next trip to Spain.