‘UK’s best place for autumn’ is packed with pubs and independent shops | UK | Travel

Autumn is here bringing with it those crisp morning walks, cosy jumpers, and ideal weather for settling into a cosy pub to tuck into a hearty roast. If you’re thinking of making the most of the season with a long weekend, then you’re in luck, as one travel firm has just shared its rankings of the UK’s best autumnal escapes.

The team at small tour operator Rabbies looked at factors including the number of parks, the number of nearby walking trails, average daytime temperatures, and the average number of rainy days when determining where is best in the nation this season.

Topping the list is the breathtaking medieval city of York. Here you’ll not only find beautiful buildings (York Minster with its Gothic architecture is a must-visit) but you’ll also be spoiled for choice with proper British pubs, tea rooms and cobbled streets lined with independent shops selling antiques, books, clothes and artwork, to name a few.

Hazel Rickett, CEO of Rabbies, said: “There’s something about York in autumn that’s hard to put into words. As the temperature drops and the evenings grow darker, the city takes on a wonderfully atmospheric quality, with its narrow cobbled streets, ancient walls and glowing pub windows creating the perfect backdrop for a seasonal escape.

“It’s a compact, walkable city packed with history, character and charm, which makes it ideal for a weekend away when you want to slow down, wrap up warm and soak up centuries of heritage. Autumn is arguably the best time of year to experience everything York has to offer.”

One street not to miss is The Shambles, where the preserved medieval buildings have a higgledy-piggledy feel. It’s one of the more popular locations in York, especially if you want to while away a few hours exploring the shops or stopping off for a quick coffee. In fact, Hazel described it as a “wonderful place to lose track of time and experience York’s history first-hand”.

Of course no autumn break is complete without a walk, and while the Yorkshire Dales National Park is about an hour’s drive away, the city itself has a short loop that is ideal if you’re after a more leisurely (and less muddy!) route. “York is encircled by the longest and most complete medieval city walls in England, tracing a roughly two-mile route around the historic centre,” Hazel explained. “The walls offer a raised walk that takes in some of the city’s finest views. Visitors can stroll the ramparts between the historic gateways, known as bars, and look out over the Minster, the rooftops and the surrounding countryside as the trees turn shades of amber and gold. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to see the city and appreciate just how much history is packed into its streets.”

For those days when the British weather doesn’t play nice (which is unfortunately common during the autumn and winter months), there’s still plenty to explore. History buffs won’t want to miss out on York Castle Museum, but the JORVIK Viking Centre is also worth having on your radar, with this ride taking you through a reconstruction of the eponymous city filled with 360-degree views of the settlement.

Meanwhile anyone with a sweet tooth will want to check out York’s Chocolate Story, an interactive attraction complete with a chance to make your own chocolate.

If you’re visiting during spooky season, there are also plenty of walking tours that offer insight into the city’s creepier history from ghosts to criminals, while the very bravest of ghosthunters can also explore the York Dungeons with all of its live shows and interactive displays (it’s recommended for children aged 8 and above, although you can bring in younger visitors at their parents’ discretion).

You can also find out more at visityork.org.