autumn

CHILLIER temperatures are here, and autumn weather offers the perfect excuse to plan a getaway.

Whether you are chasing late-season sunshine, booking a cosy weekend in the countryside, or looking for winter escapes, this time of year is full of opportunities for a new adventure

The right travel gadgets can make or break your trip.

From transparent pricing and flexible booking to standout customer service and exclusive seasonal deals, we’ve found plenty of offers to make planning your trip a breeze.

Autumn is also prime time to find discounts and savings, with major airlines, hotels, and package operators rolling out promotions to fill seasonal gaps.

That’s where our handy Checklist comes in.

This top 10 has essential brands that will help you create a seamless, stress-free adventure, while getting the best value for money.

1pMobile

Visit 1pMobile.com to order your SIM today

Whether you’re travelling near or jetting off somewhere far, 1pMobile makes staying connected abroad simple and affordable.

Customers can enjoy free roaming across 46 European countries, as well as enjoy the same low tariff on holiday as they do at home, with excellent coverage across the whole of Europe and the EEA.

With multiple roaming partner networks in each country, you will always have a reliable signal from big cities to off-grid regions.

Switch to 1pMobile to access fast 4G and 5G on the UK’s best coverage, and you can keep your existing number too.

Now, no matter where you decide to travel to, you’ll be able to stay connected with loved ones as and when you need to.

Villatravellers

Find out more and book with Villatravellers

For nearly two decades, Villatravellers has been welcoming guests to southern Italy with its exclusive collection of villas.

The company has built a reputation on offering some of the finest holiday homes in Sicily, and its portfolio now includes more than 60 properties across the island.

In 2024, Villatravellers expanded with a brand-new selection of villas in Puglia.

Each villa is carefully inspected to guarantee comfort and style, whether you are looking for a beachfront hideaway, a countryside estate, or a cosy retreat.

Villatravellers also offers a range of curated experiences, from pizza-making lessons and food tours in the busy city of Palermo to boat trips and wine tastings.

Every detail is designed to bring Sicilian and Puglian life closer to guests.

Landseer Leisure

Visit Landseer Leisure to learn more

Landseer Leisure is redefining campervan travel and is the place to go if you have a genuine passion for adventure.

The highlight of the new range is the 2026 Landseer Custom 2.0, built on the high-spec Ford Tourneo Custom chassis.

Designed for both daily life and long-haul exploration, it combines sleek styling with practical luxury.

Inside, you can expect off-grid power with a lithium battery system and solar integration, a premium interior with oak finishes and mood lighting, and smart tech including SYNC 4 with Apple CarPlay.

With new models joining the 2026 line-up, Landseer continues to set the standard for modern campervans.

Why not let them take you on your next family adventure?

AirHelp

Join AirHelp now

Flight delays and cancellations are frustrating, but with AirHelp, you don’t have to face the stress alone.

As the global leader in air passenger rights and claims management, AirHelp has already secured compensation for more than three million travellers worldwide.

For example, if your flight is disrupted, you may be entitled to up to €600, and AirHelp makes claiming simple with dedicated support every step of the way.

For extra peace of mind, AirHelp+ membership offers even more protection.

Members pay no service fees and enjoy exclusive perks like €100 for delays, €200 for missed connections, €100 for lost luggage, airport lounge access, live flight status updates, and round-the-clock support.

San Clemente Palace

Book your luxury stay in Venice

Looking for an exclusive holiday stay that rivals an ordinary hotel?

San Clemente Palace is a luxury retreat unlike any other in Venice, set on its very own private island.

Once a historic monastery, it now offers 170 elegant rooms and suites where guests can experience tranquillity and easy access to the city, 10 minutes by the hotel’s complimentary shuttle boat.

The hotel’s Longevity Spa offers unique treatments designed to rejuvenate body and mind.

Dining options include La Dolce, an Italian brasserie by the pool, and Acquerello, a fine-dining restaurant with stunning views of San Marco, Venice.

Recognised for its opulence by Condé Nast Traveller as the Best Hotel in Venice, San Clemente Palace blends 900 years of history with modern luxury.

Moco Museum

Visit the website for more information

Art fans, this one’s for you. Moco Museum is an independent art destination with locations in Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London.

The museum is dedicated to showcasing modern, contemporary, and street art that inspires and challenges.

Its collection brings together world-renowned names such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy and more, alongside bold immersive digital installations.

Since opening, Moco has welcomed over six million visitors from more than 120 countries, making art accessible to a global audience.

The museum also champions the voice of street art, presenting works by Icy & Sot, Stik, and Banksy to spark conversations about culture, society, and shared human experience.

Fjord Events

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Visit the website to book your next adventure

Founded in 2006, Fjord Events has grown from a small family business into the leading provider of RIB safaris in Stavanger, Norway.

Now run by second-generation Simon Gundersen, the company has nearly 20 years of experience creating unforgettable journeys through the dramatic Lysefjord.

Guests from around the world will be able to discover iconic landmarks such as Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen in Norwegian), Hengjanefossen, often called ‘Whiskey Falls, and the peaceful
Vagabond’s Cave (Fantahåla in Norwegian) on board modern, comfortable RIB vessels.

Each safari blends speed, excitement, and cultural storytelling, guided by passionate locals who share the fjord’s history and legends.

Fjord Events remains a trusted name in Norwegian adventure tourism.

Travelex

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Order your travel money with Travelex

Sorting your travel money is one of those satisfying steps that brings your trip even closer. Travelex keeps things simple, so you can focus on packing and planning for your adventure.

Travelex makes it easy to get your travel money, whether you prefer delivery straight to your door or collection on the go.

Order online to lock in great exchange rates and choose the option that works for you.

With convenient click and collect locations across the UK, including most major airports, you can pick up your currency as you travel or opt to save time with secure home delivery, which is free on orders over £500.

Offering a wide choice of global currencies, Travelex ensures you have what you need, when you need it, for stress-free travel.

Mill on the Brue

Visit the website for more information

Since 1982, Mill on the Brue has been a family-run outdoor activity centre in South East Somerset, offering children a true ‘home from home’ adventure.

With small groups and dedicated instructors for the whole week, every child enjoys a supportive and fun environment.

Up to 72 children aged 8-15 take part each week, divided into age-appropriate groups for fun, tailored experiences.

Days are packed with at least five exciting activities ranging from zip wires, canoeing and archery to pizza making, animal care, and high ropes.

It’s a chance for young adventurers to try new skills, make friends, and build confidence.

With no phones allowed, Mill on the Brue offers a genuine digital detox and the kind of holiday memories that last a lifetime.

Love Cuba

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Book your next trip with Love Cuba

Love Cuba is the UK’s leading Cuba holiday specialist, officially named Cuba’s Leading Tour Operator at the 2025 and 2024 World Travel Awards and a multiple British Travel Award winner.

With top-rated Trustpilot reviews, the company offers unbeatable value on Cuba deals tailored to every kind of traveller and every holiday, including exclusive holidays, with top hotels like Melia Habana and Melia Varadero, with free room upgrades.

Choose from private and fully escorted tours, multi-centre city and beach holidays, or relaxing all-inclusive beach stays.

Their UK-based specialists bring decades of expertise, while a dedicated Cuban-born team provides 24/7 support on the island, and you can relax in the knowledge that your holidays are fully protected by ATOL and ABTA with Love Cuba.

With a focus on sustainable tourism, Love Cuba delivers authentic, stress-free holidays that families, couples, and solo travellers will love. Get ready to plan your dream escape.

A peaceful market town in the Cotswolds has been revealed as one of the best places to visit for autumn in the UK thanks to its independent shops, cosy pubs and beautiful walks

There’s nothing quite like a walking weekend away if you’re looking to make the most of the UK’s crisp autumnal days, complete with hearty pub roasts and gorgeous scenery.

Well, it turns out there’s one charming UK market town that you’re going to want to bookmark for your next staycation, thanks to its plethora of independent shops, galleries, cosy pubs and location right by some of the Cotswolds’ most breathtaking walking trails.

Stow-on-the-Wold has become somewhat of a social media superstar, with tourists flocking there in the summer to explore the winding cobbled streets, stone cottages, pubs and shops. However, its popularity can mean that during the peak holiday months it gets quite crowded; but come autumn, those visitor numbers have dwindled and it transforms back into an idyllic countryside location.

Throw in the fact that the trees offer an explosion of colours as the leaves change, and it’s not difficult to see why it’s a popular setting for hikers and ramblers who want to enjoy a scenic walk. The area has a range of different trails whether you want a short scenic stroll or fancy a bit more of a challenging hike. Whatever you choose, there are plenty of cafés, tearooms and pubs where you can replenish your energy afterwards!

Meanwhile in town itself you’ll find plenty of independent bookshops, antique dealers, boutiques and art galleries that make up the high street, and remain popular with visitors who want to pick up a souvenir or two. As for where to stay, there are various hotels and B&Bs that have all of that quintessential British charm, but you can also find a wide array of holiday cottages with the likes of Sykes Holiday Cottages, Bolthole Retreats and Booking.com, to name a few.

It’s therefore no surprise that travel experts at Ski Vertigo have named it one of the best destinations for autumn, saying that it ‘comes alive’ during the season. They explained: “There’s something special about visiting Stow in autumn. The air is crisp, the hills glow with amber light, and the town feels timeless. It’s a place where you can stop for tea, watch the leaves fall, and forget about the rush of everyday life.”

Book fans will want to check out St Edward’s Church with its door flanked by ancient yew trees; it’s one of the town’s locations that’s said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, as its door looks very similar to the “Doors of Durin” from The Fellowship of the Ring. Meanwhile other must-visit highlights include the picturesque Market Square, the Cotswold Cricket Museum and Chastleton House.

It’s also a short drive from plenty of other gorgeous villages worth a day trip too; Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter, and Lower Slaughter tend to be hits thanks to their stone cottages and picture-perfect landscapes.

Do you have a story to tell us? Email us at [email protected].

Athens

Craggy coves and sandy bays make up the resplendent mix that is the Athens Riviera. So it was that at the end of an autumn day I found myself with a not unpleasant question: where to head to soothe bones still aching for a last splash of summer sun. For Athens offers something that other European cities cannot: a coastline of more than 40 miles dotted with beaches many a Greek island would covet.

Out of season, the shores of Attica still have a magnetic allure, as I discovered when swimming into a fading sun across the bay of Vouliagmeni. For those seeking rejuvenation in marine blue waters primed to turn orange pink as the sun sets, bathing off one of the Riviera’s public or private beaches does not disappoint.

With sea salt still clinging to my skin, I sat at Sardelaki, a tavern whose Mediterranean fare is as good as the spectacular view of the bay it sits on. In a nod to times past, the meze is served on large wooden trays.

Athens is as celebrated for its hills as its coastline: natural elevations within view of the Acropolis that make it a treasure trove for amblers when temperatures are cooler. For those who want to escape a metropolis that sprawls across almost 200 square miles, these rocky outcrops – bearers of fabulous names such as the Hill of the Nymphs and the Hill of the Muses – are a must.

