Autumn arrives with a crisp breeze and comfy vibes, promising misty woodland walks,  explosions of colour, roaring fires and pumpkin-spiced delights. Here’s our guide to the 20 best things for groups to do in the UK this season.

Nature walks and outdoor escapes

1. Enjoy the burst of autumnal colour in the London parks, Windsor Castle’s Great Park, Kew Gardens and RHS Wisley. Relish leaves crunching underfoot, hunt for acorns and spot squirrels preparing for winter.
2. Escape to the Scottish Highlands, covered in a blanket of fiery red and gold. The many magnificent Scottish castles are the ultimate cosy retreat after a brisk walk in the elements.
3. Visit the Garden of England for a tour of some of the most beautiful castles and gardens boasting Autumn colour, the Gardens of Kent or the Gardens of the Cotswolds.
4. Try a maize maze or visit a pumpkin patch.
5. Forage for conkers and blackberries in the woods - a nostalgic pastime perfect for all ages. Take a Gourmet Garden Trail and discover more edible delights.
6. Have a go at apple, pear or plum picking in a traditional orchard.

Halloween or Bonfire Night events

7. Get spooked at Halloween, from ghost tours on foot or by bus or speedboat, to haunted castles and pubs or scary escape rooms and sinister cocktails.
8. Celebrate Bonfire Night. On November 5th, towns and cities across the UK light up with fireworks, toffee apples and welcoming bonfires as we remember Guy Fawkes and his infamous Gunpowder Plot.

Heritage and culture

9. Tour iconic film locations. Step into the worlds of Bridgerton, Downton Abbey and The Crown with guided tours of Castle Howard, Highclere Castle and Hampton Court Palace.
10. Visit the Tower of London and admire the Crown Jewels.
11. Enjoy a panoramic bus tour of London.
12. Visit one of London’s many museums or see an exhibition.
13. See London in all its autumnal splendour from up high on the London Eye.
14. Explore well-known literary landscapes. Wander the atmospheric moors of Brontë country, the golden woods of the Lake District that inspired Wordsworth, Hardy’s beautiful Dorset or Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon.

And when you want to stay inside

15. Indulge in a seasonal afternoon tea or hot chocolates in a luxury hotel lounge.
16. Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in front of a roaring fire, after a ramble through the countryside.
17. Get absorbed in one of the many exciting immersive experiences available in London.
18. Watch a West End show, play or ballet.
19. Book an autumnal workshop, such as flower-arranging, botanical printing, pumpkin-carving or wreath-making.
20. Savour some of the UK’s best sparkling wines at one of the outstanding vineyards in the south-east, follow a warming whisky trail in Scotland or try gin sampling at a famous distillery.