AUTUMN is a fantastic season for a cheap UK staycation – you just have to know where to look.
Luckily, our team of travel experts have banded together to reveal their favourite UK holiday spots for the season… and each is paired with an amazingly cheap holiday deal.
From coastal holiday parks with plenty of Halloween action for kids, to underrated charming Cotswolds towns, we’ve selected breaks that are even better in autumn.
Here’s our pick of affordable autumn UK holidays starting from less than a tenner per person.
Heacham, Norfolk
Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens
North-west Norfolk might just be my favourite place to visit in autumn.
The royal estate of Sandringham is home to a 600-acre country park, where you’ll stroll down paths shaded by emerald evergreen trees and fiery red cypresses.
The blue and yellow walking trails are marked by giant sculptures of woodland animals. Make sure to also stop by the giant wooden playground with the kids, all for free.
In nearby Snettisham you can hand-feed deer on a Deer Safari at Snettisham Park (£13.50 per adult, £11.50 per kid) or settle down for a local pint by the fire in 14th century pub The Rose and Crown.
In the village of Heacham you’ll find Church Farm, where you can pick your own pumpkins to take back and carve (or simply pose for some family photos with their amazing hay bale displays). Drive a bit further to Brookhill Farm in Thursford and you’ll find a giant pumpkin house.
Base yourself at Parkdean Resorts Heacham Beach for a Halloween-themed October break with loads to do for kids, including rain-proof activities like indoor fancy dress contests, slime-making and a huge ‘Monster Ball’ party.
Plus here you’re only 15 minutes’ drive from Sandringham and Snettisham, and a short walk from Norfolk’s typical golden sands for a breezy beach walk.
You can book a three night weekend break from October 15 in a Bronze caravan sleeping six for £139 total. That works out to £7.72pp per night – plus the Halloween activities will already be up and running.
Witney, Oxfordshire
Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey
A hot chocolate, comfy walking boots and a stroll through the countryside to the pub is my idea of heaven in autumn.
And where is more beautiful that the Cotswolds? But skip the busier towns and head to Witney, often overlooked in favour of the nearby Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water.
The best coffees are found at Coffeesmiths, while a slice of cake from Hunter’s Cake Cafe is a must.
While it has a crazy amount of pubs (the Hollybush is my favourite), there is one that is worth the walk.
Then follow the river for an easy 2hr30 walk through the fields, ending at The Rose Revived Pub where you can warm up with a fantastic roast dinner.
Then hop in a taxi back to Witney and stay at The Blue Boar, a converted 16th century former coaching inn which recently underwent a huge makeover with rooms from around £64.
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski
Autumn is, in my opinion, the most magical season for glamping. Nature is at its finest: woodlands are carpeted in crunchy golden leaves and there’s a brisk chill in the air that makes golden hour feel even more cherishable.
And there’s no better place to take advantage of all this than Liba Vineyard in Salisbury, home to just three cosy wooden cabins, sleeping up to four.
Buried in rugged countryside on a working vineyard, each bolthole comes with floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the scenery, while bedrooms come with sky lights for night time observing.
You’ll actually feel grateful for the brisk weather here as that means you can take advantage of the wood-fired hot tubs and roaring outdoor fire pits (don’t forget to pick up some marshmallows for toasting)
While you can’t yet drink the wine from the vines grown outside your door, it’s still the perfect spot for hunkering down with a glass of red and a board game.
Cabins cost from £34.75pp (or £139 in total) per night.
North York Moors
Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens
The North York Moors National Park is best explored in the autumn, with waterfall walking trails, miles of heather moorland and quaint coastal towns that are far quieter than in the summer.
The Falling Foss walk takes you on a peaceful loop through ancient forests to reach a 30-foot waterfall, while the Mallyan Spout in Goathland is a more challenging route, but this waterfall is the tallest (70 feet).
Whitby is also a must-visit, with the spooky Whitby Abbey ruins to explore as well as plenty of Dracula history. Dip into the UK’s best fish and chip shop Trenchers for an award-winning lunch.
One of the best ways to take in the views is aboard the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which covers 24 miles of scenery, stopping at pretty villages such as Goathland and Pickering and ending in Whitby. Day Rover tickets start from £42.70pp with one child going free per adult.
