The UK is known for it’s stunning natural surroundings, especially in the autumn months. Mid-October is the perfect time to visit some British national parks and see the stunning fall foliage colours, and get stuck in to some classic fall activities.
01. Grasmere, The Lake District
The Lake District is one of England’s best places for those stunning autumn foliage photos. There are endless natural parks to enjoy the fall atmosphere, but Grasmere is the most scenic by far. Home to the famous ‘Grasmere Gingerbread’, this quaint village has options for rowing on the lake, visiting the independent shops or enjoying a pint on the rivers edge. On the very edge of England, this may be your only opportunity to spot the famous red squirrels in England, for those who love wild nature spotting. The Lake District is well-known for cosy cabin & hot tub rentals, but it’s also great to support local businesses and stay in their many independent B&B’s for your weekend break. See this article for the many amazing things to do whilst in The Lake District (link).
02. Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a surprisingly green city, so when the autumn foliage comes through to Princes Street Gardens, the Edinburgh Castle views are stunning. Edinburgh is the perfect autumn city break for lovers of gloomy, dark academia vibes. You can enjoy rich history tours, whisky tastings & Scotland’s best restaurants, all in one stunning city setting. Harry Potter fans will love the magical aura of this city, and if Princes Street isn’t enough for your photos, try Greyfriar’s Cemetery for a more seasonal photo opportunity. If you want the perfect instagram photo inspiration for your break to Edinburgh, read this article which includes exact map links to the best spots!
03. Rye, East Sussex
This quaint, picturesque town is the perfect location for an autumnal, short break over the weekend. Rye is your typical English, historical town with a cosy village feel and that gorgeous Tudor architecture, making it the picture perfect romantic break for the fall season. It’s a perfect base for those places a short drive away, like Winchelsea, Pett & Hastings, as well as the UK’s most stunning beach, Camber Sands very close by. Whether you would prefer an intimate pub B&B style stay or a luxury hotel feel, Rye has many offerings, as well as being very close by a prestigious UK winery, Tillingham. Book an autumnal wine tasting, walk through the scenic vineyard, and enjoy an intimate dinner in their beautiful pizza restaurant.
04. Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
One of North England’s best weekend breaks has to be Knaresborough. The famous viaduct over the river scene looks stunning with the autumn foliage, and early in the season you can still take scenic rowing boat rides along the river, all without the summer crowds. Enjoy cosy walks on cobbled Yorkshire streets, Knaresborough castle views over the viaduct, and pints by the fire in the traditional, English pubs. If you prefer the quiet weekend vibe, you can have the best time in Yorkshire, and even visit the neighbouring town of Harrogate for more cosy, autumnal scenery.
05. Stourhead National Park, Wiltshire
This National Trust property has the most beautiful lush, green grounds in the summer, so when fall hits and the stunning foliage colours come in, it’s truly the most beautiful place to visit in South England. You can have a great time wandering around the vast grounds, with many gorgeous photo opportunities, and bring an autumnal picnic along to enjoy in the great outdoors. As the setting for the famous Pride & Prejudice (2006) proposal scene, Stourhead is the perfect place for special occasions, and is one of England’s most picturesque national park. Stourhead is situated in the county of Wiltshire, and is just a short drive away from the city of Bath, which may be a perfect base for your autumnal weekend. You can enjoy a day out at the beautiful Stourhead park, and an intimate evening enjoying the steaming water of thermae bath spa under the stars.
06. Glen Affric, The Scottish Highlands
Rent a cosy cabin in The Scottish Highlands, and lounge in a hot tub while enjoying the stunning autumnal scenery. Glen Affric is a stunning mixture of magical woodlands, opportunities for outdoor adventure and luxury hotel estates. The autumn season will see plenty of wildlife in the deep north of Scotland, and would be the perfect weekend break for those who would love hiking the picturesque glen, lochs & ancient pine forest. If you have dreams of hunting down the Loch Ness Monster, or exploring the Culloden memorial site, The Highlands may be the perfect base for all of your Scottish adventures.
07. Snowdonia, Wales
Autumn in Snowdon is perfect for those looking for outdoor challenges in mild temperatures. For somewhere to stay during your weekend break, there are two market towns to choose from nearby, Betws-y-coed and Llanberis. Both have cosy pub inns and B&B’s, however for anyone who wants to make the most of the great outdoors for their weekend break, you can stay within the Snowdon National Park in a log cabin. Lounge in a private cabin with a hot tub and mountain views after a long day hiking Snowdon mountain, it really is the ideal place for a relaxing break.
08. Jesmond Dene, Newcastle
The Dene is Newcastle’s best nature spot, and has many parks and walking routes that take you on a tour of the rich, natural grounds. There are lots of historical structures and bridges around the Dene that look magical in the dim autumn light and autumn foliage, making it a haven for anyone who loves photography. Newcastle itself is the perfect weekend break for anyone seeking fun, lively night life, but who also enjoys exploring the nature and Northern English culture it has to offer. If you spend time at Jesmond Dene, you are nearby some beautiful cafe’s and restaurants, like the cities favourite – Cake Stories – for some atmospheric, Geordie charm.
