In the UK, check out Newcastle Upon Tyne and the beautiful surrounding countryside of Northumberland. Newcastle is an really vibrant city with lots of galleries, great restaurants and bars. The shopping is good, Georgian architecture beautiful and the locals friendly. Northumberland is stunning with wild countryside, the Roman Wall (and various Roman settlements) and miles of golden sand beaches and it has more castles than any other county in England. Red squirrels still abound and there is a great deal of birdlife if you're interested in that sort of thing. Definitely a place to indulge in outdoor pursuits. The various market towns and villages dotted throughout are worth consideration too.
Overseas I'd be looking at France - probably the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Vineyards, Medieval and Roman architecture, Mediterranean coast, really beautiful towns like Carcassonne and Montpellier and an interesting city Toulouse. Cheaper than Provence etc. but still culturally rich, sunny and a wonderful place to retire in my humble opinion.