Embrace autumn! 20 reasons to be cheerful - from red wine to sensational star-gazing

From light festivals and Bonfire Night to spectacular forest walks and mushroom foraging, there's plenty to enjoy. Or if you'd rather stay in, sip mulled wine as you take in a fantastic season of TVThe days are growing shorter, the weather is getting worse, summer holidays are a distant memory and Christmas is still ages away. There is no denying that October can be a depressing time of year in the UK - and then the clocks go back, and November is even more dark and dismal. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are 20 reasons to be cheerful this autumn.2025 is a spectacular year for autumn colour. Thanks to the long, hot summer, with below-average rainfall in many areas, Forestry England has said: "Signs point to a particularly vivid display of reds, oranges and golds in the nation's forests, lasting well into November, especially in northern regions." It clarifies that this is partly down to changing weather patterns due to the climate crisis, which is obviously no cause for celebration, but that is not to say we can't enjoy "one of the most flamboyant autumn displays in recent years". Hotspots to visit include Westonbirt, the national arboretum, in Gloucestershire; Bedgebury Pinetum in Kent; Grizedale Forest in Cumbria; and Kielder Forest in Northumberland. In the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean, there is a leaf-peeping drive with 10 scenic viewpoints. Failing that, just head to your nearest park. Continue reading...