It’s official, summer is dead and buried…and it’s time to embrace all that an English autumn brings: woodland walks with leaves crunching underfoot, Sunday roasts in toasty pubs and exploring the nation’s heritage properties. 

That heatwave summer could make the autumn colourwheel this year unusually impressive as the combination of a rainy spring and soaring temperatures in July and August conspire to paint the nation in fiery reds, golden browns and warm yellows.  

From pumpkin patches to Halloween spectacles and cosy Sunday roasts, here’s some of the best ways to lean into Mother Nature’s scenic seasonal show… 

Wrap up and crunch through the New Forest

This 56,000-hectare Hampshire adventure playground offers a compendium of autumnal pursuits, from cycle rides through towering woodlands to piloting a kayak on emerald Beaulieu River. 

There’s gorgeous walks – long or short – under Douglas firs, sweet chestnuts, oak and beech, some of which date from the 1860s on the looping trails at Bolderwood. 

A wander through this vast woodland west of the village of Lyndhurst is the perfect precursor to a fireside Sunday roast in one of the region’s many centuries-old pubs, thenewforest.co.uk.

Golden views at Charles Darwin’s former home in Kent 

The 18th century former home of Charles Darwin in Kent serves up some winsome autumnal views of the surrounding valley

Enjoy a jaunt exploring the home of history’s most famous naturalist with an afternoon at the house Charles Darwin called home for 40 years. 

In the village of Downe in Kent, but very accessible from London, Down House is now in the hands of English Heritage. What to see? There’s a vibrant scarlet red Virginia creeper and a purplish Boston ivy, as well as the chance to walk amongst beech trees Darwin planted.

From Great Pucklands’ Meadow, admire a valley draped in colour, a seasonal vista that was treasured by the Darwin family in the 19th century, english-heritage.org.uk 

Lincolnshire’s almighty pick-your-own pumpkin patch

Lincolnshire haul: There are more than 30 different varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds to choose from at Elizabethan Doddington Hall

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This Elizabethan estate in Lincolnshire’s rural heart counts more than 30 types of pumpkin, squash and gourds in its expansive grounds.  

The best thing about historic Doddington Hall’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch? It’s free to wander – and should you find a bright orange squash you want to take home, it’ll only cost around £4, depending on size. 

Watch out for golden bottomed pumpkins this year too – you’ll win a Christmas tree and tickets to the hall’s yuletide event, doddingtonhall.com

Elsewhere, Hatter’s Farm in Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, is a sea of orange baubles at this time of year, with 100,000 pumpkins on display – simply pick a wheelbarrow and go and find your perfect squash. 

The attraction also has night entry, so you can spy the pumpkins in the moonlight, hattersfarmpumpkins.co.uk.

Embrace the spookiest season at Kew Gardens

From mid October, Kew Gardens’ bronzing trees are at their most colourful…but it’s the attraction’s Halloween trail that garners the most visitors 

West London’s horticultural landmark obviously has amber-hued leaves galore – there are 11,000 trees, after all – but the biggest queues in October at Kew Gardens are for its Halloween-themed illuminated trail. 

The annual fright-fest takes place from October 16th and sees ticket-holders faced with spine-tingling attractions including Dracula’s Lair, the Cursed Tomb and a Monster Disco. 

And if you’re visiting in daylight, take some time to admire the scarlet of the red oaks and bursts of orange, yellow and purple from the berries of Viburnums and rowans, kew.org.

Behind the wheel: A colour-drenched drive in the Forest of Dean 

New England eat your heart out: A ten-mile drive through the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and the Wye Valley showcases some fine fall foliage

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For fall fans heading to the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and the Wye Valley, which straddles the border between England and Wales – there’s an official ten-mile leaf-peeping drive that promises to signpost the biggest seasonal photo opportunities. 

This tree-lover’s paradise, which has 20 million mixed species over 200 square miles, offers unfettered, 360-degree forest views at New Fancy, the landscaped former colliery. Other highlights include Symonds Yat Rock, with treetop views over the River Wye and the Monmouthshire’s hills, visitdeanwye.co.uk.

STAY A WHILE: BRITAIN’S TOASTIEST AUTUMNAL PUBS    

Crackling fires, hearty food and a decent drop – Britain’s pubs are the perfect cosy hideaway as the nights draw in and temperatures drop... 

Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates, Cumbria 

The kind of Lake District idyll that actually makes one wish for leaden skies, just so you can cancel those plans and order another half of the local Brathay Gold ale, graze on home-made sourdough or indulge with a sticky toffee pudding. Work up an appetite with a Lake Windermere hike – you can walk to its shores from here, drunkenduckinn.co.uk

The Bell, Ticehurst, East Sussex

Snuggly: The wood-clad dining area at the 16th century The Bell in Ticehurst 

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A warm hug of a pub that dates back to the 1560s but delights in eccentric modernity – ‘I think I’m falling in bed with you’ is writ large above the headboard in one of the seven rooms, and there’s deep copper baths in some too. The East Sussex/Kent border countryside is pretty, but possibly not as enticing as the romance – and seasonal food – of this destination pub, thebellinticehurst.com

The Chainlocker Inn, Falmouth, Cornwall

Hunker down and enjoy a seagull’s eye view of this Cornish quayside  – and an array of maritime curios on the ceiling, including everything from lifebuoy rings to US flags. The Chainlocker’s bar is soul-warming; all handsome wood, toasty fires and tasty plates – try the fish and chips, there’s local Banana Blossom beer in the batter, chainlockerfalmouth.co.uk

The Gin Trap Inn, Norfolk

Norfolk bolt-hole The Gin Trap Inn has an impressive kitchen – and rooms to stay in

This white-washed 17th century coaching inn in the village of Ringstead once hosted smugglers but now entertains weekenders enjoying North Norfolk’s spectacular coast. Forest green walls adorned with oil painting portraits offer a regal backdrop to a G&T, and the kitchen boasts three AA rosettes. There’s a baker’s dozen of characterful rooms and cottages – all different – to retreat to at the night’s end, thegintrapinn.co.uk

Northumberland Arms, Felton, Northumberland 

Rough-hewn stone walls, antler chandeliers and sturdy oak tables create rustic vibes at this sand-coloured coaching inn, which was built by the 3rd Duke of Northumberland in the 1820s – it’s hard to believe you’re just a mile from the A1. There’s six five-star en-suites should you need a place to bed down and a mouthwatering menu to peruse; the bubble and squeak pie being peak comfort food, northumberlandarms-felton.co.uk

King Charles’s Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton is despised by the Duke of Sussex.

So deeply does Prince Harry loathe the courtier, who has loyally and tirelessly served his father for more than a decade, that he singled him out for stinging criticism in his tawdry memoir, Spare.

The former diplomat, 59, was held up as an example of everything that was wrong about the British monarchy.

Giving him the nickname ‘the Wasp’, Harry claimed that he was one of three ‘middle-aged white men’ at the heart of the Royal Household ‘who’d managed to consolidate power through a series of bold Machiavellian manoeuvres’.

He said Sir Clive was ‘lanky, charming, arrogant, a ball of jazzy energy’ and described his technique as ‘pretending to be polite, even servile’.

Harry wrote: ‘You’d assert a fact, something seemingly incontrovertible – I believe the sun rises in the mornings – and he’d stammer that perchance you might consider for a moment the possibility that you’d been misinformed: Well, heh-heh, I don’t know about that, Your Royal Highness, you see, it all depends what you mean by mornings, sir.

‘Because he seemed so weedy, so self-effacing, you might be tempted to push back, insist on your point, and that was when he’d put you on his list. A short time later, without warning, he’d give you such a stab with his out-sized stinger that you’d cry out in confusion. Where the f*** did that come from?’

This week, however, Sir Clive found himself in the unusual position of using all his ‘jazzy energy’ and charm to undertake an important mission on behalf of Harry, the man who said publicly that he disliked him and called him a ‘usurper’.

The courtier was asked by the King to help ensure that the Invictus Games, which are due to take place in Birmingham next July, are a success.

The Paralympic-style contest for injured and sick former military personnel, which was created by Harry, threatened to become a shambles after one of the countries taking part, Uganda, said it was pulling out after a letter was sent on behalf of the King clarifying that Harry and his wife Meghan remained non-working royals.

Sir Clive telephoned the country’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to smooth over relations.

A Ugandan spokesman said ‘Sir Alderton [sic] revealed that King Charles III was moved by General Kainerugaba’s sensitive consideration of the King’s opinion on the upcoming Invictus Games organised by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. Sir Alderton said King Charles III has no problem with Uganda’s participation in the Invictus Games.’