In my view, this ancient capital is also Europe’s most soulful and sublime. If you reach the top of Mount Lycabettus, the city’s highest point, either by foot or on the funicular rail car, the reward is a spectacular vista of the entire Argo-Saronic Gulf and the islands beyond.

If you want to stay centrally, the ancient Plaka district remains the best base. The old-school Adrian hotel has doubles looking on to the northern face of the Acropolis from about £120 B&B. In the same area, Zorbas is a favourite restaurant with locals and serves the most succulent lamb chops. With views of the Acropolis, Athens’ rooftop restaurants are wonderfully atmospheric and perfect for warm autumn evenings – for a real treat head to Kuzina or the Michelin‑starred Macris.
Helena Smith

Palermo

Think Neapolitan margherita is the last word in pizza? Think again. In Palermo they prefer sfincione, a soft, well-risen rectangle of dough topped with intense, onion-heavy tomato sauce and sprinkled with caciocavallo cheese and oregano. Savoury, filling and comforting, it’s sold in bakeries, kiosks and carts all over the city (Via Maqueda in the historic centre usually has several vendors).

We try it at a kiosk on Piazza della Kalsa, near where we’re staying. Panineria Chiluzzo often has long queues, but they move quickly as young staff dish out slices of sfincione, as well as arancini and panelle (chickpea fritters). There are a few tables under the trees outside, but we eat as we walk into town along narrow Via Alloro. This is a pleasant stroll in October but wouldn’t always be. As heatwaves rolled over Europe this year, temperatures in Palermo topped 40C in the shade. At the end of July one sunbaked corner hit a record 70C at ground level.

Now, as temperatures creep to 24C by mid-afternoon, we can wander the city and savour how its long history is written in its streets. Passing baroque and art nouveau palaces, and Casa Stagnitta, the city’s oldest coffee roastery, we take in the Arab-Norman domes of the 12th-century church of San Cataldo; Piazza Pretoria, with its 16th-century fountain, installed under Spanish rule; and the impressive cathedral, built on the location of a ninth-century mosque.

On the way back we detour to Vucciria market, the origins of which also stretch back over 1,000 years. Some decry its touristification, but it is still noisy and brilliantly theatrical. Feeling brave, we stop for a traditional pani câ meusa (spleen roll), which is surprisingly OK, with its slightly sweet “meat” set off by grated cheese. The stallholder is particularly proud of his grilled goat’s intestines but, I’m sorry, no amount of salt and lemon can make those a treat for me.

We’re glad to head back to quieter La Kalsa, the former Arab quarter to the east, which was bombed in the second world war and languished for decades before being revitalised this century. Maison Butera (sea-view doubles from €161 B&B) is a four-room B&B with lots to see nearby. Up the street is Palazzo Butera, a 17th-century baroque pile restored and reopened in 2021 to house the Valsecchi art collection, which includes works by Gilbert & George and Andy Warhol.

Next day we walk 10 minutes to Palermo’s Botanical Garden, with its record-breaking multi-trunk fig tree. Birds are singing their hearts out as the sun pours down. Soon we’ll be in London, the clocks will go back and winter will start. We relish a last week in the light.
Liz Boulter

Vienna

While lamenting the end of summer and hanging out at beach bars and bathing spots on the tributaries of the Danube, I’m now chasing a new hue. Vienna is a city of parks and manicured gardens, meadow sweeps and woodland belts, which swap their emerald halo for a rusty amber and ochre glow the Austrians call Goldener Herbst (golden autumn).

I leave behind the grandiose architecture and cobblestones of the historic centre. South-west of it, Schloss Schönbrunn Park splays from the grand Habsburg summer residence, where the gilt isn’t reserved for the interior, and makes its way into corridors of towering bronzed hedgerows and arched tree terraces that lead to the butter-yellow palace.

To the east, in the city’s Prater Park, I stroll beneath the chestnut trees of the Hauptallee, an avenue that’s almost three miles long and centuries-old. On the edge of the park, the retro-styled Superbude Prater hotel (doubles from €78 B&B) is a perfectly placed retreat.

In a city with hundreds of urban farms (thanks to a long-standing commitment to promoting green spaces and fostering community spirit), autumn brings a feast of fresh produce on menus. Pumpkin cream soup is the seasonal staple – best devoured in a wood-panelled Beisl (Viennese gastropub) such as the art-splashed Am Nordpol 3 – and followed with a Wiener Schnitzel.

Unbeknown to many, Vienna is the only European capital to grow wine within its city limits, with 700 hectares (1,723 acres) of vineyards. There are 14 designated city hiking trails, known as Stadtwanderwege. Track 1 leads you through the vintner lands of Nussdorf. Settle in a hillside Heuriger (wine tavern) such as Wieninger am Nussberg, sipping a citrussy grüner veltliner with a Brettljause (a platter of cold cuts and cheese), while soaking up the sublime city vista.

The days are getting shorter, but now is the perfect time to wander among Vienna’s stately palaces, museums and historic abodes – a cultural crop in gilded gallery wings, mirroring nature’s showcase outside.
Becki Enright

Budapest

After the heat and crowds of high summer, autumn brings a less intense atmosphere to Budapest, and it’s the season I most love to visit the city. The sun mellows, green leaves drain to golden, and a cuisine that’s all about comfort food really comes into its own. Even the Hungarian word for autumn – őszi – has a cosy, laid-back sound to it.

That’s not to say it’s a place to hunker down. Few capitals are better suited to walking, and early autumn promises a Goldilocks sweet spot of temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold. It’s a joy to wander the cobbled streets of the Castle District without sidestepping tourists, to follow the Danube promenade without melting, and to meander among whisky-coloured trees on Margaret Island.

Many of the five-star hotels – such as the wonderfully styled Kimpton BEM and the Dorothea Hotel, with its oasis of a courtyard restaurant – offer affordable shoulder-season deals. But if you don’t need heaps of facilities, try Giselle Vintage Doubles (doubles from €87 room-only), an 18th-century royal mansion near Elizabeth Bridge brimming with yesteryear elegance that is surprisingly light on the wallet.

From here, Budapest is your oyster. I always head to the Central Market Hall, a soaring masterpiece of 19th-century industrial architecture with stalls selling Hungarian products such as rich, sweet tokaji wine and lace tablecloths. The must-visit House of Music Hungary in City Park (itself lovely for an autumn stroll) leads visitors on an absorbing journey through the country’s musical heritage. And nearby Széchenyi baths is a favourite for a soak afterwards: the outdoor pools are particularly atmospheric as the air cools and steam curls from the thermal water.

There are autumn festivals and events aplenty too. Liszt Fest (9–22 Oct) at the Müpa concert hall celebrates not only works by the Hungarian composer but contemporary music and dance.

Budapest Design Week (8–19 Oct) showcases movers and shakers in jewellery, clothing and art. For something more active, time your visit for the Budapest Marathon weekend (11–12 Oct) or go skating in the shadow of the fairytale Vajdahunyad Castle at the outdoor City Park Ice Rink (opens from mid-November).

But a key draw for me is the delicious comfort food that’s abundant at this time of year: goulash stews, savoury pancakes and paprika sauces aplenty. Café Kör, in an old building with vaulted ceilings, and the retro Menza are longstanding restaurants that serve Hungarian classics. Just leave space for some dobos torte at Gerbeaud, because nothing says autumn like a caramel-topped wedge of sponge cake filled with chocolate buttercream.
Monika Phillips

Zurich

People get the wrong idea about Zurich, and I blame Harold Wilson. In the 1960s, the UK prime minister tried to blame the “gnomes of Zurich” for the pathetic performance of the British pound, and more than 60 years on, some misguided Britons still think of Switzerland’s biggest city as a boring financial destination. They couldn’t be more wrong. Banking is still a major industry, but the city’s tidy, tree-lined streets are full of people having fun.

I’ve been to Zurich more times than I can count, and like it more with each visit. For first timers, the big surprise is the vast and lovely Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), two miles wide, 25 miles long and crisscrossed all day by antique ferries. Wherever you are around town, you’re never far from water.

Another nice surprise is the abundance of fine art. Zurich’s palatial Kunsthaus is one of Europe’s great art galleries (check out the sleek new extension by British starchitect David Chipperfield), but there are also loads of smaller commercial galleries, especially in Zurich West, a former industrial quarter that’s become the city’s new creative hub.

Stay at 25 Hours Zurich West (from 230 Swiss francs/£214 room-only), a funky bolthole in the beating heart of this rejuvenated district or the new cool Mama Shelter (from £175 room-only), which opened in the lively Oerlikon area this summer with a garden terrace overlooking the city and a stylish bar and restaurant.

Zurich has always been a magnet for creatives and eccentrics. James Joyce wrote much of Ulysses here (his grave is in Zurich’s Fluntern cemetery) and his favourite haunt, the chic Café Odeon, is still going strong. The place that sums up Zurich’s rebellious streak is Cabaret Voltaire, the anarchic nightclub where dadaism, the multifaceted modern art movement, was born. The building is still a gallery and performance space, as well as a museum.

When the trees turn golden brown, this compact metropolis looks especially pretty. The best views are from the summit of Uetliberg, on the leafy edge of town. The Uetlibergbahn, Zurich’s mountain railway (which reopens on 5 October after a major refurbishment) takes you within a short walk of the summit.

The Zurich film festival is the one of the autumn highlights, but the most atmospheric spectacle is on the water. From 30 Oct-13 Nov, Zurich’s fleet of pleasure boats hosts the 70th Expovina Weinschiffe, the city’s annual wine fair. Anyone can buy a ticket (from £28) to go onboard and sample a huge range of wines from dozens of different countries (Switzerland’s crisp light whites are seriously underrated). If you’d rather drink beer, head to Bierwerk Züri, a fashionable modern brewery with a youthful clientele.

New restaurants are opening all the time, but my go-tos have both been around for ages and never seem to change. For traditional Swiss cuisine, you can’t beat Alpenrose, a homely historic hideaway a short tram ride from the city centre. For veggie cuisine, Haus Hiltl is a must. The decor is fairly modern and the menu is contemporary, but it was actually founded back in 1898, making it (by some accounts) the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world.
William Cook

Lyon

Traboules, Lyon’s secret passages, pass through houses and courtyards, joining one street to another, transporting curious walkers from the Renaissance to the modern via a stone staircase and gothic arcade. They crisscross Vieux Lyon and the Croix-Rousse hillside where, in autumn, you might enter a traboule in the rain and come out beside the street market on the main boulevard in bright sunshine.

At the morning market in La Croix-Rousse, where the city’s silk factories used to be, a noisy line of food stalls offer roast chickens, clanking bags of walnuts and piles of oversized pumpkins, a contrast to the artistic displays of conserves and truffles at Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse food hall in the east of the city. It’s almost truffle season but Lyon, the “gastronomic capital of the world”, has year-round delights including Saint-Marcellin cheese, rosette sausage and praline tart.

