15 Great Things to Do This Autumn, Whatever the Weather
Golden leaves, cosy lunches and a good excuse to try something new: autumn has plenty going for it. From woodland adventures to chocolate making and rainy-day challenges, here are 15 things to do this autumn that make staying in less tempting...
Key Takeaways
Explore autumn outdoors with garden visits, treetop adventures, horse riding and birds of prey.
Enjoy Sunday lunch, afternoon tea and food and drink workshops on cooler days.
Find indoor activities for couples, friends and families, from pottery to bowling.
Plan around autumn opening hours, with individual dates and booking restrictions checked before you go.
Autumn Things to Do at a Glance
For fresh air and autumn scenery
Wisley and Brooklands Hotel: Surrey | For two | Garden exploring followed by afternoon tea at a separate venue.
Hillier Gardens: Hampshire | For two | A private garden tour with a hot drink and cake.
Go Ape: Multiple locations | For two | An entry-level treetop adventure, recommended for ages 4–10.
Charnwood Forest Alpacas: Swadlincote | For two | A guided alpaca walk followed by afternoon tea.
SMJ Falconry: West Yorkshire | For two | A 90-minute birds of prey encounter.
For leisurely meals and tasty discoveries
The Lowry Hotel: Salford | For two | A three-course Sunday lunch.
Wortley Hall: South Yorkshire | For two | Afternoon tea with prosecco and countryside views.
Chocolat Chocolat: Cambridge | For one | Chocolate tasting and truffle making.
Brewhouse and Kitchen: Multiple locations | For two | Whisky and beer pairing with a meal.
Bird and Blend Tea Co: Multiple locations | For two | Tea tasting and blends to take home.
For indoor fun when rain arrives
Eastnor Pottery: Herefordshire | For two adults | A beginner-friendly potter’s wheel workshop.
Trappd: Selected locations | For six | A themed escape room challenge.
TeamSport: Multiple locations | For two | Indoor karting, available during term time only.
Silverstone Museum: Northamptonshire | For two adults and two children | Interactive motorsport exhibits.
Namco Funscape: Selected locations | For up to six | One hour of bowling on a shared lane.
Why These Made Our List
The best autumn plans give you something to enjoy whatever the forecast brings. We’ve chosen outdoor outings that make the most of the season, inviting places to eat and indoor activities worth leaving home for.
We’ve looked at where you’ll go, what’s included and who would enjoy it most, choosing experiences you can book during autumn.
Get Out Among the Autumn Colours
1. Visit to RHS Garden Wisley and Afternoon Tea for Two at Brooklands Hotel
Pair an autumn wander at RHS Garden Wisley with afternoon tea at nearby Brooklands Hotel.
Explore the garden’s changing colours at your own pace before making the journey to Brooklands for sandwiches, sweet treats and fruit scones with clotted cream and preserves. If you’re enjoying both on the same day, allow enough time to explore the gardens and travel between venues.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A satisfying combination of seasonal scenery and somewhere inviting to warm up afterwards.
2. Day Entry to Sir Harold Hillier Gardens with One Hour Private Tour and Hot Drink and Cake for Two
An autumn walk becomes far more interesting when someone can explain what’s growing around you.
At Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire, a private one-hour tour introduces you to an extensive collection of trees and shrubs, tailored to your interests. Pause for a hot drink and cake, then head back out to explore any corners that caught your eye.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: The arboretum puts trees centre stage during their most colourful season.
3. Treetop Adventure for Two at Go Ape
Swap kicking through leaves for tackling crossings above them at Go Ape. This entry-level course takes younger adventurers into the woodland canopy before sending them down a zip wire to finish.
Recommended for ages 4–10, it’s an energetic autumn outing for children who enjoy a challenge, with height and supervision requirements to check before booking.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A fresh way to experience the woods when a family walk needs an adventurous upgrade.
4. Alpaca Walk with Afternoon Tea for Two with Charnwood Forest Alpacas
Give your autumn walk some unexpected company at Charnwood Forest Alpacas in Swadlincote.
With an experienced guide leading the way, you’ll each take an alpaca on a 60-minute stroll around the farm, getting to know their personalities as you go. Afterwards, head to the Chilli Bean Café for afternoon tea, with sandwiches, scones and sweet treats to round off your countryside outing.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: Fresh countryside air, entertaining walking companions and afternoon tea to look forward to afterwards.
5. Birds of Prey Experience for Two at SMJ Falconry
Watching a bird of prey land on your gloved hand should make this autumn outing hard to forget.
At SMJ Falconry in Oxenhope, a professional falconer guides you through a 90-minute encounter, helping you learn to handle and fly the birds. Choose this for an animal lover who’d enjoy asking questions and getting involved.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A rewarding reason to spend time outdoors as the days grow shorter.
Get Cosy Over Something Delicious
Cooler afternoons call for good food, warming drinks and another hour around the table. These experiences combine familiar comforts with flavours and skills you might never have tried. Pick a leisurely meal or get hands-on with something you can enjoy afterwards.
6. Three Course Sunday Lunch for Two at The Lowry Hotel
Build your autumn Sunday around a roast at The Lowry Hotel in Salford. Its riverside restaurant serves a three-course lunch, with classic roasts and their trimmings among the choices. Arrive hungry, save room for dessert and keep the afternoon free for a proper catch-up.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: Sunday lunch feels especially inviting after a crisp morning outdoors.
