Summer may be winding down, but the calendar is still packed with reasons to get out of the house. A fresh round-up of days out and stays across the UK and Europe makes the case for an autumn adventure — here are the highlights worth building a trip around.
In Canterbury, the cathedral founded by St Augustine in 597 CE is offering more than a day trip. Alongside guided tours, stained glass and 1,400 years of history, you can now stay overnight in Cathedral Lodge, a guest building within the grounds that includes admission and a full Kentish breakfast. Annual tickets are available if one visit won't cut it.
London's best sightseeing seat might be on the water. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs the UK's first fully electric passenger ferry plus four hybrid vessels, calling at 24 piers from Putney to Barking Riverside. Hop-on hop-off tickets cover unlimited all-day travel, kids go free on family tickets, and you can tap in with contactless or Oyster.
Art fans heading north should pencil in Middlesbrough, where MIMA hosts the Turner Prize 2026 exhibition from 26 September. Work by shortlisted artists Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku spans sculpture, film, sound and installation, and runs until 29 March 2027.
Football-obsessed travellers can upgrade match day at San Siro. AC Milan's Club1899 hospitality includes a Front Row option — just 14 seats beside the team bench, with pitchside access and a glass of Dom Pérignon — or the Corner Experience by the corner flag, complete with private dining and VIP reception.
In Portugal, Porto gets even better with a day across the river. Vila Nova de Gaia, the historic home of port wine, pairs riverside cellars and tastings with Atlantic beaches, viewpoints at Jardim do Morro and Serra do Pilar, and easy river cruises. Back in the city, the Serralves cultural district — a 44-acre park with a museum designed by Pritzker winner Álvaro Siza — hosts the Duerckheim Collection (Kiefer, Hirst, Emin) and an Alice Neel show through September and October.
Rainy-day insurance comes courtesy of AirHop, whose 27 trampoline parks across the UK offer open jump sessions for ages four and up. Book a 60-, 90- or 120-minute session between 7 September and 31 December 2026 with code AIRHOP20 for 20 per cent off (book by 30 November).
Finally, London has two fresh angles: Moco Museum, bringing Banksy, Warhol, Basquiat and Yayoi Kusama to a busy shopping district with an accessible, immersive approach, and a stylish new place to sleep in Cambridge — The Hobson, a restored Victorian police station with 56 self-contained studios and a British-Australian restaurant in the courtyard.
Whether you're after a weekend break, a culture hit or something to keep the kids moving, this batch covers indoor, outdoor and in-between options for the weeks ahead.
