The Americans have, inevitably, given the preoccupation with leaving no leaf unturned in our pursuit of this vivid autumnal glory a name: may we introduce you, then, to the art of leaf peeping. No? Well, sure. We too are not quite ready to declare ourselves leaf peepers – and yet judging by the number of us asking Google ‘where can I see autumn colours near me?’, we are increasingly enthused about doing it, whatever we choose to call it.
And with good reason. England has arboretums planted specifically for their autumn display, great landscape gardens reflected in glassy lakes, ancient woodland and forests where you can walk for miles beneath the changing canopy. The only real trick is knowing where to go. Generally, autumn colour begins to appear from late September, gathers pace through October and can continue well into November, depending on the weather and the species of tree, meaning that we are, then, in peak leaf peeping season. So, time to lace up your walking boots and make the most of nature's brief but brilliant annual show.
London & The South East
Richmond Park, London
You needn't leave London – or even pay an entrance fee, praise be – to find proper autumn spectacle. Come October, Richmond Park's ancient oaks, chestnuts and woodland turn shades of bronze and gold, with the added possibility of seeing red and fallow deer against the changing landscape. For concentrated colour, make for the 40-acre Isabella Plantation, where Japanese maples provide the fiery reds and oranges. The Royal Parks has even created self-guided autumn walks through both the wider park and the plantation – and when you’re sated, head to Petersham Nurseries for a slice of well-earnt cake.
Make A Day Of It: Walk to Petersham Nurseries to refuel, then head on to Ham House.
Kew Gardens, London
If Richmond offers up autumn at its wildest, Kew is the serious horticulturalist’s alternative. Its 320 acres contain some 11,000 trees, meaning there is almost always something putting on a show as the season progresses. Look out for deep-red maples, orange sweet gums and brilliant yellow ginkgoes, or take to the Treetop Walkway to see the changing canopy from above. October is generally the month in which the foliage is at its most colourful, while some of the ginkgo and swamp cypress displays reach their peak later. This year there is the added bonus of Henry Moore's monumental sculptures dotted through the landscape.
Make A Day Of It: Cross Kew Bridge afterwards for lunch or wander along the Thames towards Richmond.
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
If your primary objective is leaves – lots of them, in almost preposterously vivid colours – Winkworth is difficult to beat. The National Trust's only arboretum was created by Dr Wilfrid Fox, who used trees much as a painter uses pigment, planting the landscape specifically to create great sweeps of seasonal colour. Hundreds of maples blaze in shades of scarlet and orange; liquidambars turn crimson and purple; larches glow gold. Walk down towards the lake and boathouse for the full, reflected effect. Autumn is understandably Winkworth's busiest season, so a midweek visit is worth considering.
Make A Day Of It: Continue into pretty Godalming for lunch.
Sheffield Park & Garden, East Sussex
There are places that look resplendent in autumn and then there is Sheffield Park, which was actually planted with the season in mind. Its early-20th-century owner Arthur Soames introduced nyssas, acers and swamp cypresses specifically for their autumn display, and the result is magnificent. Four lakes run through the Grade I-listed landscape, doubling the effect as crimson, burnt orange and gold are reflected in the water. On a still, bright October day, few places do autumn quite so theatrically.
Make A Day Of It: Combine it with nearby Lewes or a ride on the Bluebell Railway.
The South West & Cotswolds
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire
If there is an undisputed grand dame of English autumn colour, Westonbirt probably holds the crown. Home to thousands of trees from around the world, its collection comes into its own as summer ends, when the arboretum erupts into yellow, orange, pink, crimson and gold. The Japanese maples are the stars and this autumn Westonbirt is celebrating them with its Perfectly Imperfect trail through the collection. Forestry England also runs an Autumn Watch online, useful if you want to time your visit for peak scarlet.
Make A Day Of It: You're in excellent Cotswold territory; Tetbury is just down the road for lunch and a rummage around the antique shops.
Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Smaller than Westonbirt, Batsford is another Cotswold heavyweight when it comes to putting on a sublime autumn show. Its collection of maples is particularly good, joined by sorbus, euonymus and an extraordinary range of trees gradually turning red, orange and yellow across the hillside.
