HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

We all know that Spain is one of the most popular destinations for British nationals looking to up sticks and head to warmer climes, but which areas do Brits favour the most?

With more than 300,000 UK nationals now thought to be permanently resident in the country, with many more looking to make the move, a recent survey by holiday rental search engine Spain-Holiday has revealed the areas in which they have chosen to settle.

Although not comprehensive, the survey looked primarily at cities where there were more than 50,000 residents. They then extracted all of the British pubs, shops and supermarkets via Google Maps and calculated the ratio of inhabitants to the number of establishments.

The company also used official data from the country’s national statistics institute (INE) to determine the number of Brits in each area based on the figures from January 2021.

The scores were then normalised with a final score out of 10 given to each of the cities.

So where do Brits call home in Spain?

#1 - Benidorm

It will come as no surprise to many that the top destination for British nationals wishing to relocate to Spain is sunny Benidorm on the Costa Blanca.

Since the 70s, Benidorm has established itself as one of the top destinations for British sunseekers, however, many have now chosen to call the region home.

With its multitude of Brit style pubs and cafes serving everything from greasy fry-ups to Sunday roast, it’s clear to see why many British nationals feel at home in Benidorm.

The study found that around 5 per cent of Benidorm's inhabitants are British nationals with a total of 3,389 residing there.

The research also revealed that there were 40 British owned shops, pubs, restaurants and similar establishments in the area making a definite hotspot.

#2 - Orihuela/Orihuela Costa, Alicante

Close to Torrevieja and located just south of Benidorm, the second most favourite destination for British nationals wishing to live in Spain is Orihuela.

The popular region includes the mediaeval town of Orihuela which sits just a few miles inland, along with the Coastal resort of Orihuela Costa with its glorious blue-flag, sandy beaches.

In total, there were 10,025 British nationals registered as residents in the region, making up 12 per cent of the total population.

Despite there being far more British residents than neighbouring Benidorm, there were only 18 British owned establishments identified, meaning a lower ratio and pushing the region into second place.

#3 - Benalmádena, Málaga

In third place was Benalmádena in the province of Málaga on the sunny Costa del Sol.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists head to what is one of the Costa del Sol’s most popular holiday destinations. However, it is clear that Benalmádena has also become home to thousands of UK expats.

Benalmádena is made up of three distinct areas which are Benalmádena Costa, Benalmádena Pueblo and the charming Arroyo de la Miel.

When the summer hoards have gone home, the British citizens who choose to coexist with the Spanish residents, get to enjoy everything this beautiful town has to offer including an abundance of golden sandy beaches, bars, cafes, restaurants, buzzing nightlife and the popular marina (pictured).

Brits are definitely one of the most prominent nationalities living here.

The study found that there were 3,420 British nationals living in Benalmádena, equating to around 5 per cent of the total population.

#4 - Mijas

Coming in fourth on the list was the very popular region of Mijas which is divided into the mountain town of Mijas Pueblo and the coastal resort of Mijas Costa.

Most Brits have chosen to reside in the coastal region which offers miles of beautiful beaches, bars, cafes and shopping centres.

The Pueblo is also popular, however, is favoured more by the thousands of tourists who visit the authentic Spanish town during the summer months to take in some of the most spectacular views found anywhere in Spain.

With 8,610 British residents, Mijas is definitely one of the most British regions in Spain, making up around 10 per cent of the population.

The Top 10

The final list of the most British of Spanish towns and cities were revealed as:-

1. Benidorm
2. Orihuela
3. Benalmadena
4. Mijas
5. Torremolinos
6. Fuengirola
7. Torrevieja
8. Calvia
9. Arona
10. Estepona

Although Brexit was believed to be a major stumbling block for British nationals wishing to live in Spain, there are still options, with a range of Spanish residency visas available to those who still dream of living here in 2022 and beyond.

Source

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1569678/spain-holidays-british-expats-best-destinations-benidorm-alicante
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2022/02/20/survey-reveals-the-cities-in-spain-most-dominated-by-british/amp/