7. Afternoon Tea for Two with Prosecco at Wortley Hall
Book an autumn afternoon at Wortley Hall and let someone else put the kettle on.
Overlooking landscaped gardens, you’ll enjoy finger sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls, scones and sweet treats, with tea or coffee and a glass of prosecco each. It’s an appealing choice for friends who have plenty to catch up on and no reason to rush.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: Countryside views bring the season to your table while you settle in over tea.
8. Chocolate Making Class at Chocolat Chocolat
Turn a grey autumn day into a chocolate-making session at Chocolat Chocolat in Cambridge. Explore different chocolate flavours before learning traditional truffle-making techniques with an expert chocolatier. Your creations come home with you, although how long they last is another matter.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: An absorbing indoor activity with treats to enjoy during your next evening relaxing at home.
9. Whisky and Beer Pairing Masterclass for Two at Brewhouse and Kitchen
Give your next autumn pub visit a new twist with a whisky and beer pairing masterclass at Brewhouse and Kitchen.
An expert guides you through five beers and five whiskies each, explaining their flavours and the brewing and distilling processes behind them. A meal from the Academy menu completes the experience, with plenty to discuss as you compare your favourites.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A sociable tasting session and a meal make a tempting plan for a cooler afternoon.
10. Tea Blending Workshop for Two with Bird and Blend Tea Co
Find a new favourite brew for autumn at Bird and Blend Tea Co. Taste different teas, discover how they’re made and create three blends of your own with help from a tea mixologist. Take them home ready for chilly mornings, dark evenings and those moments when only a cuppa will do.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: You’ll leave with something to enjoy throughout the season, whenever the kettle goes on.
Brighten Up a Rainy Day
A wet forecast can be the nudge you need to try something different. Shape some clay, solve a mystery or challenge the family to a friendly competition. These indoor autumn activities give you a plan worth looking forward to when the clouds gather.
11. Potter’s Wheel Workshop for Two Adults at Eastnor Pottery
Spend a rainy autumn afternoon making something with your hands at Eastnor Pottery in Herefordshire. You’ll share a potter’s wheel and take turns learning to shape a bowl or vase, guided by an expert throughout. Beginners are welcome, with drying, firing and glazing available for an additional charge if you’d like a finished keepsake.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A creative workshop gives you something absorbing to focus on while the rain does its thing outside.
12. Themed Escape Room Experience for Six at Trappd
Round up your most observant friends for an autumn afternoon of clues and questionable theories at Trappd. Your group has 60 minutes to tackle puzzles and work towards escaping your chosen themed room. Expect some teamwork, several confident guesses and plenty to talk about afterwards.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A dose of mystery suits the darker afternoons and keeps the suspense going beyond Halloween.
13. Indoor Go Karting for Two with TeamSport – Week Round
Bring some competitive energy to your autumn plans with two 15-minute indoor karting sessions each at TeamSport. Race suits, helmets and a safety briefing are included, while timed laps settle the debate over who was quickest.
This week-round package is available during term time only, excluding December, so choose an autumn date outside the school holidays.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: Indoor racing keeps the excitement high when the weather makes outdoor activities less inviting.
14. Family Entry to Silverstone Interactive Museum
Give motorsport fans an autumn family outing at Silverstone Museum in Northamptonshire. Entry for two adults and two children includes interactive exhibits, historic cars and bikes, and an immersive cinema experience.
The package suits children aged eight and over, with opening days varying between school holidays and off-season term time.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: Plenty to explore indoors makes this a useful pick for a wet weekend or school holiday outing.
15. One Hour of Bowling for Six People with Namco Funscape
Bring everyone together for an autumn bowling challenge at Namco Funscape. You’ll have one lane for up to six people for an hour, giving friends or family time to chase strikes and celebrate the occasional lucky shot. Bumpers and ramps are available to help newcomers join the competition.
Why we’d choose it in autumn: A straightforward group outing that keeps everyone entertained under cover.
Our Verdict: Make This Autumn One to Get Out For
Choose Hillier Gardens for seasonal scenery, The Lowry for Sunday lunch or Eastnor Pottery for a creative rainy afternoon. Make space for something you’ll enjoy together this autumn. Explore more Buyagift days out and get your next date in the diary.
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Make the most of brighter days with a garden visit, horse riding or a woodland adventure. For a more leisurely outing, try Sunday lunch or afternoon tea with countryside views. Chocolate making, pottery and escape rooms offer indoor alternatives when rain arrives.
RHS Garden Wisley and Sir Harold Hillier Gardens are great locations for a seasonal wander. Go Ape offers younger adventurers a more active way to explore the woodland canopy.
Pair Wisley with afternoon tea at Brooklands Hotel for a day that combines exploring and relaxing. Eastnor Pottery and Bird and Blend’s tea workshop give you something new to learn together. Choose The Lowry’s Sunday lunch when good food and an unhurried catch-up sound most appealing.
Go Ape’s entry-level Treetop Adventure is an option for younger children who meet the height and supervision requirements. Silverstone Museum suits families with children aged eight and over, while bowling welcomes a range of abilities.
Yes, all our suggested experiences are available during autumn, with individual dates subject to availability. Booking days, special-event exclusions and seasonal opening hours can vary between experiences. Be sure to check your chosen experience and confirm your date with the venue before arranging travel.
Richard Marsh
Content Writer
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