With their rich flavours and hearty portions, traditional dishes suit the colder months. If I need warming up, I go to Le Garet near the opera house, one of Lyon’s typical bouchon restaurants serving pig’s trotters, tripe and quenelle de brochet (pike dumpling). If I wake up hungry, Le Café du Peintre serves a mâchon (a selection of cooked pork with a jug of beaujolais) from 8.30am. For something more refined, Burgundy by Matthieu has one of the best wine cellars in France. It is on the banks of the Saône, near the new Navigône ferry stop.

On Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays, the riverbus continues to the spectacular Musée des Confluences, where the Saône meets the Rhône. Its programme this autumn includes exhibitions on the people of the Amazon, amazing animals and zombies.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of Auguste and Louis Lumière’s first film, Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, which they created while living at the family’s art nouveau villa in Lyon’s Monplaisir district. It’s now part of the Institut Lumière, which houses cinemas as well as the museum, and is the hub of the annual Festival Lumière. Films and cinematic events take place from 11-19 Oct, with almost 450 showings across the city, including two remastered 1920s silent movies by Victor Sjöström – Le Vent (The Wind) and La Charrette Fantôme (The Phantom Carriage) – accompanied by the National Orchestra of Lyon.

Just before the start of winter, Lyon’s Fête des Lumières (lights not the brothers) runs from 5-8 Dec. The city’s heritage buildings are illuminated, and light installations are set up in the squares and on the riverbank. I watch from Place Bellecour and then wander down to the water where locals place lanterns in their windows to celebrate solidarity and brace themselves for the cold.

I stay at the Fourvière Hôtel (doubles from €139 room-only), a former convent near the city’s Roman ruins, which has a heated indoor pool, restaurant and great views over the city.
Jon Bryant

Accommodation prices correct at time of going to press. These are the lowest available rates for October

It’s autumn and Madrid is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Everything is open again and the intense heat, which seems to ooze out of the walls and up from the pavements in summer, has mellowed to pleasantly warm. It’s the perfect temperature for languishing on a cafe terrace with the sun tickling your skin as afternoon slips into evening. Noise levels are back to normal, which means cacophonous.

It feels like the entire population is out on the streets, catching up with their friends and chatting about all the things they want to do, the films they want to see, the new bars they’ve heard about and the restaurants they fancy trying over the next few months. If you could do with a boost, spend a few days in the Spanish capital this autumn.

The dazzling light and clear blue skies lift your mood as soon as you arrive. Madrid being the highest major capital city in Europe may have something to do with that. It is a comparatively young capital too. Arabs from north Africa settled here in the ninth century, building a citadel where the royal palace and Almudena cathedral are now, but Madrid only really got going when Philip II moved his court here from Toledo in 1561, establishing the city as the new capital of Spain.

To get a sense of the city’s history, walk from the Puerta del Sol – the centre not just of Madrid but the whole of Spain – to the 17th-century Plaza Mayor, which is framed by redbrick buildings with slate roofs and spindly spires. Then stroll along Cava Baja, the curving street that follows the course of the 12th-century city wall. Vestiges survive in the basements of several bars and restaurants that originated as inns and taverns for the merchants and travellers who arrived by stagecoach.

In Madrid, you absorb the city’s heritage just by walking around. In the Barrio de las Letras, or literary quarter, the bar-lined streets are named after the great writers who lived there in the 16th and 17th centuries, such as Miguel de Cervantes, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega.

You could spend weeks in the city’s big three museums – Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia – but try to fit in some others too. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando gets a fraction of the visitors, despite being just off the Puerta del Sol and having astounding collections that include Goya, El Greco, Picasso and Francisco de Zurbarán.

This autumn I’m looking forward to the Suma Flamenca festival (14 Oct-2 Nov), where leading flamenco dancers, singers and musicians will be performing new work such as Flamenco Gospel by Juan Carmona. The main festival venue is the Teatros del Canal, an arts complex designed by Juan Navarro Baldeweg, one of Spain’s most renowned architects, who is also an artist (an exhibition of his work is on at Centro Centro until 14 December). The Teatros del Canal is also a hub for the Festival de Otoño, (6-30 Nov), one of the cultural highlights of the year, with theatre, music and more by Spanish and international artists.

The Chamberí district, where the Teatros del Canal is found, is in a less touristy area, just north of downtown. The most traditional and characterful areas of the city, considered the homes of a “pure” and distinctive Madrileño spirit, are called barrios castizos – and Chamberí certainly fits that description. Base yourself here for a more authentic feel – try the palatial and stylish One Shot Fortuny hotel, which has doubles from around £160 room-only in October.

As you explore, take in the flowers spilling over the wrought-iron balconies and the gleaming fruit and vegetables outside little shops (particularly the mushrooms at this time of year) and peer into the tiny, tiled bars where locals are having a quick coffee or beer. Walk in, find yourself a place at the bar and you’ll wonder why you don’t live in Madrid.

Trafalgar, the part of Chamberí closest to the centre, is fast becoming one of the most fashionable parts of town, but still has a laid-back, family vibe. I’ve been meeting friends in the Plaza de Olavide for decades and seen it undergo umpteen makeovers.

Eight streets flow into the square, bringing a constant stream of people searching for friends and dragging chairs to form messy configurations of all ages that change constantly as the night wears on. It’s normal to arrange to meet one friend here, and end up with a table of 10.

New bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques are opening in traditional premises here, but I love that the people behind them are keeping the original fixtures and fittings or hunting down zinc or steel counters and revamping old bar stools to recreate the castizo character, while also adding their own contemporary vibe. Pop into Bar Trafalgar for a cocktail – or maybe a vermouth and a smoked ham and cheese toasted sandwich – and you’ll get the idea. It’s the kind of place that works at any time of day or night. I love the Olavide Bar de Libros too, both a bookshop and a cafe – browsing books and sipping a glass of wine are two of my favourite things.

Also on my list this autumn is International Architecture Week (until 13 Oct, although some exhibitions run beyond that date). The programme includes an Álvaro Siza exhibition (until 9 Jan 2026) at the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid, a short stroll from the Plaza de Olavide. This is followed by Madrid Otra Mirada (16-19 Oct), when you can visit historic buildings and gardens that are not usually open to the public.

At the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa, Leica: A Century of Photography, 1925-2025, features work by Sebastião Salgado, Steve McCurry and Alberto García-Alix and runs until 11 Jan. And I’ll be booking ahead for Warhol, Pollock and other American spaces at the Thyssen-Bornemisza (21 Oct-25 Jan).

While there’s certainly a lot to see and do at this time of year, you don’t want to get too hung up on packing your days with plans. Madrid is all about going with the flow. Drift around Parque del Buen Retiro for a couple of hours, taking in the startlingly vivid magenta and ochre tones of the oak, chestnut and willow trees. Exit the park on the east side, where Calle de Ibiza and the surrounding streets have become a gastronomic hotspot. I love tapas at the bar at La Catapa or La Taberna de Rox, although both also have tables if you want to rest tired feet.

For more autumnal hues, it’s now a lot easier to visit the elegant Campo del Moro gardens, which slope down from the royal palace to the Manzanares River. There used to be only one entrance, down by the river – which always felt like too much of a hike after traipsing around the palace. A lot of people weren’t aware that the gardens were open to visitors. Now, thank goodness, you can get in from the top end, from the Cuesta de San Vicente or the Cuesta de la Vega, which is really handy if you are going to the Royal Collections Gallery as there is direct access.

If you haven’t been to Madrid for a few years, this museum, which opened in 2023, is a must, with paintings by Bosch, Titian, Velázquez and Goya as well as a vast array of treasures collected by Spanish monarchs over the centuries, housed in a spectacular building designed by Emilio Tuñón and Luis Moreno Mansilla.

Walk down through the gardens – maybe stopping for a drink on the cafe terrace at the bottom – and cross the river to reach the Casa de Campo, the largest green space in Madrid. I rarely get beyond the lake, where there is a string of restaurants with tons of outdoor tables. A plate of garlic prawns with fried eggs at Villa Verbena invariably seems like an excellent idea at this point. It’s worth going just for the view of the Madrid skyline.

Back in the centre, head for Lavapiés, which is one of the most castizo neighbourhoods in Madrid but also the most international, with a huge range of places to eat and drink. Not that you need any excuse for a night out here, but the Tapapiés tapas and music festival (16-26 October) is a particularly good time for a mooch around. More than 100 bars and restaurants are taking part and are offering a tapa and a beer for €3.50. There’s going to be live music, dancing, processions and kids’ activities too. If all that’s not a good enough reason to book a stay, I don’t know what is.

The UK’s coastlines are among the most stunning in the world and can be appreciated all year round, especially in autumn

Just because the summer season has concluded, it doesn’t mean you can’t still relish sandy shores and delightful coastal towns. The UK’s coastlines are amongst the most breathtaking globally and can be savoured throughout the year – especially during autumn when you can wander the coastal path and treat yourself to hot chocolates at welcoming beachside cafés.

Senior Journalist, Portia Jones, confessed that autumn is her favoured time to visit the seaside towns of Wales as it tends to be more peaceful, and lodging could potentially be more affordable (particularly if you manage to bag a brilliant deal). She revealed: “Tenby, widely regarded as one of the best seaside towns in Wales, is one of my favourite destinations during the off-peak season.”

With gorgeous beaches just a brief stroll from the vibrant town centre, charming cobbled streets that could rival those in Italy or the French Riviera, and a selection of eye-catching, brightly-coloured houses that many British towns would covet, it’s scarcely shocking that this coastal treasure consistently features as one of the “best” seaside towns in the entire UK, reports the Express.

Dubbed the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the ‘Welsh Riviera’, Tenby has long been a favoured tourist hotspot and is one of the most cherished seaside towns in Wales.

Here, you’ll uncover a scenic harbour, Victorian architecture, sandy beaches, independent cafés and picturesque coastal walks along the captivating shoreline, reports Wales Online. Step beyond its ancient 13th-century walls, and you’ll discover sun-drenched shores and breathtaking clifftop vistas across the water towards the enchanting Caldey Island.

Portia revealed: “I have visited Tenby many, many times over the years, from childhood holidays to grown-up escapes with friends and my significant other, and I love it a bit more with each visit.

“While summer is perfect for sea swimming and long wine-filled afternoons on sun-trap pub terraces, I have come to appreciate Tenby more in autumn. Sure, the weather might not be as sunny, but this is Wales. Frankly, you can have a torrential downpour in August and a mini-heatwave in late September.

“It’s completely unpredictable, so you may as well chance a cheaper autumn visit and hope the weather gods smile upon you. I love that if you visit Tenby during the week, say, mid-October, you can escape the crowds and wander the pretty streets and sandy beaches in relative peace. Just wrap up warm, buy a hot chocolate, and watch the waves roll in from a chilled-out seaside cafe. Lush.”

