Marianne Goodman can’t contain her excitement about her and her husband’s new move.
After selling their home on a cul-de-sac near Hartlepool, feisty partner Glenn, 58, and partner, 61, are now preparing to move to a 2-acre estate in north-east Poland.
She is one of thousands of pensioners leaving the UK to start a new life in the country.
Happy selfie: Marianne Goodman and her partner Glenn in Poland
Polish real estate: Marianne and her partner Glenn’s home sits on a two-hectare plot
The 13th century Malbork Castle next to Marianne and Glenn’s new home
Located in a village not far from a 13th-century Teutonic Order castle, former bank teller Marianne said: “We found a lovely detached property with a pond, stables and an orchard for £130,000.
“We are bringing our two dogs, cats and a ferret, and I would also like some goats and chickens.
“I always wanted to live in the countryside and grow my own vegetables.
“So this is going to be a bit like The Good Life, I guess,” she said, referring to the 1970s British sitcom starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal.
Across the country, former NHS worker John sits in his family home with a stunning view of lakes and forests and says he “couldn’t be happier”.
The 73-year-old pensioner described his home in a village in north-west Poland as his “happy place” and said the only thing he misses about England is Cornish pies.
He told MailOnline: “I’ve lived in Spain and London and Poland is better than both.
“To put it simply, my life is great.”
John and his Polish partner, well integrated into the small local community, spend their days drinking wine in a cozy local restaurant and chatting with friends and neighbors.
John (on the left next to his Polish partner) barbecues with friends in their garden over an open fire
John enjoys a glass of wine at a cozy local restaurant and chats with friends and neighbors.
John’s ‘happy place’: the former NHS workers’ hostel in north-west Poland
Former NHS worker John took a picture of his dog ‘Sophie’ in his snowy garden in Poland
One of John’s favorite restaurants serving fresh trout for around £4 to £10
Meanwhile, 100 miles south, Johnny Craiggs is enjoying a pint of Guinness at his local Irish pub.
Housed in Poznan’s 20th-century Imperial Castle, the Dubliner attracts a lively crowd, including the 66-year-old former Newcastle bus and coach driver.
Autumn road to John’s house: The only thing he misses about Britain is the Cornish pies
Polish room with a view: John sees this beautiful lake scene from his window
John is still an England supporter and cheers on the Three Lions at the World Cup at his home in Poland
He said: “It can get a bit expensive here for Poland, 22 zloty (about £4.20) for a Guinness. But it could be anything between £4.80 and £5.60 in clay.”
Johnny met his Polish wife Grazyna 20 years ago and moved to Poznan in 2014 to open a cafe called English Johnny’s.
Johnny traveled back and forth between the UK to drive his bus while Grazyna stayed to run the cafe, eventually settling in Poland in 2019.
He said: “Obviously we’re much better off here than in the UK, but I’ll still come back for a drive and stock up on sausages and bacon so I can understand English well.”
New research has discovered the fastest growing travel destinations for retirees leaving the UK
The pensioners are just a small fraction of a growing number of Britons retiring in Poland.
A recent report by Investing Reviews showed that “2,213 people applying for a UK pension have found their roots in Poland since the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020”.
Ross Naylor, owner of Financial Advice Poland, said: “One of the benefits for Britons retiring to Poland is that it is one of the countries where UK state pensions continue to rise with inflation.
“Another point is that the tax treaty between the two countries clearly regulates the treatment of pension income.”
Johnny holds a bottle of his own brew called 303 in memory of the Polish RAF squadron that had the most ‘kills’ during the Battle of Britain
Johnny in front of his cafe called English Johnny’s, which he runs with Grazyna from Poland
Another draw, says former NHS worker John, is the cost of living.
When he bought his three-bedroom terraced house on a 5,000m² plot for £52,000, he said: “I used to live in a small flat in London. Now I have everything I never had in the United Kingdom could not afford.
“Dining out in the UK is also expensive. But we can pop into our local restaurant and get a great meal for as little as 60 zlotys (about £11) or up to a few hundred (about £40) depending on what we have.
“Polish food is delicious with wonderful meats and cheeses. “You can also get fantastic wine here, a decent bottle costs about 40 zlotys (£7).”
John first visited Poland in 2004 while on holiday in Kraków, where he met his current partner, a 53-year-old former truck driver. John moved to Poland full-time in 2015.
He said: “I lived in a small flat in London and worked in telecommunications for 18 years before being forced into voluntary retirement.
“I then started working at Great Ormond Street Hospital and also at an HIV hospice.
“My partner is Polish and we originally bought this house as a holiday home, but when I turned 65 we decided to move here permanently.
The 20th century imperial palace built by Wilhelm II in 1905 and where ‘English Johnny’ has his local Irish pub.
The Dublin pub attracts a lively crowd, including 66-year-old former Newcastle bus and coach driver Johnny
“That was the obvious goal and we never looked back.”
Bus driver Johnny agrees. He said: ‘I’m proud to be British, but of course it’s much better to live here than in the UK.
“My pension here is much higher and we have three unmortgaged buildings.
“Of course it’s cheaper here, although it’s getting more and more expensive. But the UK pension goes much further than the Polish pension which I think is 40% behind.
“We’re not rich, but we feel good.”
He also has a group of foreign and Polish friends that he met while running English Johnny’s.
He said: “I have my friends, my health, my wife and Posen is beautiful.
“There aren’t many things I miss about the UK, to be honest, apart from good fish and chips and chips.”
For Marianne and Glenn, they don’t think about what they will miss, but about the adventure ahead.
After Marianne worked in banking for 35 years and Glenn spent most of his working life in construction, they both took early retirement to ‘make the dream come true’.
Preparing to move to the picturesque Pomeranian region between the historic cities of Gdańsk and Elblag, Marianne said: “We want to live a life we can afford in a quiet town.
“Glenn brings his bike so he can explore the area and I want to get involved in the community and local activities.
“I’ve been coming here since I was seven and the more I see of the country the more I love it.
“With a pension it’s definitely cheaper than in the UK. And there are also real seasons.
“My grandfather was Polish, so we have family here and I want to connect with my heritage.” She added: “We found a pub that brews their own beer, which is good, but I think my husband always will.” don’t miss Brits either. bacon and sausage.”
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
