Consequences not covered yet are the financial implications. I've not been through this myself, but I have a couple of mates who have.
You say that "We are in a good position financially, house pretty much paid for, no debt etc". So, the first thing is, what happens about the house? If the split is amicable, do you sell the house and split the proceeds? Does she stay in the house and buy you out of your share?
Do you stay in the house and buy her out of her share, in which case you'll probably need a mortgage, so how long will you be economically active to allow you to service that mortgage?
Or if it is not amicable and solicitors fight over it on your behalf, there's a possibility that you'll walk away with very little. You don't say what your childcare arrangements have been but if your wife did the lion's share, running the home and having little or no career while she supported you in yours, she'd have a very good case for keeping the house.
Similarly to the house, looking to the future, she's likely to be entitled to half your private pension if you have one. How much longer are you prepared to continue working to fund your new life and build up a new private pension pot? How secure is your employment?
So, in your planning for the future, consider what sort of place you'll be prepared to live in going forward, because you'll have to get a mortgage. If you want a similar place to what you live in currently, it's going to cost you.
Two of my mates actually managed to stay in their houses. In the first case, his remaining aged parent snuffed it, and the inheritance was used to buy his wife out of her share - so if you think you might be coming into an inheritance, that's one way out. In the second instance, my mate bought his wife out by taking on a mortgage, then pretty soon after moved in his new girlfriend, who then became his wife, sold her house, paid off his new mortgage. So he's stayed in his house, debt-free, now with a new woman considerably younger than his first wife. What a cunt, er, I mean legend!
You assume the world is going to be your oyster, but you will need money to pay for all those pearl necklaces...
Financially, typically, there's much truth in the old rhyme "It's cheaper to keep her." So...
... on the relationship level, apart from the friendship aspect, do you think your marriage is irretrievable? Have you thought about going to Relate? Sometimes, thinking about what initially attracted you to each other, and trying to rekindle that, can have a good outcome. You said that you're not that bothered about sex, but you must be to be a punter, so does that mean you are just no longer attracted to her? Couples can get into a slow, downwards spiral of complacency. Are there any actions you can take, in terms of improving your behaviour towards her, that can improve matters? For example, working on your appearance, buying her flowers, paying her compliments, asking her how her day was and listening, taking an interest in her interests, finding things you can do together?
One other suggestion, an obvious one I know, but for post-menopausal sex, lube lube lube! And don't use a water-based one as they evaporate too quickly. That can be revived by a little saliva but not all women find that pleasant. A good silicone lube lasts for ages, doesn't dry out and is a far more silky experience more akin to natural juices imo. But it is harder to wash off.
