UK in fall: color, city festivals and fire
Turning leaves, rutting deer and city festivals that fill the evenings.
Fall mixes outdoor seasons with indoor festivals. The deer rut and the maples at Westonbirt are over within weeks. Cities run building open days, literature festivals and parades.
Dated events from our own events data appear below as cards. Everything else says when it usually happens, with a link to the organizer.
Dates: where a date is shown, it comes from the organizer's own page (last checked Oct 25, 2026). Where it says "usually", the date is not confirmed: use the official link.
Dated events
- Open House London Usually September Buildings across London, Across London
- Totally Thames festival Usually September Along the River Thames, Thames, London
- Black on the Square Trafalgar Square
- Lord Mayor's Show Mansion House (procession through the City), City of London
- Diwali on the Square Usually October Trafalgar Square
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year Natural History Museum, South Kensington
Outdoors: deer and leaves
- Richmond Park, London
Deer rut in Richmond Park and Bushy Park
Usually from the end of September to early November.
The Royal Parks article covers the rut in both Richmond Park and Bushy Park. Read its advice on keeping your distance before you go.
The Royal Parks (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Autumn colour at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Usually peak fall from October 1 to November 15.
For fall 2026 the Forestry England page advises pre-booking to guarantee entry from Sep 25 to Nov 15. Check the page for the rule in future years.
Forestry England: Westonbirt (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
City festivals
- Manchester
Manchester Literature Festival
Usually for about two weeks in October.
Manchester Literature Festival (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
Manchester Science Festival
Usually in October.
Science and Industry Museum (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Bath
Bath Children's Literature Festival
Usually from late September into early October.
Bath Festivals (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Across Scotland
Doors Open Days
Usually through September, on different weekends in different places.
Doors Open Days, Scottish Civic Trust (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Calton Hill, Edinburgh
Samhuinn Fire Festival
Saturday Oct 31, 2026, Calton Hill
Usually on October 31, at sundown.
Beltane Fire Society (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
Clocks
- UK
Clocks go back
Normally at 2am on the last Sunday of October.
GOV.UK: when do the clocks change (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
Before you go
- Leaf color and the rut depend on the weather. Check the park or arboretum's own pages in the week you go.
- Book timed entry where the organizer asks for it, as Forestry England does at Westonbirt in fall 2026.
- Light fades earlier once the clocks go back, so plan outdoor walks for the middle of the day.
Sources
Pages we opened to write this guide. Organizers change dates: check before you book.
- The Royal Parks: the deer rut (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Forestry England: Westonbirt guided walks (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Forestry England: Westonbirt (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Manchester Literature Festival (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Science and Industry Museum (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Bath Festivals (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Doors Open Days (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- Beltane Fire Society (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- GOV.UK: when do the clocks change (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
More: All events · Walks · When to visit the UK · Edinburgh
More seasonal guides
- UK in spring: festivals, blossom and bank holidaysBlossom in the parks, festivals in university cities and two bank holiday weekends.
- UK in summer: festivals, sport and long days outBig sport and street festivals in London, and all of Edinburgh in August.
- UK in winter: Christmas markets, lights and HogmanayChristmas markets and lights, then New Year in London and Edinburgh.
- Christmas markets and winter lightsWhere to find markets and lights, with the organizers' own dates.
- Bonfire Night, fire festivals and HogmanayFire and fireworks from late fall to Hogmanay.
- Easter and bank holiday weekendsThe long weekends, with dates straight from GOV.UK.