Happy Autumn equinox! If you’re looking for fun things to do this autumn, you’ve come to the right place. From woodland walks and fall foliage to pumpkin patches and seasonal events, this guide covers all the best autumn days out across Herts, Beds & Bucks.
Autumn is hands down my favourite season. I love the warm colours it brings and I love exploring the UK to find the best ‘fall foliage’. Autumn also means cosy pubs with tasty seasonal food, fun seasonal workshops and, of course, pumpkin picking!
Thankfully, there are so many autumnal days out to choose from across Herts, Beds & Bucks this year. Whether you’re looking for the best woodland walks, historic manor houses or traditional pumpkin picking, this guide has it all.
Please note, this blog post has been updated from 2023 and may include some of the same recommendations.
Pretty Pumpkin Patches
We all know there’s no autumn without pumpkins, and so this seasonal event needed a section all of its own. Check out some of the best options for pumpkin picking in Herts, Beds and Bucks here.
Secret Pumpkin PYO at The Secret Farm | Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire
For just £3.50, families can enjoy heaps of fun at The Secret Farm in 2024. Alongside a huge variety of pumpkins to pick, your ticket also includes a straw maze, a graveyard, an activity trail, a spooky beach and more – plus tasty autumnal food on offer.
Secret Pumpkin PYO runs from the 5th October and tickets cost £3.50. Under 3s go free!
The Pop Up Farm | St Albans, Hertfordshire
The Pop Up Farm provides an authentic pumpkin (and squash) picking experience from a 12-acre patch, with a focus on creating new family traditions or reliving childhood ones! At the Pop Up Farm, it’s more about enjoying a genuine wholesome experience than getting the best pictures for Instagram. You can also find a bale maze and a cafe on the farm.
Pumpkin picking runs from the 5th of October and tickets cost £5.95
The Patch MK | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
You’ll be spoilt for choice at Pumpkins at The Patch, which offers over 80,000 pumpkins – and squashes – to pick! The patch also has plenty of photo opportunities and viewing platforms, as well as play areas for children, plus tasty food and drink on-site – all sourced from local companies. In recent years, they’ve also hosted Pumpkin Nights, which offers live music, axe throwing, marshmallow toasting and more.
Pumpkins at The Patch runs from the 5th of October, and tickets cost £4.50 day tickets or £10.95 for pumpkin nights.
Willow’s Pumpkin Patch | St Albans, Hertfordshire
There are thousands of pumpkins to pick at Willow’s Activity Farm this year! As well as the pumpkin patch, there’s also a pumpkin hunt and Peter Rabbit-themed events for the kids.
Willow’s Pumpkin Patch runs on the 19th and 20th of October, and from the 25th of October onwards. Tickets cost £17.95
Frosts Pumpkin Patch | Willington, Bedfordshire
At just £3.99 entry per person, Frosts Pumpkin Patch is total value for families this autumn. Entry includes witch’s storytelling, a mini tractor trail, photo ops and spooky mini golf – alongside standard pumpkin picking. Families can also book optional extras like pumpkin carving and chocolate apple dunkin’ or mini photography sessions within the pumpkin patch.
Frosts Pumpkin Patch runs from the 5th October and tickets cost £3.99.
Mead Open Farm | Billington, Bedfordshire
Looking for something more on the spooky side? Freaky FunFest at Mead Open Farm has pumpkin picking along with lots of Halloween fun – although this is much more aimed at families. For children, there’s the Freaky Flamenco Fiesta Circus, three spooky walkthrough attractions, the Monster Mash Mission, photo opportunities and live roaming actors. Tickets include a free pumpkin to take home.
Freaky FunFest runs between the 21st and 29th of October and tickets are from £12.95 for adults and £11.95 for children
Roasts and Rambles
Get your steps in with circular autumnal strolls across stunning autumn landscapes, followed by a delicious roast at cosy gastropubs afterwards. After all, a Sunday roast is the best way to make use of all those calories you’ve just burned off…
Penn, BlueBell Way and Winchmore Hill Circular | Buckinghamshire
🥾 11.1 km/2.50 hours
🍴 The Red Lion, Elm Rd, Penn, High Wycombe HP10 8LF
If you’re after lots of autumn colour and fall foliage, this stunning circular trail takes you through colourful woodland, scenic farmland and pretty countryside. Note that the route can get quite muddy, particularly this time of year! The route starts and ends at The Red Lion, a historic pub with the freshest ingredients and friendly charm. They also have log burners to add to the cosy atmosphere when tucking into your Sunday roast.