She added: “Accommodation-wise I’ve found that you can get some pretty good deals in the off-season – especially if you visit midweek rather than at a weekend. One of my favourite spots is YHA Manorbier – a very affordable stay that’s a short drive from the town centre.”

This wallet-friendly hostel, situated in a former military base, provides glamping and camping options and costs under £50 for a private en suite room for two people (YHA members pay even less). Lodging choices include reasonably priced private quarters, distinctive American Airstreams, charming camping pods, and pitch-up camping.

Portia usually books a pristine private en suite room for just £45 for two visitors, and as a YHA member, she gets an extra 10% reduction. Granted, the private quarters may have limited space for large luggage, which estate agents might call “bijou” and regular people might describe as “compact.”

However, for slightly over £20 each, it offers outstanding value – especially in the expensive Pembrokeshire area. Portia observed: “Let’s be honest; you’re not checking into a YHA expecting a concierge, Egyptian cotton sheets, and a robe monogrammed with your initials. You’re here for the vibes. A community-spirited atmosphere fostered by shared kitchens, mismatched mugs, and conversations over wine in the lounge.”

Fancy staying closer to the town centre? Browse autumn deals on Booking.com and bag a hotel for roughly £75 for two adults. The Premier Inn Tenby Town Centre property costs just £68 per night for two in October and offers a cosy base right in the heart of all the action. Despite the summer rush being over, there’s still plenty to savour in Tenby.

From strolling along the coastal path and sampling craft beers in local pubs, to exploring independent shops for your Christmas shopping, Tenby has it all.

The town is home to several golden beaches perfect for a brisk autumn sea dip if you’re brave enough, or simply sipping hot chocolate while taking in the windswept coastline. South Beach, a sandy beach backed by dunes near the town centre, proudly holds the esteemed Blue Flag status.

When it comes to dining, Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, situated right on the beach, is well worth a visit. Castle Beach, just a hop, skip and jump from the town centre, was crowned the UK’s best beach in 2019 and currently boasts an impressive 4.8 out of five rating on Google.

North Beach, nestled in Pembrokeshire, has previously been voted the most photogenic beach in the UK, beating other stunning spots like Durdle Door in Dorset and Brighton seafront. Harbour Beach may be the smallest, but it offers a charming backdrop of colourful houses, bobbing boats, and a road leading back to the town centre.

Autumn is the perfect time to explore the Tenby Coast Path. This picturesque section of the larger Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers breathtaking views of Tenby’s vibrant harbour, Caldey Island, and St Catherine’s Island.

Favourite trails include the four-mile stroll to Saundersfoot, a moderate nine-mile loop that returns inland, and a challenging 10.9-mile point-to-point path to Freshwater East. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, why not pop into Tenby Museum and Art Gallery?

It’s the oldest independent museum in Wales. Founded in 1878, this charming museum is home to a wide range of local geology, biology, archaeology, and maritime artefacts waiting to be explored.

Many of the exhibits also delve into the culture and heritage of South Pembrokeshire, offering you a peek into local history and art. A delightful gift shop near the entrance sells local books and gift items.

Entry to the museum will set you back £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. They also run a reusable ticket scheme – all tickets can be used for one year after purchase, so you can make as many return visits as you like within that time at no extra cost.

For those who fancy a Welsh tipple, there are two local breweries in Tenby. Both produce top-notch beers and supply local bars and restaurants. Tenby Brewing Co., which took over from Preseli Brewery, has multiple stockists in Tenby and is one of the leading craft breweries in Wales.

The award-winning brewery was conceived when two mates decided to ditch the daily grind and start their own brewery over a pint. The Yard, their trendy venue at the brewery, boasts a capacity of 150 and offers an exciting rotating menu from fantastic pop-up food vendors, draft beer lines from their range, and some of their favourite brewers.

Harbwr, the newer kid on the block, is a craft brewery and taproom that brews a variety of cask and bottled ales just above Tenby harbour. When it comes to food, Tenby’s cluster of tiny streets and pastel-coloured buildings conceals its best restaurants and cafes down the narrowest of alleys.

Plantagenet House is a hidden treasure, featuring flagstone floors, exposed beams, and a 40-foot medieval Flemish chimney. If you’re quick off the mark, you might even secure a table by the fireplace.

“A recommended dish is their vegan Thai coconut curry, which features squash, chargrilled spring onion, spiced rice, and roasted almonds,” Portia suggested.

Links restaurant, located on the ground floor of Tenby Golf Club, offers Michelin-starred dining, making it a top pick for food enthusiasts visiting Pembrokeshire.

The menu, crafted by a talented local chef, focuses on simple yet incredibly tasty dishes made with high-quality Welsh produce. Start your meal with their freshly-baked ale bread served with whipped Marmite butter – trust me, it’s the perfect starter.

The ambience strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and sophisticated, with a menu that seamlessly merges humble yet thrilling dishes. From hot smoked salmon paired with cucumber and buttermilk to heritage tomatoes coupled with buffalo mozzarella, there’s something to tickle every palate.

For your main course, relish in locally-sourced delights such as Pembrokeshire beef or Cornish cod in a bisque sauce, or treat yourself to a succulent rump of Welsh lamb served with all the right trimmings.

And don’t forget to save space for pudding – whether it’s a decadent dark chocolate fondant with tarragon ice cream or a zesty lemon meringue with almond cake and blueberry sorbet, you won’t leave feeling unsatisfied. D. Fecci and Sons might just dish up the best fish and chips in Wales, having catered to both locals and tourists since 1935.

With potatoes grown locally in Pembrokeshire and groundnut oil creating wonderfully crispy haddock, cod, and calamari, the chippy also offers fresh mackerel during the summer months.

For delightful treats, pop into Mor Tenby, an elegant family-run coffee house and gift boutique selling their signature coffee blend (“Coffi Mor”), sweet treats, deli items, home fragrances, household goods, gifts, and Welsh specialities.

A beloved establishment in Tenby, Top Joe’s remains the top spot for pizza lovers. This former ’60s diner has transformed into an artisanal pizzeria offering freshly-made pizza, pasta, and salads featuring high-quality Italian ingredients. Nestled in the heart of this delightful coastal town, it’s a firm favourite with both locals and visitors.

The culinary expertise of Chef Giovanni Recchia, recently acknowledged as one of the world’s best at the Pizza World Championships, enhances the menu. He crafts pizzas using locally-milled flour and top-notch ingredients, including cured meats from Trealy Farm Charcuterie.

The Post Office Money report highlights how Hoi An isn’t just a cheap place to visit, but that it’s getting cheaper. Across a basket of ten holiday items visitors are likely to buy, Hoi An was the cheapest of the long-haul destinations looked at, and 10% cheaper than it was in 2023

A 15th century city with rows of colourful houses has been named as the best value destination for winter-sun breaks.

Hoi An in Vietnam returns to the number one spot it last held in 2023 in the Post Office Money rankings of the best long haul destinations, ideal for jetting away from our miserable shores to in the long, wintery days ahead.

The town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. The unique heritage site show influences from Vietnam and further afield, coming together to produce a unique public space.

In the evenings the lights from the yellow painted buildings and orange sun reflect off the water in a captivating way. Thanks to an Unesco decree, more than 800 buildings have been preserved, meaning the village looks much like it did several centuries ago.

“My favorite way to explore any new city is by walking and seeing what hidden treasures I can find. Because cars and motorbikes aren’t allowed to drive in the Ancient Town for the majority of the day, the area is prime for exploring on foot,” suggests blogger Travel Lush.

“Wandering aimlessly around the Ancient Town is easily one of the best things to do in Hoi An. And sure, it is very touristy, but I always love marveling at the old buildings, snapping photos of the postcard-perfect alleyways, sampling street snacks and popping into all of the little shops – you honestly never know what gems you’ll stumble upon in Hoi An’s historic center. The people-watching is pretty great too!

“Getting the chance to take in Hoi An’s magical scenery from a bicycle is one of my all-time favorite Hoi An activities. Cycling is big in Hoi An and most hotels here offer complimentary bicycles. It’s an incredible way to check out all of the city’s beautiful temples, emerald rice paddies and everyday street scenes.”

The Post Office Money report highlights how Hoi An isn’t just a cheap place to visit, but that it’s getting cheaper. Across a basket of ten holiday items visitors are likely to buy, Hoi An was the cheapest of the long-haul destinations looked at, and 10% cheaper than it was in 2023.

Visitors can bag a bottle of lager for £1.23 and a cup of coffee for slightly less.

Another big draw of the destination is how pleasant its weather is. Throughout the year the Vietnamese city enjoys temperature of around 29C on most days. However, it does have a long rainy season, from November through to January, so it may be wise to visit before, during the autumn, or from February.

While it may be cheap once you’re there, getting to Vietnam will cost you. Right now Skyscanner is listing return flights from the UK for £780.

There are plenty of other revelations in the Post Office Money report, which saw places in India and the Far East dominate the value top ten, taking seven of its places.

Last year’s leader Cape Town, in South Africa, is still a good bet for value in second place. Bali, Indonesia is in third. A three-course meal with wine costs just £35.48, the cheapest in the survey.

Mombasa, Kenya moved up to fourth place, beating Tokyo, which got more expensive. Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand are now in the top 10 after prices falls there. Lower prices in Colombo, Sri Lanka too saw it jump ahead of Delhi, India in our tables

A town in the south-west of England has been labelled as one of the “most beautiful autumn towns” in the UK, with people saying it’s a “beautiful place with tons of character”

St Ives, a popular surfing destination in Cornwall with its stunning beaches and vibrant art scene, has been lauded as an exceptional holiday spot throughout the year, not just during the summer months.

In fact, Premier Inn has dubbed St Ives one of the “most beautiful autumn towns”, saying that the cooler seasons are the “perfect time to experience the beaches without the crowds”.

This historic town in the southwest is famed for its beaches which draw tourists and surfers from all corners of the globe.

Its sandy stretches include Harbour Beach, Porthmeor, Porthminster, Porthgwidden, Carbis Bay, Bamaluz, Lambeth Walk, and Porthkidney.

Three of these – Porthminster, Porthmeor and Carbis Bay – have been honoured with Blue Flag status this year, a prestigious international recognition of excellent coastal water quality and environmental stewardship, reports the Express.

Both Carbis Bay and Harbour Beach scooped TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2025 awards. One chuffed visitor described Harbour Beach as “a beautiful part of Cornwall with tons of character”, while another said: “I have never seen such a beautiful place in the U.K as St Ives beach. Many have said it’s like being abroad and it really is!”.

Meanwhile, Carbis Bay has been described as “absolutely beautiful” and “well worth the walk down the hillside to reach it”.

A second visitor posted: “Paddleboarding at Carbis Bay Beach in St Ives is a truly delightful experience. The beach itself is a picturesque haven, with golden sands and crystal-clear waters that provide the perfect backdrop for a day of adventure.”

For those who enjoy staying active, there are water activities available such as surfing and paddleboarding, alongside other pursuits like tennis and golf.