09. Halnaker Tree Tunnel, West Sussex
A gorgeous piece of nature in the deep south of England, is the Halnaker Treet Tunnel in West Sussex. To get the perfect autumnal photography here, you will need to be tactical with your timing as it gets busy with traffic and tourists stopping for their foliage shots. Nearby the tunnel, avid walkers will love the Halnaker Hill & Windmill Trail route, which presents lots of picturesque views of nature in the autumn months. However, for anyone who prefers quiet luxury, The Tinwood Estate is a five-star, luxury vineyard that has amazing views and of the local area and beautiful private rooms with that perfect intimate feel.
10. Richmond Park, London
Central London may be a bit intense for some weekend breaks, but Richmond is a quieter, greener area of the capital city. Richmond Park is a vast, scenic haven, filled with natural wildlife and picturesque photo opportunities. In peak foliage months, this autumn break is idyllic for anyone that wants to be close to the heart of English culture, as it is close to Hampton Court Palace and The Royal Botanical Kew Gardens. Go and spot a wild deer in Richmond Park, and take a photo in a classic English phone booth this autumn.
11. Chatsworth House, The Peak District
The classic set for Pride & Prejudice as Pemberley, has vast, manicured lands with such lush greenery in the summer months. The golden leaves against the lavish, stately home creates some sublime scenery for any photography lovers out there. The Peak District has a variety of hotels, cottages and cabins and beautiful natural surroundings that make an ideal weekend break. Other nearby places to visit are The Heights of Abraham, in the village of Matlock, or stopping in Bakewell for lazy afternoon teas.
12. Water of Leith Walkway, Edinburgh
In the second half of October, the autumn colour is at it’s peak beauty in the city of Edinburgh. Stockbridge is a smaller town of the city, that has lots of trendy restaurants, bars and bakeries, as well as being on the beautifully scenic Water of Leith. You can walk along the river all the way to Dean Bridge to see the amazing views of the city, and take in all of the beautiful monuments along the way.
13. Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
One of the best autumn holiday ideas is to visit the northern county of Northumberland, where there is a beautiful coastline to explore and the historic monument, Hadrian’s Wall. In the chilly autumn weather, you can get amazing shots of the vast landscape in gloomier weather, as well as being nearby other green areas to walk around, such as Talkin Tarn View Point. Stay in the picturesque village of Brampton for a cosy weekend break, or for a more nature feel rent a countryside yurt with an outdoor hot tub so you can enjoy the historic landscape in private.
14. Sheffield Park Gardens, Sussex
A southern autumn escape is in the beautiful county of Sussex, where you can view the stunning autumn foliage at this National Trust property, Sheffield Park Gardens. This land has acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland, as well as a The Coach House café to stop for lunch. Another gem close-by that is perfect for the autumnal months, is Ashdown Forest, known for being the fictional home of Winnie the Pooh.
15. Kew Gardens, London
Kew Gardens is England’s most famous botanical nature space on the outskirts of London. It’s a great place for a day out in a quieter part of the capital, and the surrounding borough of Kew is very quaint and cosy. Kew has a treetop walkway with spectacular views of the nature surroundings, and in the autumn months there will be beautiful views of the golden leaves. Kew is home to the largest Victorian greenhouse, the great pagoda and Kew Palace, home of George III and Queen Charlotte. The ideal visiting time for the autumn period is early October, when the mild temperatures allow you to relax on the grass with an autumn picnic, and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.
16. Castle Combe, Cotswolds
This quaint, English village is often flooded with tourists in the summer months, but autumn is certainly the most exciting time of year for a visit. It’s known as one of England’s prettiest villages, with a medieval market square, ancient church and old stone bridge, surrounded by trees. The Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and has many other stunning villages that make for the perfect autumnal weekend break, such as Cheltenham and Bourton-on-the-Water.
17. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland
For Harry Potter fans, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is a must visit for September. In the autumn months, you can see the gloomy skies and rolling hills as the steam trains roll by and live out your Hogwarts dream. The surrounding area of Glenfinnan has the most scenic hikes Scotland has to offer, including the Loch Shiel viewpoint, which is an easy, circular route for those autumn nature views. For your weekend break, stay in a cosy B&B in the village and enjoy views of the spectacular curved viaduct.
18. Oxford University Campus, England
Fall means the start of a new university term in the city of Oxford, England. This world renowned campus starts to really liven up in the autumn months, so it’s the perfect time to visit for a short break and go punting along the river. You can have a great time exploring the campus, and capture stunning views of the historic university buildings with the autumn coloured foliage, and soak up some pure English culture.
