Westonbirt Arboretum
Gloucestershire
Hundreds of Japanese maples. The Acer Glade turns red, orange and gold through October.
- Best:
- Mid to late Oct
- Look for:
- The maple glade
- Opening:
- Usually open daily
Days out
Gardens to visit
UK gardens worth the drive, season by season: where each one is, when it looks its best and what to look for when you get there. Each list has its own reel.
October
Autumn colour — gardens worth the drive
4 gardens · posted 10 Oct 2026
Sheffield Park
East Sussex
Four lakes that hold the colour twice. Maples and tupelos blaze along the water's edge.
- Best:
- Mid Oct to early Nov
- Look for:
- Reflections, still morning
- Opening:
- Usually open daily
Stourhead
Wiltshire
A walk round the lake past temples and a grotto, with the trees turning on every side.
- Best:
- Late October
- Look for:
- The view across the lake
- Opening:
- Usually open daily
Bodnant Garden
Conwy, North Wales
Formal terraces at the top, a deep wooded dell with a river at the bottom. Colour in both.
- Best:
- October
- Look for:
- The dell from the bridges
- Opening:
- Usually open daily
Before you set off
Check opening times, and whether you need to book, on the garden's own website before you travel.
Looking for a show instead? See the UK garden and flower show calendar.