The locale also boasts a celebrated artistic heritage, featuring numerous galleries and attractions to discover including the Tate, St Ives Arts Club and Leach Pottery.

Among the most beloved destinations is the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

The venue has been described as “one of the best art places in the world” by one enthusiastic tourist.

They added: “The garden with the sculptures is amazing and then seeing her workshop … just wow.”

Another said: “Always visit here when we are at St Ives. Stunning garden and sculpture. Terrific atmosphere. A very informative display as you enter and a small amount of gifts can be purchased too.”

St Ives has been crowned the top family holiday destination by Coast magazine, and was also recognised as the UK’s most joyful location for holidaymakers, according to research by holidaycottages.co.uk..

The UK’s ‘most underrated holiday destination’ boasts over 600 different walks so it’s worth having on your radar if you’re looking for autumn UK holiday ideas

There’s something magical about Britain in the autumn, from the crisp fresh air to the breathtakingly colourful countryside as the leaves change colour.

It’s therefore no surprise that this tends to be a popular season for walking holidays – especially when you throw in villages with cosy pubs and charming cottages where you can rest up after a day of exploring.

There’s one destination that’s well worth having on your radar, with travel pros hailing its ‘extraordinary landscape’ packed with limestone, lakes, gorges and postcard-worthy hiking trails.

The Mendip Hills have been described as ‘Somerset’s best-kept secret’ and while they’re not typically a hidden gem, it’s not difficult to see why locals wouldn’t want to share this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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There are over 600 walks on offer whether you’re looking for a challenge or just want a scenic stroll that the whole family can enjoy. The Mendip Way tends to be popular for hikers, as the 50-mile trail spans villages including Weston-super-Mare, Cheddar (make sure you leave time on the itinerary to take in the views from Cheddar Gorge), Wells, Shepton Mallet, and Frome, and can be hiked in around three to five days depending on your ability.

The best part is that you won’t have to battle crowds of tourists if you want to take it all in. Earlier this year, the team at Cottages.com conducted a study to uncover the UK’s most underrated staycation hotspots, looking at factors including the number of hiking and biking trails, Instagram-worthy scenery, pubs per 100 square miles, and the availability of holiday homes for last-minute bookings.

Mendip Hills took the gold medal in the rankings, thanks to the wide array of attractions, cosy pubs and beautiful walking trails on offer.

The team behind the study explained: “Dramatic gorges and easy-going trails, the Mendip Hills are Somerset’s best-kept secret. With sites like Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole, this AONB makes for a thrilling last-minute trip full of exploration and family-friendly fun, minus the tourist crowds.

“The Mendips aren’t just beautiful, they’re geologically extraordinary. Whether you’re delving into caves lit like cathedrals or following secret limestone paths carved by water and time, it’s a landscape layered with wonder.

“With 619 hiking trails and routes made for both cycling and walking, the Mendips are a playground for explorers. Climb to Crook Peak for sweeping views to the Bristol Channel, or follow woodland paths lined with wild garlic and bluebells in spring.

“Just 40 minutes from Bristol, and yet worlds away, the Mendips are perfectly placed for a quick reset. With low search volumes and 22 available properties, it’s often skipped by crowds, making it a dream destination for last-minute planners who want exploration without the queues.”

You can also find out more on mendiphills-nl.org.uk.

Stonehenge has been ranked as one of the top ten bucket list attractions in the world by Iglu Cruise, which also rated Sagrada Familia, Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat and the Niagra Falls highly

The ethereal Stonehenge has been among the world’s top bucket list attractions.

“If you’re the kind of person who’s willing to hike out to the middle of nowhere just to take a few photos of some rocks, or if you’re up for baa-ing with the sheep, you’ll love it here.”

That’s the one-star review of one particularly sarcastic person who clearly wouldn’t know a high-quality henge if one were to land on his plate. Clearly, the public at large disagrees with his grumbling review of a UK attraction that is among the most iconic of the country’s symbols and has now earned seventh place on Iglu Cruise’s list of the world’s best.

One could be forgiven for thinking that Stonehenge was erected all in one go. If not over a long weekend, then by the same set of ox-strong monument constructors.

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In fact, the stones were erected over hundreds of years, according to English Heritage. In about 2,500 BC, the stones in the centre of the monument were set up.

“Two types of stone are used at Stonehenge – the larger sarsens and the smaller ‘bluestones’. The sarsens were erected in two concentric arrangements – an inner horseshoe and an outer circle – and the bluestones were set up between them in a double arc. Probably at the same time that the stones were being set up in the centre of the monument, the sarsens close to the entrance were raised, together with the four Station Stones on the periphery,” English Heritage’s website explains.

“About 200 or 300 years later the central bluestones were rearranged to form a circle and inner oval (which was again later altered to form a horseshoe). The earthwork Avenue was also built at this time, connecting Stonehenge with the river Avon.”

Perhaps the last prehistoric activity to take place at Stonehenge was the digging around the stone settings of two rings of concentric pits, the so-called Y and Z holes. Radiocarbon has dated these back between 1,500 and 1,500 BC.

The length of the project, and the fact that generations of Neolithic West Country builders kept standing up more stones, adds to the mystique and attraction of the place.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Stonehenge is the unlikely fact of its existence. Recent geochemical research work has concluded that the stones were transported around 20 miles to their current site. Given that the average sarsens weigh 25 tons, with the largest stone, the Heel Stone, weighing about 30 tons, it would’ve required an extraordinary amount of organisation and effort.

“Building the stone circle would have needed hundreds of people to transport, shape and erect the stones. These builders would have required others to provide them with food, to look after their children and to supply equipment including hammerstones, ropes, antler picks and timber. The whole project would have needed careful planning and organisation,” writes English Heritage.

Once transported and then cut down to size, the stones needed to be lifted up into place. To erect a stone, people dug a large hole with a sloping side. The back of the hole was lined with a row of wooden stakes. The stone was then moved into position and hauled upright using plant fibre ropes and probably a wooden A-frame. Weights may have been used to help tip the stone upright. The hole was then packed securely with rubble.

Today, English Heritage runs the Stonehenge site and charge around £28.00 for an on-the-door ticket. If you claimed a free-entry coupon via the Mirror earlier this month, then you can check out the stones for no extra cost. It is possible to see Stonehenge from a public path, but the viewpoint is a little further away than is optimal.

A great time to visit is in the autumn, when the nearby trees turn brown and yellow, and the crowds are a little thinner.

Other attractions on Iglu Cruise’s list include Sagrada Familia, Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat and the Niagra Falls. You can check out the full list on its website.

Apart from a few packed-away sun loungers and the odd shuttered beach kiosk, summer is firmly keeping its grip on the Croatian island of Lošinj in the northern Adriatic. The sea is still warm as I plunge into the turquoise waters of Čikat bay, one of the largest and most sheltered on this long, thin, knobbly island in the Kvarner Gulf.

Croatia’s 19th-century Habsburg rulers were convinced that Lošinj had special healing qualities. Wandering along the tree-shaded footpath that runs all around Čikat bay and its numerous headlands, lulled by scents of pine, juniper, rosemary, sage, mint, mastic and helichrysum, I’m inclined to agree. There’s a mellowness to the air after the intense heat of high summer, and fewer people are on the beaches – although the island’s main town of Mali Lošinj buzzes with several festivals and regattas in September.

I’m here during the annual Taste the Mediterranean food festival, which has moved around Croatia over the past 13 years and has now found a home in Mali Lošinj. Guest chefs from around Europe work with local chefs to create dinners at some of the town’s restaurants, as well as hosting workshops for young culinary stars of the future.

It’s a fitting location: the Kvarner region – comprising the Opatija Riviera, Rijeka and its littoral, plus islands including Lošinj, Cres, Krk and Rab – has been designated European Region of Gastronomy for 2026 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism. Situated between the Istrian peninsula and the Dalmatian coast, Kvarner embodies the melting pot of Croatian cuisine – part Austrian, part Italian, part Balkan, and borrowing freely from its regional neighbours.

I see this on my plate at Diana Steakhouse in Čikat bay, where Istrian truffles add richness to creamily cheesy Italian ravioli, and grilled squid comes with a moreish Dalmatian side dish of garlicky blitva (chard) mashed into potatoes. At next door’s Konoba Cigale, I chat to executive chef Dinko Lekić, a born-and-bred Lošinjanin who praises the fish and seafood of Kvarner. “Every day it comes in fresh,” he says, adding that he’s now taking culinary revenge on the invasive blue crab by putting it on his menu.

However, it’s the Adriatic langoustine – škampi in Croatian – that’s the king of Kvarner. Something magical happens when water rushes through the karst mountains of Učka nature park above the Opatija area and pours nutrients into the Kvarner Gulf, feeding these shellfish. Chef Stiven Vunić, who runs Konoba Zijavica in Mošćenička Draga, south of Opatija town, and who comes from a long line of škampi fishers, enthuses about the delicacy. “This is one of the best products we have in Kvarner,” he says. “It’s very sweet; I’ve never tasted škampi like this.”

I could taste that sweetness in my grilled langoustine on Bocca Vera’s terrace overlooking the lively harbour in Mali Lošinj, preceded by tortellini with ricotta and truffles in a škampi sauce. Other seafood stars appear during my visit, including a platter of marinated and salted anchovies, carpaccio of sea bass, tuna and octopus as a warm-up for grilled dentex in Gostionica Marina in the village of Veli Lošinj, whose pretty harbour is lined with colourful Venetian-style houses.

Then there’s grilled turbot at Lanterna Grill’s waterside terrace in Čikat bay, surely one of the most romantic spots on the island, made even more enchanting by the walk there during twilight as the fiery sun filters through Aleppo pines. The bay is a snapshot of Lošinj: grand 19th-century Austrian-style villas (including one converted into the luxury Boutique Hotel Alhambra), the sleek modern Hotel Bellevue where I’m staying, the picturesquely ramshackle Latino Beach bar in front of a sandy stretch, and the northern cape dominated by an enormous campsite set under fragrant pines.

It’s tempting to linger in Čikat, with its beaches, watersports, restaurants and picnic places. However, it’s only a 15-minute walk into Mali Lošinj, where the brightly coloured port is filled with baroque sea captains’ houses, cafe terraces and a fish market. The Museum of Apoxyomenos houses one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek statues, and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with its Venetian baroque bell tower, is reached after trudging up about 200 steps along narrow alleyways.

There’s already so much natural aromatherapy on the island, but it goes into overdrive at Lošinj’s Fragrant Garden (Miomirisni Otočki Vrt) at the southern tip of Mali Lošinj. I say hello to the resident animals (a donkey, some tortoises and a rabbit), while inhaling island scents and gazing at the sea just beyond. From here it’s a short walk down stone steps to the sheltered pebbly beach at Valdarke, which, on this sunny Saturday afternoon, has fewer than 20 people on it.