As a result of Sir Clive’s moving pleas to the general, Uganda has returned to the games.

His intervention will have deterred any other countries thinking of following Uganda’s example and withdrawing from the event.

Palace sources say Sir Clive’s involvement demonstrates the King’s support for the Invictus Games and for Birmingham, something that was never in doubt. Invictus was launched by the Royal Foundation of Prince William and Catherine, as well as Harry. At the inaugural games in London in 2014, Charles and Camilla attended the opening ceremony as well as William.

Palace sources say Sir Clive’s involvement demonstrates the King’s support for the Invictus Games (Charles and Prince Harry pictured in 2014 at the Invictus Games) 

It is, however, not surprising that Ugandan officials were bewildered about the King’s view of Invictus. The fact that Sir Clive had to intervene is a worrying example of the monarch’s confusing response to Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain.

His decision to instruct the Lord Chamberlain, Richard Benyon, to send a letter to government departments and the military on his behalf reiterating the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s status as non-working royals was meant to clarify their position. In fact, it did the opposite.

If their status was ‘akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests’, as the letter suggested, should proud members of the Commonwealth such as Uganda take part in the Invictus Games, of which Harry is patron?

Sir Clive’s intervention is evidence that the King is now dancing to Harry’s tune. Not only is the ‘usurper’ having to work in the duke’s interests, but the Sussexes have managed to achieve what they have long campaigned for: a review of their right to automatic, taxpayer-funded protection.

The fiasco over the education of the children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who were withdrawn from their school after two days because of security fears, might suggest that the Sussexes’ return has been chaotic. The couple are, however, quietly on their way to achieving what they wanted, thanks to our well-meaning but misguided monarch and his loyal servant Sir Clive.

Two police vans were parked in the alleyway linking Spurriergate with Church Lane throughout Thursday afternoon (September 17) after the alleged incident.

The lane has been cordoned off with officers asking people to avoid the area.

North Yorkshire Police said an investigation is underway into the alleged sexual assault which is said to have happened in the early hours of Thursday.

The force said the alleged victim is being supported by specialist officers.

Police in Spurriergate on Thursday (September 17) following a reported serious sexual assault (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Workers at bars and restaurants in Low Ousegate said there was no police presence in the area when they finished their shifts at 11.30pm on Wednesday.

A staff member at the Cooplands bakery in Low Ousegate said two police vans were parked in the alleyway when she arrived for work at 6.30am on Thursday.

The vans were parked at either end of the alleyway, she said, and the vehicles remained in Spurriergate and in Church Lane by Wednesday afternoon.

She added that the police vans had remained in the alleyway since she saw them at 6.30am.

A shop worker in Spurriergate said there has been an increase in reports of crime in the area and called for people in the community to “think about these things and play a role”.

“It’s just becoming really bad,” she said. “Day by day, we see disturbing scenes. It affects people.

“We don’t know what’s happened [in the alleyway] – but we have become apart of it [by being near the scene of the alleged incident].

“They [the police] are doing their jobs, but we don’t really want something like this to happen to anyone.

“As a community we need to think about these things and play a role.”

A York resident said it was “distressing” to hear about the reported incident before seeing the police presence in the alleyway between Spurriergate and Church Lane.

“I find it very distressing that this is happening in York,” he said, “but I’m happy that the police have done their job about it.”

Police said a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the alleged incident and remained in custody on Wednesday.

Paloma Faith was pictured wearing a shirt in support of a Palestinian terrorist who murdered five people yesterday as she waded into the row over Ed Sheeran’s tour.

The singer, 45, wore a football-style shirt calling for the release of Marwan Barghouti – the West Bank leader jailed by Israel in 2004 to five life terms plus 40 years.

The top was emblazoned with the words ‘Free Marwan’ and featured the red, green, black and white colours of the Palestinian flag.

Ms Faith wore the shirt as she spoke to broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4’s Fourcast podcast in support of her ‘hero’ Macklemore, who was dropped from Sheeran’s tour over pro-Palestine comments he made on stage. 

The limited edition top is being sold for £45 in support of the convicted terrorist, with a ‘collector’s’ version also available for £120.

Barghouti led Tanzim – the armed grassroots militia wing of the Fatah political faction. It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel in 2001. 

