The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DEATHBED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
D
E
A
T
H
B
E
D
More clues leading to the result DEATHBED
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "The last place one would retire to" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case the last place one would retire to = deathbed.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DEATHBED mean?
DEATHBED noun- The bed on which someone dies.
- The last hours before death.