Farther north is the long narrow bay of Artatore, whose pine-shaded Venerica beach is a satisfying spot for a post-lunch swim after crab soup and fried sardines with blitva at Restaurant Artatore Janja. Another late-season bonus: there are only a few dozen people spread out under the pines and on the pebbles.

About the only place that still has a high number of visitors – and requires a reservation at sunset – is the lookout point at Providenca on the hills above Mali Lošinj. It’s worth the €10 fee to sit at one of the benches surrounded by a profusion of scented plants and herbs, drinking Kvarner and Istrian wine, maybe buying a picnic basket of local cheeses, meats and seafood – and just gazing at the vista. Lošinj, its neighbouring islands and part of the mountainous mainland stretch out before me, all bathed in the glow of the setting sun. If you want to soothe the eyes and the soul, come here.

I have another treat in store before I leave Lošinj: getting two islands for the price of one. Lošinj’s northern tip is attached by a bridge to Cres, which ties with neighbouring Krk as being Croatia’s largest island. Populated by more sheep than people, and smothered with olive groves and forests of holm oak and pine, Cres is as relaxed as it comes. In the north is Beli, whose griffon vulture rescue centre I last visited 21 years ago. I’m pleased to discover that concerted efforts to rescue this endangered bird have been paying off. It’s now home to Croatia’s largest colony.

Cres town is another tiny Venetian delight, set on a deep bay that extends towards headlands lined with beaches of fine gravel and another sprawling campsite. In front of one of these beaches is the Isolano, a chic new adults-only hotel that opened in spring. When I heard about it months ago, I was a little worried this Marriott hotel wouldn’t suit Cres’s laid-back, nature-focused vibe (this is the island whose slogan is “no stress on Cres”), but I’m happy to be proved wrong. As with everything else I’d seen on these two Kvarner islands, it was just the spot to sit back and savour a taste of late summer.

The trip was provided by the Kvarner Region Tourist Board, Taste the Mediterranean and Visit Lošinj. Hotel Bellevue has doubles from €177 B&B a night in October (two-night minimum stay); closed from early November to late March. The Isolano, Cres has doubles from €186 B&B in October; closed from early January to mid-March

AUTUMN weather can be challenging to dress for, but M&S just restocked a fashion bestseller for beating the showers.

Shoppers have been raving about the stylish outerwear, comparing it to Burberry’s £1,300 designer parka jacket.

M&S’ Stormwear Car Coat, £65

M&S’ Stormwear Car Coat has a water-resistant design for protection against the elements, along with practical internal and external pockets.

It features a structured collar and relaxed raglan sleeves that give an effortlessly put-together feel, finished with tortoiseshell buttons.

It bares a resemblance to the iconic Burberry Parka Jacket, but for a fraction of the price.

The £59 high-street buy comes in navy and cream colours, but stock is selling seriously fast.

Launching on the Marks & Spencer website earlier this year, the coat has been constantly selling out.

The navy version is finally fully stocked, while the cream colourway is available in select sizes.

Finding a raincoat that actually looks stylish can sometimes feel impossible, but M&S has nailed it with its lightweight but practical staple.

M&S’ Stormwear Car Coat, £65

The fashion find could be thrown on with everything from jeans and heeled boots to leggings and trainers for dog walks.

It has a sophisticated design that could also be worn for formal occasions, including wide-leg trousers and loafers for days in the office.

Lighter jackets are perfect for this time of year, as they offer an extra layer that’s still lightweight enough to feel comfortable in.

M&S has been dropping plenty of viral hit after hit lately, including its Checked Collared Short Jacket, which is currently marked as the top bestseller.

Several TikTok users have been showing off the stylish number, and the stock appears to be flying off the shelves.

As for the popular Stormwear Car Coat, over 1,000 shoppers have given it a five-star rating.

One reviewer wrote: “Smart, stylish raincoat that’s lightweight and easy to wear. 

M&S Checked Collared Jacket, £60

It’s loose enough to go over a jumper, or you could size down for a fitted look. 

I love the pockets, buttons and back slit, and it’s great value.”

Another added: “Such a great price for this coat, it’s very smart and the material is of good quality. 

I have gone down a size based on what people have stated in previous reviews and it’s true, you need to size down for a perfect fit. 

I wear it to work and it’s perfect for this weather.”

While I’m yet to try the high-street raincoat for myself, I did put M&S’ viral trench coat to the test — and I can confirm its also a winner for autumn (if you can fight to get your hands on the remaining stock).

If you’re still struggling to find the right outerwear for the new season, read Fabulous’ roundup of the best coats for autumn for inspiration.

COFFEE lovers are racing to grab a popular autumn-inspired beverage, and it’s costing them nothing but time.

TopCashback is offering a delicious deal for new members, to get £5 cashback for just a £2 spend on a hot drink of their choice.

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The deal means seasonal coffee trend followers can get certain sized pumpkin spiced lattes for free.

All shoppers need to do to secure the sweet deal is spend at least £2 on a hot drink.

Then, to claim the offer, shoppers must sign up to TopCashback via this special link.

After signing up, shoppers should snap a picture of their receipt and receive £5 cash back into their TopCashback account.

Starbucks has priced the warm version of the seasonal favourite Tall Pumpkin Spice Latte for £4.90.

Savings on TopCashback can be made on other cosy-weather purchases, even saving shoppers money in the lead up to Christmas.

 Topcashback will pay you when you sign up and make a purchase through its links.

You could then put this extra money into your savings.

Cashback deals are often advertised as a percentage.

For example, you would get up to 5% back when you spend £30 or more.

But you should always be cautious when spending and not let offers tempt you to hand over money you didn’t intend to spend.

Only use cashback to make a purchase if you were going to buy the item anyway.

Topcashback said its members earn more than £300 a year, which works out at around £25 a month.

So if you used TopCashback for every purchase until Christmas, then you would have £75 by December 25.

M&S weren’t to be outdone, adding new autumn drinks to their menu just in time for the seasonal shift.

The supermarket retailer revealed over 20 brand new items as part of the autumn menu shake-up.

As Autumn isn’t complete without the smell of cinnamon and cosy drinks, M&S has launched limited-edition cinnamon latte and matcha.

Alongside toasties and new drinks, M&S has also brought out a new line of breakfast rolls.

The halloumi and avocado ciabatta is stuffed with grilled halloumi, smashed avocado and zingy tomato and chilli chutney.

M&S cafe is also the first UK high street retailer to sell a gluten-free bacon roll loaded with smoked British bacon.

Plus, a load of old favourites and new showstoppers have been added to the bake and cake section.

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Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas

IF youre’ looking to save cash, you’ve come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that’ll save you £2k before Christmas.

• Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
• Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
• Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
• Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
• Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
• DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
• Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.

Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!

Summer has ended, and the sweater weather is taking over – in search of finding the best autumn walk in the UK, The Flash and Three Shires in the Peak District ranked third in the list.

There’s nothing quite like a crisp autumn stroll, with the vibrant hues of the trees and the crunch of leaves underfoot.

We’re spoilt for choice in the UK with an array of stunning autumn walks right across the country. However, new research suggests that the Peak District might just be the ultimate destination for leaf-peeping this season.

Parkdean Resorts conducted a study to identify the UK’s best autumn walks, using data from TikTok, and three of the top ten spots were located in the Peak District. The trend for #Autumnwalks is currently sweeping TikTok, with over 10,600 videos showcasing various picturesque locations shared on the platform.

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The Flash and Three Shires in the Peak District clinched the third spot on the list, racking up 340,100 views. This 6km walk, named after the meeting point of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire counties, offers breathtaking views of autumn foliage.

Coming in fourth place is the Butterley Reservoir, tucked away in the Wessenden Valley in West Yorkshire. Situated at the northern edge of the national park, this scenic walk has amassed over 236,000 views on TikTok. Rounding out the top ten is Bottoms reservoir, located just outside of Hadfield, which has garnered 82,500 TikTok views.

Wales claimed the top two spots for autumn walks: Hafren Forest in Powys and Aberglaslyn Pass in Snowdonia, reports the Manchester Evening News. The former boasts a variety of routes featuring waterfalls and riverside views, including an accessible boardwalk route.

READ MORE: ‘Las Vegas of Europe’ limits foreign weddings after ‘crazy’ surge in demand

Aberglaslyn Pass, on the other hand, guides you through a stunning gorge, alongside the tranquil Glaslyn river and through the picturesque village of Beddgelert.

The route also takes in the serene waters of Llyn Dinas and the historic copper mine workings of Sygun and Cwm Bychan.

The UK’s top 10 autumn strolls

• Hafren Forest, Powys, Mid Wales
• Aberglaslyn Pass, Snowdonia, North Wales
• Flash and Three Shires Head, Peak District, Staffordshire
• Butterley Reservoir, Peak District, West Yorkshire
• Hermitage Bridge, Perthshire, Scotland
• Conic Hill, Stirling, Scotland
• Blea Tarn, Lake District, Cumbria
• Lochgoilhead, Argyll and Bute, West Scotland
• Glencoe Lochan, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
• Bottoms Reservoir, Peak District, Derbyshire

IT was the Autumn equinox on Monday – which means the days are about to get a lot shorter.

Before you know it, it will be dark when you get home from work and when you get up in the morning.

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And although that means less gardening time – there’s still loads you can get in the ground or your greenhouse.

In fact, Autumn is a great time to get planting – simply because the soil is still warm but the weather is cooler – which means roots can establish well before Winter.

Whether it’s for produce or colour before Christmas – or flowers after – I’ve put together a guide on what can go in the ground now.

FLOWERS

You can always tell from what’s on sale in your local garden centre or supermarket as to what will bring you colour in the run up before Christmas.

But staples like container grown Geums, Cyclamen, Astor, Japanese Anenome, and Chrysanthemums can be bought in flower and planted now.

Plus racks of bedding plants like pansies, viola and primroses are filling supermarket shelves.

I managed to find three packs of eight viola plugs from Asda for just a fiver last weekend – which means each of the 24 plugs are only 20p.

Plus the gorgeous colour combinations will fill your garden with rainbows of colour.

And a lot of the garden centres are offering Winter Bedding packs – which takes the decision of what to buy out of your hands – and provides you with a lovely rainbow of colours for your outside space.=

Seeds-wise – you can plant sweetpea, poppies, calendula, cornflower, nemesia, forget-me-nots, and lavender under cover.

BULBS

Daffodils, crocus, alliums and grape hyacinth bulbs are good to go in September and October – as well as the more unusual large Fritalliaries  and Camassia – which look really like bluebells.

But hold fire until November until you plant your tulip bulbs – they love the colder weather.

If you put them in too early, you’ll risk the change of Tulip Fire, which is a fungal disease that causes distorted leaves and spots – that look like scorch marks – on the tulips themselves.

A lot of online garden centres have big bulb sales on at the moment, so it’s worth shopping around.

Suttons Seeds are offering Sun Gardening readers an exclusive link to get 80 per cent off their bulb sales right now.

