what alternatives to pensions are there?

Well, you could put money under your mattress, though this is not advised, if only because you would end up with a very lumpy bed if you saved enough this way.

Other people are relying on other ways of saving and investment such as property.

This may make sense for some, but just because property investments have done better than stock markets in the recent past, it does not mean this will continue. Pensions attract favourable tax treatment while property, other than your main home, is subject to capital gains tax. Few experts recommend this route to retirement security for most people.

Of course it makes sense to have some savings that you can get at easily. Financial advisers will always say that you should use excess funds to pay off debt and build up some emergency savings as a priority.

Pensions savings are usually tied up until you retire, and there are usually limits on taking cash lump sums. So it is sensible to save through tax efficient means such as ISAs with the aim of using the savings when you retire if you do not need them first. But there are good reasons why experts would not advise you to use this as the only route to retirement income.