Beautiful UK destinations for spectacular autumn colours

If you choose to book an autumn stay in the UK, there’s plenty to look forward to. Cooler temperatures make it much more comfortable to spend a day exploring on foot, while the changing landscape brings a completely different atmosphere to the countryside. From woodland walks beneath canopies of turning leaves to crisp coastal paths and characterful villages to discover along the way, autumn is a wonderful time to get out and explore.

We’ve rounded up the best places to visit in the UK this autumn, if you’re looking for seasonal colour, along with well-placed holiday lodges nearby to return to at the end of a busy day.

The Cotswolds

Autumn is a lovely time to explore the Cotswolds, when the summer crowds have gone, and the countryside is vibrant with rich russet and golden hues. Climb to Broadway Tower for far-reaching views across the Severn Vale or wander along the River Windrush in Bourton-on-the-Water. If you’re staying near Chipping Norton, you’ve a wonderful base from which to explore the northern Cotswolds and nearby Rollright Stones.

With its array of pretty villages and walks to explore, alongside welcoming country pubs, you’ll find it easy to fill a weekend with autumn activities.

Stay: Churchill Lodge | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs

Immerse yourselves in nature and book a break at this stunning contemporary lodge, set within the heart of Cotswolds National Landscape.

Located within Bluewood Lodges in Chipping Norton, close to well-known attractions and the pretty Cotswold villages of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, you’ll find plenty of autumn walks and activities to discover, before returning to sink into your private hot tub under a canopy of trees.

The New Forest

Autumn is arguably the most atmospheric time to visit the New Forest, just as the summer day-trippers clear out, and the ethereal woodlands turn deep russet and copper.

By choosing Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst as your base, you can enjoy easy access onto the local trails. From Brockenhurst you can step straight out onto level heathland routes where wild ponies and donkeys graze among the local wildlife, or for more striking canopy walks, head deeper into the park toward Bolderwood, where the routes that wind beneath the towering firs offer an incredible autumn display.

Autumn is also the prime season for pannage, when local farmers release pigs into the woods to feed on fallen acorns; it is an ancient tradition that takes place between September and November to help protect the free-roaming ponies from the toxic ones.

Stay: Riverside Retreat | sleeps 4 

Set along the banks of the Beaulieu River and boasting trails that lead directly from your doorstep into the pretty village of Beaulieu, this modern lodge is a great choice of location for an autumn break. 

Designed with the views in mind, witness the change of season from every picture window and from the private raised deck.

National Trust estates and gardens

Autumn is the perfect time to explore some of the UK’s historic gardens and estates, when their trees and carefully considered planting transforms into a fiery palette. From sweeping parkland to woodland trails, there are plenty of places where you can enjoy the season’s colours.

Stourhead in Wiltshire is one of our highlights, with its famous lake surrounded by trees that turn spectacular shades of red and gold. In Sussex, Sheffield Park and Garden combines formal landscaped gardens with lakes and winding woodland paths that are particularly atmospheric in autumn. Down in the Southwest, Killerton in Devon is surrounded by parkland and woodland, making it an easy choice for a crisp autumn walk and a chance to see the season's colours at their best.

Stay: Cabana Lakeside Lodge 3 | sleeps 6 + 3 dogs

Perfect for families and small groups, this stylish lodge is nestled within a wooded valley in Devon, offering spectacular lakeside views and countryside trails to explore directly from your doorstep. 

One of four properties within this hamlet, here you can immerse yourself in nature and witness the changing leaves from the privacy of the hot tub and shielded patio.

Arboretums

For the most spectacular autumn colour displays, the UK’s botanical tree collections within arboretums are hard to beat. Westonbirt, in Gloucestershire, the National Arboretum, is perhaps the most concentrated. Home to over 2,500 species, where towering Japanese maples and acers turn brilliant shades of copper and red across 600 acres of accessible walking trails. Further north in the Cotswolds near Moreton-in-Marsh, Batsford Arboretum showcases a collection of exotic specimens and maples, paired with practical, dog-friendly paths.

If you are heading up to Scotland, Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Scottish Borders near Peebles offers a striking display of historic European silver firs and yellow birch; trees that thrive in the cooler Highland air.

Stay: Woodland Retreat Cabin | sleeps 6

Escape to this stylish retreat in Southern Scotland, where contemporary interiors meet a peaceful woodland setting. 

