Are you looking for an autumn/winter staycation? Look no further! We’ve put together our recommendations below for some of the locations we think are worth a visit 🤗
Edinburgh
The best time to visit Edinburgh has to be the final few months of the year! It is a beautiful city whose architecture and buildings look even more magical during the autumn and winter months 🍂 If you’re looking for the perfect place to hide away in the cold, Edinburgh has many wonderful cafés and restaurants that are not to miss out on ☕
There are many attractions to visit, including Edinburgh Castle, which is home to lots of historic artefacts. If you are an early riser, you can enjoy a lovely morning walk up to Arthur’s Seat or Carlton Hill to see the early sunrise. For any Harry Potter fans, this is the perfect city for you, as it’s the place that inspired J.K.Rowling. You can visit spots such as The Elephant House which is the café where the first novel was written, and Victoria Street, which inspired Diagon Alley.
When visiting Edinburgh during the festive period, don’t miss out on the fantastic Christmas market they put on! The streets are filled with lots of tasty food and drinks stalls with plenty of homemade produce as well as a Santa’s Grotto for the kids. You can attend from the 24th November 2023 to the 3rd January 2024.
The Lake District
The Lake District covers a large area of northwest England making it the ideal location for walking trips in the UK. If you are looking for a dog-friendly staycation, the Lake District is definitely for you 🐕
If you are looking for a cosy place that provides some peace and quiet before the Christmas rush, the Lake District is where you want to be! You can get wrapped up and explore the small villages. Hawkshead has some lovely independent shops and quirky cafés as well as a chocolate factory to grab some delicious treats. Grasmere offers many restaurants and art galleries to wander around and Boot which sits in the valley of Eskdale has two traditional pubs where you can get your toes warm and enjoy a yummy pub dinner.
Throughout October why not take a ride on the Halloween Ghost Train on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway or go pumpkin picking and carving at Walby Farm Park.
The villages of the Lake District also hold Christmas markets:
- Christmas in Cartmel – 24th November 2023
- Dickensian Christmas Festival in Ulverston – 25th-26th November
- Rydal Mount Christmas Fayre in Ambleside – 2nd-3rd December
- Carlisle Christmas Market – 1-17th December
Somerset
In Somerset you will find the most stunning displays of autumnal leaves and plenty of cosy traditional cafés 🍁
As it’s a county near the coast, you can take a lovely walk along the beach! There are plenty of great coastal towns in Somerset, such as Minehead which is the largest town and has the perfect seaside for the whole family to enjoy, even in the colder weather. There is also Porlock which is within the Exmoor National Park, that offers brilliant walking views and wonderful tearooms, restaurants and a whole load of shops to explore and pick up Christmas gifts.
Other attractions that are worth a visit during the colder months are Wells Cathedral where you can attend a candlelight concert during the Christmas period or spend one of the days taking a day trip out to the Wookey Hole Caves where you can take part in a challenging caving experience or attend a seasonal event.
Cambridge
For those who enjoy a city break, Cambridge is somewhere you should visit as it has plenty of things to do for you and your family! It is the perfect location for the balance of city living and trips to the countryside.
You can take an autumn picnic on your walks around the Botanic Garden, as picnics are definitely not just for summer but for autumn too(if you wrap up and choose a dry day!).
If you need to get some Christmas shopping done, you can visit Cambridge Grand Arcade which has plenty of shops. Plan your visit around the Christmas Light Switch On for the ultimate festive shopping experience.
Each year in the run-up to Christmas, Cambridge Corn Exchange or the Cambridge Arts Theatre hold pantomime productions to create some festive comedy and fun ideal for families 🤗
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