The Best Places for Autumn Breaks in the UK

There’s something very agreeable about autumn. Golden sun, orange leaves and misty mornings combine for a soft and positive holiday mood. While the weather in the UK is never predictable, it’s comforting to know that when you visit here in the fall you already expect it to be drizzling and accept the need for a thick jumper. Plum Guide has all of the properties with cosy fires, large beds and cosy kitchens you could ever need – all you have to do is pick your favourite one to stay in and we’ll do the rest of the work and research. Here’s our pick of the best autumn breaks in the UK.

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The Cotswolds is one of the best places for leaf peeping in the country (no giggling in the back there – leaf peeping is the act of observing the autumn colours rather than anything more nefarious). Designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, this area comprises rolling hills, adorable villages built from golden stone with some of the cutest pubs anywhere in the world and of course, trees aplenty for the aforementioned leaves.

To see the best fall colours is to head to the National Memorial Arboretum, which boasts 600 acres of different trees all displaying incredible autumn foliage, interspersed with sculptures and memorials. Even your teens will look up from TikTok, if only to snap photos of the glorious colours. Afterwards, head to Tetbury town with more than 25 antique shops full of treasures to sift through, and a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays with even more goodies. It’s ideal for finding gifts for those relatives who come Christmas are always so difficult to buy for.

For the autumn cottage of your dreams set in 21 acres of idyllic rural countryside, this house can’t be beat. Equipped with comfortable sofas around a roaring fire, there’s even an Aga in the kitchen for warming next to after chilly walks to the nearby Daylesford Farm for a delicious brunch.

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In the west country, autumn means one thing - it’s cider time. If you’ve never had the fortune (or misfortune, depending how bad your hangover was) to become acquainted with this delicious yet powerful drink, cider is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting apples until it’s funky and fizzy. You’ll leave addicted.

The third quarter of the year is when the apples are picked and pressed, and if you visit The Newt in Somerset, you can take a tour of the cider press and cellar, then sit back and relax with a glass of the stuff while you look over the manicured garden from the spot’s cafe. When you’re a little bit tipsy, head to nearby blue chip art gallery Hauser & Worth, located on a converted farm, and choose some new art for your walls.

Sleep off that last glassful in this converted horse box, painted in cosy yet peaceful blues and creams with a terrace overlooking Somerset’s green meadows and woods. In the morning, you can pick fresh herbs from the private garden to garnish your breakfast. You can't get better than that when it comes to autumn breaks in the UK – just don’t blame us if you don’t want to leave.

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Cumbria is home to the famous Lake District, one of the most beautiful places in the country and one that should definitely make your list of UK autumn breaks. Yes, it’s cold, but isn’t it time that you lived a little and faced your fears? This national park is famous for its lakes, rugged mountains and fells, and for inspiring many well known British authors. You might just spot Peter Rabbit among the bushes, as Beatrix Potter was among them.

The Lake District, as the name might clue you in to, has some of the best wild swimming in England. Head to the pool at Rydal Bower close to Ambleside, which you can find by following the signs to Rydal Falls. Located a ways inside the forest, it’s the kind of place where your daughter would have once believed that unicorns lived. Don your bathing suit and go for a quick dip, letting the autumn foliage colours distract you from the chilly temperatures, and you’ll leave feeling invigorated and much readier to take on the world than you do when you leave your office in the evenings.

Retire back to your tranquil house nestled among the woods near to the place which inspired poet William Wordsworth to write some of his most famous works. You can warm up in the roll top bath before watching the sunset over the nearby river with a glass of wine in hand. Alternatively, if you have a hankering to stay near one of the famous lakes of the Lake District, this luxurious apartment has picture-perfect views over the water, and a private terrace to enjoy them from.

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• Where to go for a Spring Break in the UK

• Summer holiday in the UK

• Where to go for a staycation in England

• The Cotswolds' selection of quaint places to stay

• Things to do in Cumbria