With a spacious outdoor deck and easy access to nearby lochs and rivers, it’s a lovely base for small groups or a family to explore the rugged countryside around Galloway Forest Park, including the region’s beautiful autumn landscapes, before heading back to the lodge to enjoy a dip in the hot tub as dusk falls.

Country parks

Country parks often strike the perfect balance between wild landscapes and easy amenities, making them a great choice for an autumn day out with plenty of convenience. In Leicestershire, Bradgate Park offers a rugged terrain of craggy outcrops, ancient oaks, and wild deer herds alongside the striking silhouette of Old John Tower; a beautiful place to explore if you want to witness the change of season.

If you are heading across the border to South Wales, explore Margam Country Park near Port Talbot, which combines rich industrial heritage with vast grounds; here you can wander among roaming deer herds and castle ruins. Northam Burrows in North Devon delivers coastal elements by the bucketload with its expansive dune grassland and open common set right alongside the pebble ridge of Westward Ho! beach.

Stay: Squirrel | sleeps 2 + 2 dogs

Set within Mallory Meadows Lodges in the Leicestershire countryside, this cosy cabin features its own private hot tub and is surrounded by open fields and wide skies; perfect for an autumn escape. 

From here you can easily explore nearby Market Bosworth and the surrounding countryside before settling in for a relaxing evening under the stars.

National parks

Visiting the UK's national parks between late September and November offers a completely different experience than the peak summer months. In the south, the ancient woodlands of the New Forest take on rich golden tones, with free-roaming ponies happily grazing. Down in Exmoor, the open moorland turns deep copper, in contrast with the sheltered wooded combes along the coast. Head north to the Peak District to catch the gritstone ridges of the Dark Peak framed by yellowing heather, while in the limestone valleys of Dovedale and the river trails of the Yorkshire Dales, tumbling waterfalls cut through wooded valleys.

Stay: Kingfisher at Manor View | sleeps 2

Offering a romantic autumn retreat for two, this luxurious glamping pod offers the best of both worlds; plenty of modern comfort in a remote setting. 

Immerse yourselves in the spectacular scenery from your private hot tub, after time spent exploring the romantic ruins of Wingfield Manor. Or travel a short distance to witness the dramatic scenery of the Peak District.

Cumbria and the Lake District  

Cumbria and the Lake District remain the undisputed headline act for an autumn walking break. Witness morning mists as they lift off the water, with steep fell sides aflame with colour and reflected across the famous lakes of Buttermere, Ullswater and Derwentwater.

Woodland trails around Borrowdale and Great Langdale showcase the vibrant hues of the copper birch trees, while the market towns of Keswick, Ambleside and Grasmere provide the ideal setting for a fireside pub lunch after hours spent rambling along the trails.

Stay: Shefferlands Lodge At Calthwaite Hall | Sleeps 4 + 2 dogs

Set within the grounds of Calthwaite Hall Estate, this stylish lodge is well placed for exploring the Lake District. 

Spend your days walking or cycling before returning to the estate, where you can enjoy a meal or drink at the on-site bar and restaurant, then unwind beneath the stars in your own private hot tub.

Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley

Few places are better suited to an autumn escape than the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, where ancient woodland, rolling hills and the winding River Wye create a spectacular backdrop of colour. Spend time exploring the forest's walking trails or heading to Symonds Yat for spectacular panoramas across the Wye Valley, before slowing down the pace again with a wander through one of the area's pretty villages.

Stay: The Hideaway | Sleeps 2 + 1 dog

A peaceful retreat set within the heart of the valley, and with its own private hot tub; ideal for warming up after a crisp autumn walk. 

Staying here gives you the chance to wake up surrounded by woodland and make the most of this beautiful corner of the country as the landscape takes on its autumn colours.

Plan your autumn lodge holiday

Owls Roost Escape | Lapwing Stargazing Hot Tub Retreat | Gilnockie | Driftwood

Autumn is a wonderful time to slow the pace and explore the UK, whether you're discovering golden-hued woodland trails or simply enjoying the changing landscape from your lodge. Add a private hot tub, and you have an easy way to finish off a day outdoors, whatever the weather.

From cosy woodland retreats to lodges in some of the UK's most beautiful autumn destinations, holidaylodges.co.uk has plenty of autumn lodge stays to choose from. Find your perfect base and start planning an autumn escape that gives you time to get outside, switch off and enjoy the changing season.