With temperatures cooling and the nights drawing in, autumn is just around the corner which means now is the perfect time to plan an autumnal weekend away.
An autumn break in the UK means long brisk walks, cosy nights in front of a log fire, and exploring idyllic villages and towns in the drizzle.
Now, Condé Nast Traveller has shared some of the best places to visit this autumn in the UK. One destination on the list was the pretty village of Holkham in North Norfolk.
Holkham is a small village on the beautiful Norfolk coastline that’s known for its nature reserve, sandy beach, pine forest and impressive country house.
Visitors to the area can enjoy a day at Holkham Beach; the jewel of the North Norfolk Coast which is one of the most unspoilt stretches of sand in the country.
The beach, which is dog, horse and child-friendly, stretches for miles at low tide and is surrounded by an expansive pine forest.
On a chilly autumn day, beachgoers might find themselves completely alone on the endless expanse of sand. Visitors to the beach have described it as “beautiful” and “clean” on Tripadvisor.
Marie posted: “Fabulous beach with miles of beautiful golden sand. Unfortunately we weren’t very lucky with the weather when we visited, but it meant the beach was very quiet and we walked for around three miles and only met other people when returning to the car park.
“We could hear lots of jets circling overhead, but the cloud base was too low to see any of the action. We’ll definitely return on a sunny day.”
Steve Grant said: “We parked up on a car park in town and walked along the estuary to the beach. The walk was pleasant and enjoyable. The beach however was excellent. I loved all the multi-coloured beach huts. Worth the effort to get there!”
After a bracing stroll along the beach, visitors can dive deep into Holkham’s fascinating history at the 18th-century Holkham Hall.
Known as one of England’s finest examples of the Palladian revival style of architecture, Holkham Hall is a palatial mansion in the centre of 25,000 acres of park and agricultural land.
The sprawling property and immaculate gardens are truly magnificent. In addition to learning all about the estate’s rich history, visitors will see original paintings by Peter Paul Rubens (among others) and can treat themselves to lunch at the estate’s Courtyard Café.
Further along the coast, tourists can visit the beautiful town of Wells-next-the-Sea. The picturesque town is between Holkham Beach and Blakeney Point and is best known for its Georgian Square, wonderful views from the quay and the Lifeboat Horse; a sculpture made from steel bars and whisky barrels located in the harbour.
The beach is slightly less rugged than Holkham Beach and is lined with a row of colourful beach huts that are perched on top of stilts.