Access it now at www.suttons.co.uk/sunoffer

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

Butterhead and Lamb’s lettuce actually like the colder weather – so under a cloche or cold frame, or in a greenhouse – sow the seeds thinly, about 1.5cm deep. Sow every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply.

Overwintering cauliflower seeds like ‘All The Year Round’ and ‘Autumn Giant’ can be planted now – under protection.

Plus onion seeds, winter greens, garlic, pak choi, spinach and kale.

There’s a lot of fruit you can grow in pots – including cherries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.

Then wait until November for bare root season

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Gardening news, top tips, Plant of the Week plus a chance to win a £200 Gardening Express voucher.

Fore more gardening content and competitions follow me @biros_and_bloom

NEWS! Did you know that 22 billion carrot seeds are sown each year in the UK, and we eat our way through 700,000 tonnes of carrots annually?
This works out to be around 100 per person, and laid out end to end they would stretch 1.4 million miles – two and a half trips to the moon.  
And as British growers provide 97 per cent of the carrots consumers buy in the UK, there is almost no need to buy imported carrots.
They’re also worth £290m to the UK Economy yet are one of the cheapest vegetables – with loads of nutritional benefits.  
The incredible stats have been released in time for British Carrot Day on Friday – which celebrates the UK carrot growing and encourages people to buy, get creative, eat, and cook with carrots.
For more information visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk 

NEWS! A whopping leaf four metres long has been grown at the Eden Project, Cornwall. Lodoicea maldivica, more commonly known as coco de mer, is native to the islands of the Seychelles and is famous for producing the world’s largest and heaviest seed.
The mature leaf has taken around ten years to develop to this stage. And over the next decade, it could reach a massive eight to ten metres. A coco de mer can live for up to 800 years, reaching up to 112 feet tall.

TOP TIP! September is the start of baby hedgehog (hoglet) season, and you may find that they need your help.
Autumn Juvenile hedgehogs are old enough to be away from their mums, but often too small to hibernate successfully.
Guidance from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society  says that “if the hedgehog is a regular visitor to your garden, is only seen at night, appears active and you are prepared to feed it every night then it can be left in the wild.
But  if the hedgehog goes off its food, wobbles and staggers or starts coming out in the day, then it needs extra help as soon as possible.
The best way to ensure wild hedgehogs are well-fed is to create organic wild spaces, leafy corners and log piles where they can forage for natural foods, like grubs and insects.
To supplement their diet in the wild, you can offer hedgehogs a good quality meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food or dry biscuits for cats.

NEWS! If you fancy turning your hand to growing houseplants, Unwins have launched a brand new Houseplant Seed Collection, a curated range of eight varieties that have been specially selected and bred to flourish in UK and Irish homes.
Including Asparagus Ferns, Sempervivum, Bird of Paradise and Dichondra Silver Surfer, the packs are available now in your local garden centre.
Natasha Lane, Head of Seed, for Unwins, commented: “We’re very excited to be launching a collection of houseplant seeds for the first time. It now means that it’s easier than ever to create your very own indoor jungle. Whether you’re looking to enhance wellbeing, purify the air, or simply add style to your space, our houseplant seeds are ready to grow with you.”

WIN! One lucky reader can win a £200 Gardening Express voucher to spend online. To enter, visit www.thesun.co.uk/EXPRESSVOUCHER or write to Sun Gardening Express competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 11, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Japanese Anemone. Blooming now, they’re graceful and tall with long stalks and single or double flowers – great for brightening up shady corners, but prefer a bit of sun. Spread by rhizomes.

JOB OF THE WEEK! If you’ve got a pond it’s time to get it ready for winter – net it before leaves start to fall and trim back any overgrown pond plants. Put a tennis ball in to help prevent freezing.

While most European holiday destinations are winding down in October there’s one island in the Mediterranean where the resorts are still lively and the weather stays warm

If the thought of chilly autumn mornings, rain and wind fill you with pure dread, you may be looking to book a break in October for a final taste of warming late summer sun.

Many resorts start to shut up shop at this time of year and wind down their tourist attractions as visitor numbers decline, the nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop.

However, there’s one island in the Mediterranean where the main destinations remain very much open with plenty to offer holiday makers who aren’t quite ready to accept summer is over or who want to treat the kids to a half term trip to help ease those back to school blues.

The third largest island in the Med, Cyprus, is located in sparkling azure waters southeast of Greece and south of Turkey. Less than a five hour flight from the UK, it is one of the warmest places in this part of the European Union thanks to its subtropical climate and the summer generally lasts eight months from April through to November.

Temperatures during October can reach 28C or higher on occasion and even in the cooler four months, it’s possible to enjoy 20C. Coastal areas in December enjoy as many hours of sunshine as London does in May on average so sun seekers are certainly well catered for.

The main resorts make the most of their balmy climes and welcome holidaymakers late into the season. On the East Coast restaurants and kids’ clubs in Paphos and Limassol are still running and lively.

The beaches in Protaras and Ayia Napa are heaving in high summer but by this time of year are much calmer so great for families to make the most of with the sea temperature averaging around 24C.

Those with younger children or elderly travellers may prefer the sandy, serene beach of Fig Tree Bay in Protaras where it’s possible to explore the beautiful turquoise waters with a spot of snorkeling or on a boat trip. Limassol offers a long stretch of gorgeous coastline with some Blue Flag beaches and a stunning marina.

For those wanting something more energetic than making sandcastles and dozing in the sun, the island has plenty of water and amusement parks.

The always buzzing Ayia Napa is home to a number, with the Greek mythology-themed WaterWorld being the most famous, while the naturally landscaped Aphrodite Waterpark is situated in Paphos.

It’s here that fans of ancient history can also visit the Tombs of the Kings. The UNESCO World Heritage Site offers visitors a glimpse into the mysterious burial practices in underground tombs dating back to the 4th century. Larnaca, the oldest city in Cyprus also has a wealth of historical sites, museums, churches and cathedrals.

Traditional Cypriot cuisine is influenced by Greece and the Middle East. Meze is very popular, with a selection of small dishes such as dips, grilled meats, seafood and cheese, particularly halloumi, which is the national cheese.

Souvlaki (charcoal skewered meat) and Stifado – a hearty stew as well makaronia tou fournou, which is a baked pasta dish, is also very popular and tasty. There are plenty of options for the fussier palate or younger visitors, with restaurants offering British inspired menus.

Recent visitors to Cyprus have shared their experiences on Tripadvisor, with one advising on the weather during autumn. “We have been four times to Paphos in October,” they wrote.

“The temperature in mid October in the early afternoon has been around 28 degrees with beautiful blue skies. We have been able to eat outside in the early evening and used a pashmina later.

“Could still swim in the pool but it was a bit chilly. The sea, however, was fine to swim in.” Another added: “We’re always there mid-October and it’s lovely – still short sleeves in the evenings.”

A Cotswolds town has been described as a ‘hidden gem’ and is a must-visit location for anyone looking for a peaceful getaway with plenty of charm

A ‘wonderful’ quintessential English market town, brimming with history and charm, is a must-visit destination with its ancient buildings, historic streets and unique timber inns.

This ‘hidden gem’ also boasts over 60 delightful independent shops that attract locals and tourists alike throughout the year.

The Cotswolds town may not be as well-known as other tourist spots, but it’s described as a ‘fabulous’ location with numerous picturesque walks in the surrounding area.

Perched above the River Isbourne in Gloucestershire, the town is conveniently located near the scenic Cotswold Way in the Tewkesbury Borough.

Here, you’ll find centuries-old buildings dating back to medieval times, including several 15th-century coaching inns now serving as restaurants, all set amidst stunning countryside that extends for miles around the town, reports the Express.

Winchcombe offers a fantastic autumn getaway with breathtaking views, charming stone cottages and historical black and white half-timbered buildings. It’s hailed as the ‘hidden jewel in the Cotswold crown’ and provides a perfect escape from city life.

The official Cotswolds website describes the town: “As well as the town centre, must see places are Sudeley Castle with its 1,000 years of royal history and stunning gardens at any time of year.

“The church which is home to an altar cloth made by Catherine of Aragon and 40 grotesques (which are shaped to look like the local characters of the 1460’s).

“Winchcombe is a delight for visitors, with a good range of shops including a wonderful deli, traditional retailers, boutique clothing, interior design and antique shops to browse.

“The town also boasts a wealth of historic pubs, some with a modern twist, several tea rooms and galleries to while away the afternoon.”

Winchcombe takes pride in its ‘Walkers are Welcome’ motto – with numerous footpaths leading through stunning countryside alongside plenty of fascinating sights en route.

There’s a Roman villa nestled in secluded terrain plus an ancient Neolithic burial ground, or visitors can trek to the summit of the Cotswold Scarp, a dramatic cliff face of the Cotswold Hills, for spectacular panoramas.

The Experience Winchcombe website described a visit to this destination as encountering a Cotswold town at its absolute best.

The website said: “Relax in our timbered inns, savour our fresh local produce and browse and buy in our independent, quality shops.

“Soak up the scenery with a walk or cycle around this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or a stroll alongside the River Isbourne.

“Discover the fascinating history and centuries-old architecture of this charming Cotswold town, or simply unwind in our breath-taking countryside.”

Winchcombe is a market town within the Borough of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, this picturesque location sits seven miles from Cheltenham – housing approximately 5000 inhabitants.

For some people as the weather gets colder it’s time to escape to a hot country but for many a hot chocolate while the rain is pouring outside is perfect

As the autumn takes hold, we can often expect damp, dull weather but there’s so much more to the season than cold weather.

Especially when finding the perfect spot for a velvet hot chocolate and good book is on everyone’s agenda, but one UK city has officially been named the cosiest of them all.

If you’re planning a UK retreat this year – Chichester is the place to be as new research by Betway, thanks to its mix of indie bookshops, cafés and parks – making it the top destination for snug autumn vibes.

READ MORE: Brits warned over hidden autumn dog dangers that could cost owners thousandsREAD MORE: ‘Unique’ UK village with popular pub that feels like it’s ‘from another era’

The cathedral city in West Sussex boasts six independent bookshops and 67 coffee shops, alongside 15 parks and gardens, earning it the highest ‘cosiness score’ in the country.

Brighton came in second, with 12 indie bookshops, a huge 267 cafés and 56 museums But also the highest rainfall of the cities investigated, with 308mm in autumn. Wells, the UK’s smallest city, landed in third place thanks to its cobbled streets, 22 cafés and eight parks.

Bath followed in fourth, famed for its Roman Baths and Jane Austen Centre, and Inverness rounded out the top five as the only Scottish city to make the list. Other cities making the top ten include Canterbury, Ely, Chester, York and Winchester.

For Chichester, the combination of culture and comfort was unbeatable, with researchers saying its abundance of coffee spots and green spaces give locals and tourists alike plenty of ways to enjoy the changing seasons.