There’s even a theatrical ghost train with a complimentary local G&T on select dates for Halloween (£40pp).
Book a cosy three-night cottage stay in Whitby for £17.94pp per night with this deal from cottages.com.
Peak District
Head of Travel, Lisa Minot
Discover the dark side to the Peak District’s stunning countryside on a new guided walk launching this autumn that brings stories of plague, murder and highwaymen to life.
Dark Tales of the Peaks is a new experience that brings to life the tragic history of the village of Eyam – where the entire village isolated itself during a devastating plague in 1665.
Hear tales of the doomed lovers separated by the outbreak and learn about notorious highwayman Black Harry at Carlswark Cavern.
You’ll also follow ancient roads to Stoney Middleton and discover its historic Roman Bath House before enjoying a hearty meal inspired by food of the period at The Cupola Kitchen including pottage with flatbreads and Bakewell pudding.
The four-hour experience is from £85pp.
And for a stunning stay nearby, Glenhurst in Holmesfield, Derbyshire is a five-bedroom modern country home sleeping up to ten.
The star of the show is the stunning view over the huge garden – and open countryside beyond – from the terrace that sits just outside the vast open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room.
Three nights’ self-catering this autumn is from £115pp, based on ten sharing.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding
Not many cities in the UK are prettier than Edinburgh in autumn and for families, it is full of exciting spots to explore.
Wannabe wizards should visit Greyfriars Kirkyard – while yes, it is a graveyard, you’ll find headstones with lots of the most famous characters’ names including Potter, McGonagall and even Tom Riddell.
Much-loved Victoria Street has Harry Potter-themed shops too, as well as colourful architecture.
For history buffs, Edinburgh Castle is definitely worth exploring and if you want a bit of exercise, head up Arthur’s Seat and take in the spectacular view.
For a gentler walk, gander long the river to Dean Village – a neighbourhood full of stone house that look as if they have been ripped from the pages of a fairytale.
It’s also worth getting lost in the National Museum of Scotland for an entire day, exploring thousands of objects across several grand galleries – for free.
Meninger Hotel Haymarket has funky family rooms with a double bed and a bunk bed, ensuite bathroom and free WiFi from £125 per night.
Anglesey, Wales
Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill
For crowd-free breaks filled with nature-watching and windy beach walks, I don’t think you can do better than Wales.
This year Anglesey has been named ‘unfashionable’ but ‘lovely’ by The Telegraph for the summer holidays, however I happen to think it’s pretty perfect for autumn.
My favourite beach on Anglesey is Traeth Lligwy which I discovered on a hike around the coast which is glorious in the summertime.
If you visit on the weekend, pop into the Lligwy Beach Cafe to pick up a hot chocolate to keep warm on the beach stroll and tuck into a pasty.
If you fancy a quaint village-stay, I’d suggest staying in Moelfre which is a short 20-minute drive to Beaumaris.
Don’t expect lots of entertainment or activities, but there’s a pub to to hunker down in called the Kinmel Arms, and my favourite spot is the cute little coffee shop called Ann’s Pantry.
I loved the cottage we stayed in called Bryn Awel and it sleeps up to six people.
With seven nights costing £567 (or £13.50ppn each), it’s snug with a cosy woodburner to fire up during the chillier months and views across the beach.
Being in Wales, take a rain mac and an umbrella to have on standby, because you never know when the weather will turn.
London city break
Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey
I love a trip to London in autumn, as the summer crowds have gone, but it is still warm enough that you don’t need a huge coat when walking around, that becomes a pain to carry each time you step inside.
And there are so many ways to do it on a budget.
After all, it is one of the world’s best museum capitals when it comes to them being free, meaning you could visit the British Museum, the V&A and the Natural History Museum without paying a penny.
And while there are loads of good restaurant deals, my hack to trying all those viral bakeries is getting a Too Good To Go bag which, if you’re quick, means you can try some of the capital’s top snacks while spending a fraction of the price.
When it comes to how to stay cheaply, I have stayed in my fair share of absolute bargain hotels.
The ultimate budget stay is Zedwell Tottenham Court Road, where the underground rooms start from £71 (so around £35 each). But if you fancy a window, you can’t go wrong with a stay at The Drey, which has rooms under £100.