He was convicted of murdering four Israeli civilians and a Greek monk, as well as attempted murder and membership of a terrorist organisation. Some legal experts have described the trial as flawed. 

Barghouti has maintained that he has no connection to the incidents for which he was convicted. He remains one of the most popular Palestinian politicians, according to multiple surveys.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski was called ‘despicable’ for wearing the ‘Free Marwan’ top in June by the widow of an Israeli man who was stabbed to death by a 17-year-old terrorist. 

The limited edition top is being sold for £45 in support of Marwan Barghouti – the West Bank leader jailed in 2004 to five life terms plus 40 years by Israel 

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Marwan Barghouti, the West Bank chief of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement speaks to the journalists before the opening session of the first day of his court case at Tel Aviv’s District Court Wednesday Aug. 14, 2002

With the collar on the shirt turned up and wearing a gold chain necklace, Faith said the Shape Of You singer was ‘learning the hard way that it’s quite impossible to be apolitical’. 

Asked by Mr Guru-Murthy what is wrong with Sheeran saying he writes love songs and children don’t come to his show for a political rally, the mother-of-three said: ‘When he said that it really upset me because there are so many children in Palestine that are faced with unimaginable things and shouldn’t be.

‘So when he said that, I was like, I say Free Palestine to my children every night. I think children should be exposed to politics.’ 

Macklemore, aka Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped from Sheeran’s tour after he delivered a politically motivated speech in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank during his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5.

Responding with an Instagram statement after it was confirmed he was leaving, the rapper claimed Sheeran told him billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft orchestrated the move, ‘issuing an ultimatum’ that the whole tour would be cancelled if Macklemore was not removed.

Sheeran addressed the controversy with his own statement, reminding fans he would never publicly take a political stance.

Following his comments, it emerged this morning that Irish radio station Classic Hits Radio announced it would no longer be playing Sheeran’s music ‘for the foreseeable future’ after feedback from their audience regarding the situation.

And in an escalation of the drama, images have resurfaced showing Macklemore wearing an oversized prosthetic nose, a black beard and a shaggy black wig during a 2014 performance in Seattle.

The costume was criticised for resembling an antisemitic caricature of a Jewish man. Macklemore apologised at the time, saying he had no malicious intention and was unaware that the costume resembled a Jewish stereotype.

Greta Thunberg, a staunch pro-Palestine activist who was detained twice after travelling on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, has publicly backed Sheeran’s ‘cancellation’, criticising him in a statement shared online.

Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, Thunberg said: ‘We are witnessing one of the biggest artists in the world being cancelled because they tried to ‘both sides’ Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.

‘This is a clear and undeniable sign that the global consciousness has shifted. The normalisation of an apartheid state, and the attempts to sanitise or justify its actions, will no longer be tolerated. Ed, there is only one victim here: the Palestinian people.’

Green Party leader Zack Polanski was called ‘despicable’ for wearing the same top in June by the widow of an Israeli man who was stabbed to death by a 17-year-old terrorist

After the news of Macklemore’s departure, all of Sheeran’s remaining support acts also stepped away from the tour.

Sheeran lost more than 200,000 Instagram followers in 24 hours after fans criticised him for dropping Macklemore.

In a statement on Instagram, Sheeran addressed the controversy, writing: ‘I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change.

‘Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.’

He added: ‘I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.

‘There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.’

Meanwhile, imprisoned Barghouti is known as the ‘Palestinian Nelson Mandela’ to his supporters. 

But Israelis see Barghouti as the man who abandoned the peace process to lead the second intifada, or uprising.

In 2000, the second intifada saw bus stops, restaurants and nightclubs being bombed by suicide bombers as militants fought the Israeli army, leading to more than 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis dying.

Barghouti did not offer a defence in his murder trial following these attacks, making his political role in them ambiguous.

He was certified as the top leader of Fatah, the largest secular political faction in the Palestinian territories, and in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and he led and justified both intifadas.

Barghouti has never supported Hamas and has recognised Israel’s right to exist. 

He is said to be far more popular than Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and seen as someone who could succeed him and potentially mend the longstanding rift between Abbas’ Fatah movement and Hamas. 

In December 2025, Gary Lineker was among 200 celebrities who signed a petition demanding the release of Barghouti from prison.  

The Daily Mail contacted Faith’s representatives and Channel 4 for comment.