The UK’s top 10 cosiest cities

1. Chichester
2. Brighton
3. Wells
4. Bath
5. Inverness
6. Canterbury
7. Ely
8. Chester
9. York
10. Winchester

The ranking looked at the number of indie bookshops, cafés, museums and green spaces per 10,000 people as well as average autumn rainfall to work out which cities offer the cosiest setting as the nights draw in.

So, whether you fancy curling up with a book in Brighton, strolling through Bath’s historic streets, or enjoying the autumn leaves in Chichester’s Bishop’s Palace Gardens. You don’t have to go too far as Britain is packed with cities perfect for a cosy escape this season.

FASHION lovers are raving about a supermarket coat in the style of the season that’s perfect for autumn.

Now that the weather has gotten colder, and the nights are drawing in, you may have started layering up when out and about.

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And some stunning pieces have popped up at Sainsbury’s in-store and online.

Tu Clothing is the supermarket‘s in-house fashion label and regularly delights fashion fans with its stylish buys at bargain prices.

The Navy Check Short Scarf Coat, in particular, has been catching the eye of savvy fashionistas.

The scarf-coat combo is one of the biggest outerwear trends on the catwalks for AW25.

The chic, stylish update on a wardrobe staple means that you no longer have to faff around adding an extra accessory to your look – your coat already has a matching scarf attached.

And the scarf is detachable so you can decide if you want to have it as part of your outfit or not. 

The stylish Sainsbury’s version is priced at £55 and comes in sizes XS to XL.

Describing it on the website, supermarket bosses say: “A timeless piece for colder weather, our navy short coat comes in a check design with button fastening and front pockets.

“Crafted with a touch of wool for extra warmth. Includes a matching scarf for an effortlessly stylish look this season.”

It’s already been hailed as one of the supermarket’s bestsellers for autumn and has racked up rave reviews online too.

One delighted shopper gushed: “A really cosy coat, love the detachable scarf.

“I ordered a size smaller, I’m glad I did as it is really roomy. I love the material and colour.”

“Very happy with this jacket, loose fit so lots of room for sweaters below”, added a second.

A third wrote: “Really delighted by the jacket. Looks classy on and the scarf (which can be detached) is an added bonus.

“Will make a lovely warm jacket going into autumn/winter. I did go down 2 sizes to get the fit and look I wanted.”

A fourth said: “This coat is so soft. Very pleased, the colours are gorgeous and it’s very stylish.”

A fifth chimed in: “Love this coat. It’s cosy and very smart and fashionable.

“Lovely to have a warm detachable scarf as well. Very well made too.

“Just love it. Can’t wait for it to be cold enough to wear it. Well done Tu.”

Meanwhile, a sixth echoed: “I really like this coat, it feels very soft and looks very smart.

“It is quite large but I believe that is the cocoon style. I love the colours and the matching scarf. It is also a very good price.”

IF you’re looking for a stylish buy to add to your home that will also make it feel cosier, B&M has got you covered.

The bargain retailer’s extra large shaggy faux rug is perfect for warming up your feet as temperatures dip over autumn and winter.

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It’s also an affordable way to spruce up your space for the colder months after being marked down in the sale.

The cream shaggy faux fur rug was originally priced at £18.

But it’s currently scanning for just £4.50. This works out at a huge £13.50 saving.

And it’s not just an insulation solution for your floors.

A savvy bargain hunter revealed she has been using the rug as a throw for her bed and sofa after snapping up two in her local store.

Posting on the BARGAIN LOVERS – Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M, Primark, The Range & More Facebook group, which boasts 910,000 members, Jayne said: “Bargain down to £4.50 at B&M.

“iv put one on my sofa and bed “

Other shoppers are now racing to pick one up, as one gushed: “I need.”

A second asked a loved one: “Have u any in if so please save me 2 an let me know.”

Meanwhile, a third cried: “I need a new rug!!! When we going?”

Elsewhere in store, a mum has revealed the top B&M buys you can grab now to spread the cost of Christmas shopping.

Kirsty, who jokingly describes herself as ”Christmas crazy”, recently shared the epic haul of goodies she got her teenager ahead of the festive season.

While some people reckon Christmas shopping in September is ”too early” – and even her hubby reckons she’s ”lost the plot” – sorting out the presents months in advance is a great way to spread the cost.

”I start shopping [for Christmas] straight away, soon as the year starts – especially once we get to February, March, April, I’m in full-swing Christmas,” Kirsty told her 29k followers on TikTok.

The monster haul included just some of the items the mum will be treating her 16-year-old daughter to during the festive season.

The majority of the goodies she snapped up as long as six months ago were purchased at B&M and included a range of items.

Mums are also snapping up a £10 festive buy that guarantees an hour of peace from your kids.

Haworth, West Yorkshire

Bradford is 2025’s UK City of Culture, and Wild Uplands is part of the year-long celebration that involves four new installations on the moors above Haworth, 10 miles west of central Bradford. There are pink marble butterflies designed by Meherunnisa Asad. On the ridge above, Steve Messam’s 10-metre tower of locally quarried stone looks out over heather-purple hills. These works are dotted around the lake and abandoned quarries of Penistone Hill country park and a family-friendly guide charts a route around all four. While wandering over the moors, you can tune into a geolocated immersive soundscape, Earth & Sky, which includes music by Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius. The Brontë Bus from Hebden Bridge via Keighley stops three times an hour in Haworth, and it’s then a 15-minute stroll past the Parsonage to Penistone Hill. Haworth’s steep, cobbled Main Street is lined with pubs and cafes such as the Writers’ Bloc, which opened in November 2024 and serves cream teas inside a hollowed-out book. At the bottom of the street, Haworth Old Hall has a choice of locally distilled gins.
To 12 October, bradford2025.co.uk

Folkestone, Kent

The 2025 Folkestone Triennial, the UK’s biggest urban collection of contemporary outdoor artworks, features new site-specific works by artists from around the world. It is free and open daily until 19 October, and you can choose your own routes using the map in the digital guide. No 15 is an old Martello tower containing Katie Paterson’s extraordinary years-long project Afterlife. She has fashioned 197 amulets from matter embodying the harm caused by the climate crisis: fragments of charred wood from burnt forests, stones from islands menaced by rising seas … Walk past Jennifer Tee’s Oceans Tree of Life, a seaweed sculpture of brick and fused sea glass built into the grassy clifftop, to reach Sara Trillo’s chalky Urn Field. Down some steps off the harbour arm, don’t miss Red Erratic by Dorothy Cross, a waterside block of red Syrian marble carved with human feet. Stop off at Herbert’s for an ice-cream, where artist Emeka Ogboh has designed a lolly that tastes like lemon cheesecake and can be dipped (sherbet dip-dab-style) into a slightly salty-spicy coating that looks like sand. Ogboh’s choral sound installation Ode to the Channel is a few minutes’ walk away past Sunny Sands beach. Here you can sit on the steps with your ice-cream and listen to the music and the waves.
To 19 October, creativefolkestone.org.uk

Newquay, Cornwall

A series of new murals are appearing on walls around Newquay. There are colourful seaside abstracts, bouncing beachballs, a fisher mending nets by candlelight … Bus 56 from Newquay runs hourly up to Porth, where local artist Phil Strugnell has painted a big, colourful mural on the side of the SeaSpace aparthotel. From here, you can follow the coast path back to Newquay for a couple of miles. Skirting Lusty Glaze and Towan Beach, walk through the ancient burial site at the Barrowfields to reach the town. Stroll past the new murals, each one with a QR code to give you details about the artist, and end near Elle Koziupa’s chiaroscuro fisher opposite Sainsbury’s.
Muqy Street Art Trail, ovenqy.co.uk

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

The British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent runs until late October. More than 60 artists, including comedian Johnny Vegas, are involved in films, events and exhibitions in the Spode Works, a historic ceramics factory 10 minutes’ walk from Stoke-on-Trent station. There are regular trains from Crewe, London Euston and elsewhere. A bronze Josiah Wedgwood stands opposite the station, holding a copy of the Portland Vase. Spode is a maze of old factory buildings, storerooms and galleries. New commissions include Playscape, turning clay spoil into a playground, and Josie KO celebrating Black women in Stoke with a collaborative bottle kiln-inspired goddess. When you’ve finished exploring Spode Works, follow the new Living Heritage trail, which launched in April, and starts from Spode. There are Staffordshire oatcakes and deep-filled sarnies at the Quarter, while the Little Vintage Tea Room at Spode Museum has homemade cakes and a mosaic counter designed by artist Philip Hardaker, inspired by Spode’s blue Italian ceramics.
To 19 October, britishceramicsbiennial.com

Wolterton, Norfolk

Wolterton Hall and its 200-hectare (500-acre) estate have been closed to the public for decades. Now a new art and culture programme comes with a chance to explore the Palladian house and grounds during opening hours (generally Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm) if you book a free ticket online. The inaugural exhibition, Sea State, includes tempestuous new North Sea-inspired works by Maggi Hambling and painted-steel wave-form sculptures by Ro Robertson in the Marble Hall. In the old Portrait Room, don’t miss Hambling’s moving tribute to her late partner of 40 years, Tory. This is less an art trail than a parkland stroll and indoor exhibition, but both are lovely. Maps available at Wolterton offer various routes around the lake and ponds, with views of the heronry and ruined round-towered church. There are more great walks at nearby Mannington. Norfolk-based bakery Bread Source has cafes in Wolterton Hall’s library and at Mannington too, serving cakes, drinks and huge flaky croissants.
Sea State runs to 7 December, wolterton.co.uk

Westminster, London

Author and journalist Juliet Rix’s new book, London Statues of Women, features interviews with artists and models. It covers the more obvious monuments, such as Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace and Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square. But you can also find groundbreaking director Joan Littlewood outside the Theatre Royal in Stratford and Amy Winehouse in Camden Market. The book includes three statue safaris around Westminster, Bloomsbury and the City. The Westminster route starts with a dancing Anna Pavlova in gilded bronze on top of the Victoria Palace theatre and ends at Waterloo near Basil Watson’s National Windrush Monument. Look up on Horseferry Road to see Mary and Etienne Millner’s bronze figure of visionary mathematician Ada Lovelace, backed by gold computer punch cards. Or head to the riverside garden by St Thomas’ hospital to find nurse Mary Seacole.
London Statues of Women is published by Safe Haven Books

Wrexham, Clwyd

A new public art trail is part of Wrexham’s bid to be 2029 UK city of culture. Coordinated by local artist Liam Stokes-Massey, the trail includes 14 works so far and the city is planning a second phase this autumn. The Boss is Stokes-Massey’s tribute to Wrexham FC manager Phil Parkinson, and there are several football-themed works. Others celebrate the city’s industrial heritage, such as Josh Colwell’s monochrome miner with caged canary. The Art Bunny (AKA Rachel West) evokes Wrexham’s markets, where her mum and grandad worked. There’s a map to plot your route round the murals. Tŷ Pawb gallery, market and food court has homemade curry, pies from the Pie’d Pie’per and more.
Find out more at wcct.wales