As summer fades to autumn, bright green leaves turn to vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red, creating stunning displays that brighten up overcast autumn days. To help you get the most out of this yearly cycle, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to see autumn leaves in the UK. Whether you’re travelling to England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, you will find excellent options for autumn day trips that capture the season’s spirit.
Why do leaves change colour in autumn?
In spring and summer, trees use chlorophyll, a green pigment that keeps the leaves green, to photosynthesise, gaining energy from the sun so they can keep growing. In autumn, this process slows down and the trees absorb the last of the chlorophyll and stop producing any more.
Where previously chlorophyll had dominated the leaves, they can now reveal their other chemicals, such as flavonols (yellow), carotenoids (orange) and anthocyanins (red and purple). Different species of trees have different levels of these chemicals, leading to the array of colours that mark the autumn season.
Best places to see autumn leaves in the UK
There’s no shortage of colourful woodland to be found throughout the UK in autumn. Wherever you’re travelling, you’ll likely be able to find forests and parklands that light up in varying shades of reds, yellows, and oranges. Autumn forecasts may vary from sunny and brisk to overcast and foggy, but all of these destinations will complement any autumn weather.
Knightwood Oak Trail, New Forest, Hampshire
New Forest, in England, near Southampton, is a large stretch of unenclosed heathland, forest, and pastureland that includes 146 square kilometres of broadleaved woodland, making the whole area a perfect place to visit in autumn for stunning golden foliage.
One of the top attractions of the forest is Knightwood Oak, also called the ‘Queen of the Forest’; over 500 years old, it’s the largest oak tree in the forest. To reach it, you can walk the Knightwood Oak Trail, a roughly 0.6-kilometre loop. It will take you down a path lined with golden trees before you reach the ‘Queen of the Forest’.
Bolderwood, New Forest, Hampshire
Another part of the New Forest, only around 7min by car (or roughly a 45min walk) from the Knightwood Oak, is Bolderwood, best known for being home to a deer sanctuary. The area also boasts some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in the region, whose needles turn beautiful shades of yellow and orange in fall. There may not be as many deer as in spring and summer, but you can still spot a few from a deer-viewing platform just a short walk from the car park.
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
The Winkworth Arboretum is famous for its beautiful blooms in spring, but it’s just as gorgeous in autumn with its large maple trees that turn stunning shades of red and orange. It’s not only the leaves that are worth a look during this time; holly, spindle, and Chinese dogwood trees have beautiful displays of berries during autumn.
Down on the ground, you can spot a range of mushrooms and other fungi, including fairytale-esque toadstool mushrooms (the gardens include poisonous mushrooms, so the garden asks that visitors don’t touch or pick them without an expert guide). The gardens are so beautiful at this time of year that it’s best to book your visit in advance between late September and late November, as they tend to be extra busy during this time.
Northumberland
Northumberland is home to a number of attractions that are particularly beautiful when decked out in the reds and oranges of autumn leaves. Craigside is a beautiful 19th-century house surrounded by woodland with many different walking trails, where you can wander through autumnal hues. Kielder Forest, about 1h from Craigside by car, is a large stretch of woodland that follows the border between England and Scotland, with walking trails that take you through rolling hills and vibrant foliage. Plus, you can visit the Kielder Observatory to gaze up at a starry autumn sky.
Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd
Penrhyn Castle is a beautiful historic castle in Wales, with vines climbing up its walls that turn a vibrant red hue in autumn. The land surrounding the castle is a mix of open lawns, gardens and woodland trails that create a beautiful atmosphere during autumn. Most areas around the castle are happy for visitors to bring dogs as long as they are on a leash, so it’s an excellent place to bring your dog on holiday and go for a picturesque walk together.
Brecon Beacons National Park, Powys
This large national park in Wales is home to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which is lined and sheltered by beech trees that turn golden in autumn. There are roughly 56 kilometres of walkable trails alongside the canal, and it can be a wonderfully peaceful retreat. You can also explore the waterways with a narrowboat hire that doubles as accommodation. Outside of the canal, the entire park is worth visiting in autumn, with plenty of walking trails and bike paths to take you through the golden trees and shrubs that fill the park.
St Mary’s Vale, Monmouthshire
Looking to get into the Halloween mood for Autumn? St Mary’s Vale is a perfect blend of magic and mystery, with twisting branches and a thick canopy of golden leaves overhead and a carpet of fallen leaves below. The woods are nestled at the base of Sugar Loaf Mountain, so you can visit the woods and then make the hike up to the mountain’s peak for beautiful views over the countryside.
Castlewellan Arboretum, County Down
Castlewellan Forest Park is a unique forest in Northern Ireland that is home to trees and shrubs from all over the world. It’s also a great place to spot small woodland animals such as red squirrels, pine marten and the occasional otter. One of the forest’s main attractions is Castlewellan Lake, which is home to some rare aquatic plants. The forest is large with plenty to explore, including the Peace Maze, one of the largest permanent hedge mazes in the world.
Glenariff Forest Park, County Down
Nestled in Glenariff Glen, Glenariff Forest Park is home to a dazzling array of autumn leaves from ash trees, oaks, beeches and hazel trees. Waterfalls and ponds are scattered throughout the forest, and there are many walking trails including some designed to take you to many of the forest’s falls. The forest also offers many activities, with horse riding, tours and barbecue areas all available.
The Argory, County Armagh
A historic house built in the 1820s, The Argory has both carefully maintained gardens and a large stretch of woodland as part of its estate. There are multiple walks to take you through the woodland, but one of the best is the Lime Tree Walk, which takes you along the golden leaves of pollarded lime trees and past The Argory oak plantation before returning to the main house.
Glen Affric, Highlands
Scotland’s Highlands are picturesque in autumn, and one of the best places to visit is the beautiful Glen Affric. The Glen is noted for its mountain backdrops and lochs, including Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin. What makes it perfect for autumn travellers is the incredible pine forest that dates back centuries and turns into a mosaic of bright colours when summer ends. Red deer stags also call the region home; even if you don’t spot one, you’ll likely hear their echoing roars.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Glasgow
You don’t have to head to the countryside to see beautiful autumn colours in the UK. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens, in the West End of Glasgow, are made up of stretches of parkland and trees, as well as multiple greenhouses. The gardens are home to a wide range of trees from all over the world that display the full range of autumnal colours.