The Chiltern Hills Circular | Hertfordshire
🥾 6 km/2 hours
🍴 The Alford Arms, Frithsden, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3DD
Enjoy ancient lanes, autumn woodland and water meadows on this countryside ramble. The trail begins/ends at the Alford Arms in Frithsden, which offers local ales, a friendly atmosphere and a large and varied Sunday menu. Do note the two roasts they offer are quite popular though so get in there early!
Woburn Deer Park Circular | Bedfordshire
🥾 12.9 km/3 hours
🍴 The Woburn, 1 George St, Woburn, Milton Keynes MK17 9P
This 12.9-km circular trail takes you through Woburn Abbey Deer Park where you can spot deer and other wildlife (and you might be able to spot the safari park animals too!), as well as farm fields, woodland pockets and the sleepy village of Eversholt. Park at The Woburn where you’ll begin (and end) your walk and tuck into a tasty roast afterwards with Yorkshire puddings as big as your head! Alternatively, The Green Man in Eversholt also serves amazing roasts, if you’d prefer one at the halfway point instead!
Autumn days out at Hughenden Manor
Magnificent Manor Houses and Autumnal Gardens
Historic manors are the perfect day out for when the weather turns. Many offer lots to see inside, from extravagant decor to historic treasures and art. And if the weather permits, most houses also have stunning gardens and estates to explore too.
Waddesdon Manor | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
The Rothschild house and gardens of Waddesdon Manor are beautiful all year round, but the autumn and winter seasons are the best time to visit for wonderful views and seasonal events. Explore inside the French Renaissance-style château manor, followed by a stroll around the grounds and pretty gardens. Discover this walking trail, which introduces you to each of the autumnal trees you can spot at Waddesdon, such as Horse Chesnut, London Plane and Sycamore.
Tickets start from £25.20 to visit the house and grounds, or entry is free for National Trust members.
Hatfield House & Gardens | Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Though the house is now closed for the season, Hatfield Park offers extensive parkland enhanced with stunning colours this autumn. You can take three guided walks around the estate, varying in length. You can also visit the gardens, which include the Woodland Garden, where you can spot seasonal flowers. The Park, Gardens and Woodland Walks are open each Wednesday to Sunday and throughout September you can still tour the old Palace.
Tickets cost £8 to visit the Gardens, Park & Woodland Walks.
Wrest Park & Mansion | Silsoe, Bedfordshire
This stunning 18th-century mansion, surrounded by 90 acres of magical gardens is a must-do in autumn. A Wallpaper Tour gives visitors a rare glimpse inside the wallpaper rooms inside the mansion. But the beautiful estate surrounding the mansion is the real beauty. During this time of year, you can spot splashes of colour from Hydrangeas, kaffir lilies and Nernie in the formal gardens, as well as fruit trees in the Orchard and Walled Garden. It’s said the best place to spot autumn colour is in the meadow to the north of the Chinese Bridge! As for autumn things to do, there’s Halloween half-term fun. During half term, visitors can experience spooky storytelling and a Halloween Quest, plus themed Halloween walks taking place.
Tickets start from £8 or entry is free for English Heritage members. Wallpaper Tours take place on the first Sunday and Thursday of each month.
Hughenden Manor | Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
Once the country home of the Victorian statesman Benjamin Disraeli, this National Trust property offers 680 acres of grounds to explore and some of the best views of the Chilterns countryside. There’s plenty to learn about this pretty Victorian home, with adjourning formal gardens and a cafe, stable shop, and walled garden on site. Hugenden Manor is perfect for seasonal activities, with autumn watercolour painting, apple tasting and woodworking workshops all coming up this year.
Tickets cost £13.00 to visit the house and grounds, or entry is free for National Trust members.
Woodland Walks and Autumnal Strolls
There’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and taking a long autumnal stroll to spot the stunning colours of autumn leaves. Unlike the roasts and rambles further up in this post, these recommendations are more varied and focus on specific places for woodland walks and autumn strolls.
