It's time to pull on your Wellington boots and explore our region as its scenery turns a colourful array of rusts and burnt orange. Browse our guide to discover the best places to take in the changing landscape, to find East Anglian stately homes offering Halloween fun and to discover the perfect spot for Pumpkin picking.
SUFFOLK
Suffolk is bursting with seasonal fun this autumn. From illuminated stately homes to Curious Creature trails and our own arts and culture events.
CHESTNUT PUBS IN SUFFOLK - The Ship, The Westleton Crown, The Northgate, The Packhorse Inn,
SEASONAL FUN
Embrace the spooky this October by visiting Hollow Tree Farm and taking the Curious Creatures farm yard trail, brave the Beasties Barrel Train and try your hand at goblin golf.
Take the family Pumpkin Picking at Rougham Estate and choose from 18 different varieties of pumpkin in many shapes and sizes. Open every weekend in October.
AUTUMNAL EVENTS
The National Trust's Ickworth House gardens will be transformed by colour and light for 17 nights this November - Tickets sell fast, so be quick!
The Framlingham Sausage Festival celebrates an autumn favourite; the sausage. Championing locally sourced produce this festival is packed with food, entertainment and stalls.
ARTS & CULTURE
Ben Timberlake, a former soldier and author of High Risk, an odyssey fuelled by adrenalin addiction, will be guest speaker at The Weeping Willow on the 18th October.
As the night draws in hear the famous Anglo-Saxon tale of The Beowulf. By torchlight storytellers will tell the tale at Sutton Hoo this October.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Cambridgeshire is made up of beautiful countryside from rural farmland, to country estates and fenland. Not to mention the city of Cambridge, rich in history that comes to life in autumn, from Halloween events, to the sound of King's College choir echoing along the old cobbled streets.
CHESTNUT PUBS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE - The Rupert Brooke, The Carpenters Arms, The Three Blackbirds
SEASONAL FUN
Delve into the deep and dark secret history of the City of Cambridge with a Walking Ghost Tour. Find out which of the famous colleges are haunted, and many ancient tales of witchcraft and ghouls that the city would prefer you didn't know....
Brave the River Cam for a Halloween punt with Let's Go Punting. Kids can be entertained with an activity book and spooky scavenger hunt.
AUTUMNAL OUTDOORS
Wrap up and pull on your walking boots for a walk through field, woodland and stud land, our Studland Stomp, a round route that explores our local area starting and finishing at The Three Blackbirds.
Another wildlife filled walk is the Burwash Manor Farm Fox Walk with the added bonus of a local farm shop to pick up some treats.
ARTS & CULTURE
Justine Picardie, one of the worlds top fashion editors, is guest speaker at The Carpenters Arms on the 10th of November. Hear about her new book, Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture and enjoy a three course dinner, on sale now.
For a laughter filled autumn evening Dawn French comes to the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday 1st October.
ESSEX
Over in Essex there is something going on for everyone throughout autumn and into the festive season - whether you have green fingers and want to learn about the history of the English garden at Audley End or you want to don your winter walking jacket and explore Constable Country. These are some of our top picks...
CHESTNUT PUBS IN ESSEX - The Crown Inn (actually in Suffolk, on the border of Essex), The Cricketers, The Eight Bells
SEASONAL FUN
The popular Saffron Walden Christmas Fayre lines King Street and fills the Market Square with stalls, seasonal street food and festive fun on the 20th of November.
Round up the family and take them on an adventure to The Enchanted Lost Kingdom of Wyvenwood, near Colchester. You'll find fairies, fierce dragons, wise wizards, menacing goblins!
AUTUMN OUTDOORS
Wrap up warm and take a Riverside Ramble and skirt the Essex border and Dedham Vale AONB and enjoy Constable Country on foot. Finish with a hearty lunch at The Crown.
Dig deeper into the history of England's garden past at Audley End. Join the garden tour full of history and modern day maintenance of their beautiful gardens.
ARTS & CULTURE
The longest-serving presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship news and current affairs programme Today, Justin Webb, is guest speaker at The Eight Bells on the 2nd of November. The evening includes a 3-course dinner.
Saffron Hall hosts London Philharmonic Orchestra with Karina Canellakis on Sunday 23rd October. Performing Beethoven’s extraordinary “Eroica” Symphony.
NORFOLK
Autumn in Norfolk is a magical season with many parks, farms and country estates open to visitors to enjoy nature as it readies itself for the winter. Not to mention the big draw of the Holt Lights and Thursford events.
CHESTNUT PUBS IN NORFOLK - The Globe Inn, The Feathers, and The Wiveton Bell
SEASONAL FUN
A highlight in the Norfolk calendar is the annual Holt Lights. Towns folk and visitors gather for the Christmas light switch on that is accompanied by fireworks, a panto horse race, street food, stalls and live music.
The popular Enchanted Journey of Light at Thursford opens on the 19th November. A festival of luminous sculptures with the odd naughty mushroom gnome.
AUTUMNAL ADVENTURES
Discover Sheringham Park by night. Take a hike under a canopy of stars as the tawny owl hoots, the deers break cover and the hedgehogs rustle in the undergrowth.
Holkham celebrates the magic of autumn in the October half-term. From their Deer Safaris, to bird of prey displays, to pumpkin carving and scarecrow spotting.
CELEBRATING LOCAL
The Norfolk Artisan Fair takes place at the end of November at Fakenham Racecourse showcasing over 100 local food, drink and craft stalls, just 10 minutes from The Globe at Wells.
A favourite at this time of year is Pumpkin House near Thursford, made up of over 1000 pumpkins. Plus, explore the wooded walk and bale maze and more!
To read more about things to do around each of our pubs, choose your destination by clicking here to visit their website and their Explore page.
Image credits - Pumpkin House, Thursford. Love Holt. The National Trust and Jim Wolfe.
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