Retiring to the Coast: How We Built Our Dream Life in Arcachon

We spoke with Jane and Simon, who made the move to Gironde in 2016. Jane shares how they came to the decision and how life looks for them now.

"When we finally made the move to France in 2016, it felt less like a bold leap and more like the natural conclusion to a conversation we’d been having for years.

My husband and I had always been drawn to the idea of retiring abroad, but like many people, we went back and forth endlessly. Was it the right decision? Would we miss family too much? Would we settle? There were more “what ifs” than certainties for a long time.

In the end, we decided not to overthink it, we would simply try it out.

Before committing fully, we arranged to spend four months in France to see if the lifestyle really suited us. At the time, it was relatively straightforward to do, and it gave us the freedom to test the idea without pressure.

We didn’t expect to make a decision quickly.

But within one month, we knew we would be moving. And by month two, we knew exactly where.

We explored several areas during that trial period, but nothing quite compared to Gironde.

It offered everything we had been looking for, often without us even realising it beforehand. There’s a wonderful contrast in the Gironde, including elegant cities, vineyards that stretch for miles, and then the coastline, which for us was the real draw. It never felt overcrowded or overly commercialised, just expansive and natural.

We quickly found ourselves returning again and again to Arcachon.

Arcachon had a very particular charm. It’s a proper town, not just a seasonal resort, which meant it had life all year round. There were shops, restaurants, markets, and a real sense of community, but always with the sea just a few minutes away.

For us, the coast wasn’t just a bonus, it was central to the decision.

We had two young dogs at the time of our move, and the idea of long, open beach walks was something we had dreamed about for years. In Arcachon, that became part of daily life. Early mornings by the water, quieter stretches of sand, and that constant sense of space you only really get by the sea.

It felt like somewhere we could truly enjoy retirement, not just pass time.

Once we had decided on the area, the next challenge was finding the right property.

We viewed quite a few houses, some too large, some needing more work than we were ready for, and others that just didn’t feel quite right. We weren’t in a rush, which helped. Having already spent time in the area, we understood what we wanted from both the house and the location.

Eventually, we found it.

A light, slightly dated property in a quiet part of Arcachon, close enough to the coast to walk but tucked away from the busier areas. It wasn’t perfect, but it had exactly what we needed with a good structure, plenty of natural light, and potential.

The renovations were relatively light, but important.

We updated the kitchen, refreshed bathrooms, redecorated throughout, and made small changes to open up the living space. Nothing too dramatic, but enough to turn it into a home that suited how we wanted to live.

The garden became a priority as well, not just for us, but for the dogs. Creating an outdoor space where we could sit, relax, and entertain made a huge difference to how the house felt.

By the time we finished, it was exactly what we had hoped for: simple, comfortable, and perfectly placed.

Retirement here looks very different to what we had in the UK and exactly as we had hoped. Our days are shaped by choice rather than routine.

We walk the dogs along the coast most mornings, often stopping for coffee afterwards. Markets have become part of our weekly rhythm, and meals are slower, more social, and far more enjoyable. We spend time exploring the wider region too. Vineyards, nearby towns, and the endless variety the Gironde offers. There’s always something to do, but never any pressure to do it.

What we’ve found most valuable is the balance.

Arcachon gives us the beauty and calm of coastal living, while still being practical. Everything we need is within reach, and the area remains active throughout the year, which was important to us.

If there’s one thing our experience taught us, it’s that taking the time to trial the move made all the difference. By the time we committed, we weren’t guessing, we knew.

We understood the pace of life, the practicalities, and most importantly, how it felt to live here day to day. That confidence made the transition far smoother than it might otherwise have been.

Moving to the Gironde, and to Arcachon in particular, has given us the kind of retirement we had hoped for but weren’t entirely sure we’d find.

More time outdoors. More time together. A slower, more deliberate way of living.

And, of course, two very happy dogs who would absolutely refuse to move back.

For anyone considering a similar step, our advice would be simple: take the time to explore, trust your instincts, and if you find somewhere that feels right, don’t ignore it.

We didn’t. And it changed everything."