Stowe Gardens | Buckinghamshire
Stowe boasts a whopping 250 acres of gardens, with various monuments and points of interest, such as the Gothic Temple, the Eleven Acre Lake and the popular Palladian Bridge. Choose from three guided walks in order to see the most around the gardens or simply just explore! There’s also a cafe and places to shop, and the historic Stowe House. Note: the house isn’t part of The National Trust and tickets must be purchased separately! Autumn highlights include larch trees, spindle trees, liquid amber trees and beech, acer and tulip trees, all bursting into colour this season.
Ashridge, Hertfordshire
This area of outstanding natural beauty is one of the best places in the UK for autumn days out! With ancient trees, rolling chalk hills, and explosions of autumn colour, it’s a must-visit this autumn. The estate has a variety of guided walks (easily waymarked throughout), from the 3-mile Rangers’ Ramble to the more challenging 80-mile Wildlife Walk. You can follow self-led routes from the National Trust: Duncombe Terrace walk (a mixture of woodland in order for spotting fall foliage), Ashridge ancient trees walk (ideal for a spooky Halloween stroll!) and, the more challenging, 16 miles Ashridge Estate boundary trail walk.
On the estate, you’ll also find a cafe, shop and visitor centre.
The Chilterns, Buckinghamshire
The picturesque countryside of The Chilterns combines rolling hills with ancient woodlands and chalky grassland to explore. On clear days, you can even see all the way to the Cotswolds! Try some of the National Trust’s guided walking trails such as Bradenham Beech Woods Walk for stunning autumn colour, the woodland German Forest walk at Hughenden, or Views of the Hughenden Manor estate walk, which gives you 10 different views of the surrounding Chilterns countryside!
Rushmere Country Park, Bedfordshire
Explore 400 acres of woodland, heathland and meadows at Rushmere Country Park this autumn. The park has a sculpture trail, play areas and specialist trails for walking, cycling and horse riding. The park offers lots of colourful autumn leaves and chestnuts to pick for a spot of foraging at this time of year.
Seasonal Activities and Autumn Events
There are plenty of seasonal activities to choose from for autumnal days out this year – and not all of them are Halloween-related! From spooky afternoon tea to autumn trails, there’s something for everyone.
This list will be updated often! Did I miss anything? If you’ve got something to recommend or add to the list, drop me an email at Louise@formidablejoy.com!
Ranger-led walk: Protecting Our Ancient Woodland at Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire
Take a guided walk around the stunning Ashridge Estate with a ranger to spot fungi, fruits and seasonal wonders of an autumnal woodland.
23rd of October
£8.00
Gentle Stroll: Escape into Autumn at Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire
Enjoy a circular guided walk to the Tree Cathedral and surrounding landscapes to enjoy the first signs of nature’s most colourful season at Dunstable Downs.
27th September
£4.00
Autumn Trail Explorers (SEND Event) at Rushmere Country Park, Bedfordshire
This wonderful autumn event for SEND children (and their siblings), allows families to explore a short autumn trail at their own pace. Afterwards, there will be a supervised arts and crafts session to make forest crowns in the Ark Glade!
29th of October
Free entry
Spooky Afternoon Tea at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire
Both kids and adults can enjoy spooky afternoon tea in Waddesdon Manor’s Manor Restaurant this October half term – although it is just a spooky twist to the adult’s afternoon tea! The adult’s menu includes shredded confit duck & wholegrain mustard croissant Butternut squash, pumpkin & sage tartlet, Buckinghamshire free range egg mayonnaise & rocket slider, homemade sausage roll with spiced apple ketchup, goat cheese & caramelised red onion tartlet, Waddesdon gin cured salmon with a cucumber gel on herb blini and smoked haddock & leek fishcake with homemade tartare. Yum! Be sure to work off all the calories with an autumnal walk around the grounds afterwards and spot all the autumn colours and fall foliage.
26th – 27th of October
£36.50 (plus £13.50 entry fee into Waddesdon Manor grounds, or free entry for National Trust members)
Autumn Wax Melts Workshop at Frosts Garden Centre Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire
In this creative workshop, you’ll learn how to make six large wax melts, themed around Halloween and autumn.
29th October
£35
Map of The Best Autumn Days Out Across Herts, Beds & Bucks
If you’re interested in visiting any of the places included in this blog post, check out my map below! This map also features places included in last year’s blog post, List of Cosy Things to Do in Buckinghamshire.
If you’ve loved this guide – or have some amazing recommendations you’d like to add – comment below! This guide will also be continually updated throughout autumn, so be sure to save it for future reference for the best things to do in Herts Beds and Bucks this season.
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