Make A Day Of It: Head on to Moreton-in-Marsh or nearby Daylesford for something good to eat.
Stourhead, Wiltshire
Few landscapes were designed for a photograph quite as successfully as Stourhead. The 18th-century garden winds around a lake, with classical temples, grottoes and a Palladian bridge appearing between the trees. Add autumn foliage and its reflection in the water and the whole thing becomes achingly picturesque. This isn't just somewhere to admire individual specimen trees (though they are, of course, lovely); it is the grand sweep of the landscape that makes it so special. Find a viewpoint across the lake, preferably with a little low autumn sun, and you'll understand why generations have made the pilgrimage.
Make A Day Of It: Stop for lunch in Bruton, one of Somerset's best small towns for art, food and independent shops.
East & North
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Anglesey Abbey is perhaps best known for its astonishing winter garden, but autumn deserves a visit of its own. Jubilee Avenue's hornbeams turn a deep russet, beech, alder and sycamore provide colour around Temple Lawn, while the trees lining Quy Water are reflected beautifully on still days. For families there is another reason to go this year – a Winnie-the-Pooh centenary trail and exhibition runs from 3 October, making this a particularly good half-term proposition.
Make A Day Of It: Cambridge is close enough for lunch and an afternoon wander.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, North Yorkshire
Autumn colour plus one of England's great ruined abbeys makes for an unbeatably atmospheric combination. The World Heritage Site encompasses the ruins of Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Water Garden and a deer park, with trees turning gold and copper around the lakes and river as autumn progresses. It is the scale that sets this one apart: this isn't a quick circuit of an ornamental garden but somewhere to spend several hours walking through a changing landscape, with the medieval abbey emerging betwixt the trees.
Make A Day Of It: Nearby Ripon is small, handsome and excellent for lunch.
Grizedale Forest, Cumbria
For those who prefer their autumn colour on the wilder side, head north. Set between Windermere and Coniston in the Lake District, Grizedale offers miles of forest trails with the fells beyond turning into a patchwork of seasonal colour. It is also home to an extraordinary collection of outdoor sculpture scattered through the forest. For the ambitious, make the climb to Carron Crag for views stretching across the autumn landscape towards Morecambe Bay; for everyone else, there are gentler routes from the visitor centre.
Make A Day Of It: Head to Hawkshead afterwards – preferably via a pub with a fire.
AT A GLANCE
Best For Japanese Maples: Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Best Near London: Richmond Park, London
Best For Reflections: Sheffield Park & Garden, East Sussex
Best In The Cotswolds: Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Best For A Romantic Landscape: Stourhead, Wiltshire
Best For A Proper Woodland Walk: Grizedale Forest, Cumbria
Best For History: Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
Best For Families: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Best For Photographers: Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
Best London Day Out: Kew Gardens, London
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to see autumn colours in England?
Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is one of England's most celebrated destinations for autumn colour thanks to its huge collection of trees, particularly its Japanese maples. Winkworth Arboretum, Sheffield Park, Batsford and Stourhead are also outstanding.
Where can I see autumn colours near London?
Richmond Park and Kew Gardens are two of the easiest places to see autumn leaves without leaving London. Further afield, Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey and Sheffield Park & Garden in East Sussex are particularly spectacular.
When do autumn leaves peak in the UK?
The precise timing varies each year according to the weather, but the strongest colour in England is generally seen from mid-October into early November. Different tree species change colour at different times.
Where can I see the best autumn colours in the Cotswolds?
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, and Batsford Arboretum are two of the best places for autumn colour in the Cotswolds, both with exceptional collections of maples and other ornamental trees.
What trees have the best autumn colour?
Japanese maples are famous for brilliant reds and oranges, while liquidambar can turn crimson and purple. Beech, oak, birch, larch, swamp cypress, ginkgo and rowan also produce beautiful autumn displays.
Where can I go for a free autumn walk?
Richmond Park is free to enter and offers both large areas of woodland and the colourful Isabella Plantation. Forestry England woodlands can also be inexpensive options, although parking charges may apply.
