Autumn colours near Birmingham are usually at their best from mid-October to early November, depending on the weather. You don’t have to travel far to see them. Sutton Park and the Lickey Hills are on the city’s edge, and the Clent Hills, Kinver Edge and Cannock Chase are all within about an hour. The region’s arboretums are among the finest autumn displays in the country, including Bodenham in Worcestershire, Batsford in the Cotswolds and Westonbirt near Tetbury.
This guide groups the best spots by distance from Birmingham and explains what makes each one worth the trip. It also covers timing, parking and the shorter days after the clocks go back, and how to make a relaxed day of it without anyone having to drive.
When to see autumn colours near Birmingham
Peak timing
In the Midlands, trees usually start to turn in late September and October. The richest colour tends to arrive from mid-October into early November. Every year is different, though. A dry, sunny autumn with cool nights often brings brighter reds and oranges, while early storms can strip the trees quickly.
Following the season
Many arboretums and estates post updates on their websites and social media as the colour develops. Check them in the week before you go, especially if you’re travelling further. A forecast of calm, bright weather is a good sign for a planned visit.
Shorter days after 25 October
The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, and from that weekend it gets dark by early evening. Plan to arrive in the morning or around midday, as many sites close or lose the light by late afternoon. Our guide to the clocks going back covers the change in more detail.
Autumn colours near Birmingham at a glance
| Place | Area | Approx. drive from central Birmingham | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton Park | Sutton Coldfield | Around 30 minutes | Woodland walks close to home |
| Lickey Hills Country Park | South-west Birmingham edge | Around 30 minutes | Hilltop views and woodland |
| Clent Hills | North Worcestershire | Around 30 to 40 minutes | Short climbs with wide views |
| Cannock Chase | Staffordshire | Around 45 minutes | Forest trails and heathland |
| Kinver Edge | South Staffordshire | Around 45 minutes | Woodland and rock houses |
| Wyre Forest | Worcestershire | Around 50 minutes | Ancient woodland |
| Bodenham Arboretum | Worcestershire | Around 45 minutes | Trees from around the world |
| National Memorial Arboretum | Alrewas, Staffordshire | Around 40 minutes | Reflective walks among trees |
| Croome | Worcestershire | Around 1 hour | Landscaped parkland |
| Charlecote Park | Near Stratford-upon-Avon | Around 45 minutes | Deer park and riverside |
| Batsford Arboretum | Near Moreton-in-Marsh | Around 1 hour 15 minutes | Specialist arboretum in the Cotswolds |
| Westonbirt Arboretum | Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire | Around 1 hour 45 minutes | The national arboretum |
Drive times are rough estimates in normal traffic. They’ll vary with your starting point and the day.
Autumn colour on Birmingham’s doorstep
Sutton Park
Sutton Park, in Sutton Coldfield, is one of the largest urban parks in Europe and a National Nature Reserve. Its mix of woodland, heath and pools makes it a good choice for an easy autumn walk without leaving the city. The woodland paths near the pools look especially good once the leaves turn.
Lickey Hills Country Park
The Lickey Hills, on Birmingham’s south-western edge, cover more than 200 hectares of woodland and open hillside. Climb Beacon Hill for views across the city and towards the Malverns, then head back down through the trees. It makes an easy half-day out from most of Birmingham.
Gardens in Edgbaston
For a shorter visit, two gardens in Edgbaston are worth seeing in autumn. Birmingham Botanical Gardens has glasshouses as well as outdoor collections, so it works well on a damp day. Winterbourne House and Garden, run by the University of Birmingham, is smaller and more intimate, with plenty of seasonal colour.
Hills and forests within an hour
Clent Hills
The Clent Hills, cared for by the National Trust, offer short but rewarding climbs with wide views over Worcestershire and the Black Country. In autumn, the wooded slopes turn gold and copper. It’s a popular spot, so arrive early at weekends.
Kinver Edge
Kinver Edge, also looked after by the National Trust, combines a sandstone ridge with woodland walks. It’s best known for its historic rock houses built into the cliff, which make an interesting stop on an autumn walk. The views from the edge are best on a clear day.
Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase is a protected landscape of forest and heathland in Staffordshire. Its mix of conifers and broadleaf trees gives a varied autumn palette. Forestry England’s trails range from short family walks to longer routes, so there’s something for most groups.
Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest, near Bewdley in Worcestershire, is one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in England. Oaks dominate much of the forest and turn bronze and gold later in the season. Way-marked trails start from the visitor centre, and Bewdley’s riverside makes a good place to finish.
Malvern Hills
The Malvern Hills are a little further, at around an hour away, but the long ridge gives some of the best views in the region. In autumn, the wooded lower slopes add colour below the open hilltops. Our guide to day trips from Birmingham covers Malvern alongside other nearby destinations.
Arboretums and gardens for the best autumn displays
Bodenham Arboretum
Bodenham Arboretum, in Worcestershire, holds more than 3,000 species of trees and shrubs from around the world. Set around a series of pools, it’s one of the closest specialist arboretums to Birmingham. Go on a still day, when the colours reflect in the water.
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum, at Alrewas in Staffordshire, is the UK’s year-round centre of remembrance, with thousands of trees among its memorials. Autumn is a particularly reflective time to visit, especially in the weeks before Remembrance Sunday.
Batsford Arboretum
Batsford Arboretum, near Moreton-in-Marsh, sits in 56 acres of Cotswold countryside. It has more than 2,850 tree specimens, including the national Japanese flowering cherry collection, and its maples and cherries turn fiery reds and oranges in autumn. It also pairs well with a visit to the nearby Cotswold villages.
Westonbirt Arboretum
Westonbirt, the National Arboretum near Tetbury, is often described as one of the best places in Britain for autumn colour. The main draw is its maple collection, including the Acer Glade in the Old Arboretum and the Maple Loop in Silk Wood. For 2026, Westonbirt is running a new autumn trail, Perfectly Imperfect, from 7 September to 30 November.
At around an hour and three-quarters from Birmingham, Westonbirt is the furthest spot in this guide. It gets very busy at peak weekends, so book ahead where you can and arrive early.
National Trust parkland and estates
Croome
Croome, in Worcestershire, was Capability Brown’s first complete landscape. Its parkland, lakeside walks and specimen trees make it a lovely autumn visit. The National Trust runs the house and grounds, so members get in free and everyone else pays for entry.
Charlecote Park
Charlecote Park, near Stratford-upon-Avon, combines a historic house with a deer park beside the River Avon. Autumn is the deer rutting season, which adds extra interest, but keep a safe distance from the herd. It pairs well with an afternoon in Stratford, and our Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon day trip guide suggests ways to spend the rest of the day.
Planning your autumn day out
Avoiding the crowds
The best-known spots are busiest at weekends during the peak weeks, particularly Westonbirt, Batsford and the Clent Hills. Visit on a weekday if you can. October half-term, which runs from 26 to 30 October 2026 for many Birmingham schools, also brings more families to parks and arboretums.
Parking and entry
Country parks often charge for parking. Arboretums and National Trust properties usually charge for entry, sometimes with free access for members. Check the website before you go, and book ahead if the site recommends it at busy times.
What to wear and bring
Autumn paths can be muddy and slippery, especially in woodland after rain. Wear waterproof footwear, bring a warm layer, and pack drinks and snacks. If you’re bringing a dog, check the rules first, as they vary between sites.
Getting there without driving
It’s harder to relax on a day out when someone has to drive there and back, then find a parking space at a busy site. Pre-booked transport takes that away. Your chauffeur drops you at the entrance, collects you at an agreed time, and can take you on to lunch or a second stop on the way home.
For a full day of exploring, hourly or full-day chauffeur hire keeps the car available, so you can combine an arboretum with a village pub lunch or a riverside walk. Families and groups of up to seven can travel together in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. If you’d like a quote for an autumn day out, you can get a price online.
We collect from homes across the region, including through our chauffeur service in Sutton Coldfield and Bromsgrove. We also cover Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon, which make good bases for exploring the countryside nearby.
Making a day of it
Combine with the Cotswolds
Batsford Arboretum is close to some of the Cotswolds’ best-known villages, including Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden. Our Cotswolds day trip guide suggests itineraries that work well alongside an autumn arboretum visit.
Combine with Halloween events
Late October is also Halloween season. If you’re planning a family autumn break during half-term, our guide to Halloween events in Birmingham for 2026 covers attractions across the region.
Book your autumn day out
National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers and full-day hire from Birmingham to parks, forests and arboretums across the Midlands and the Cotswolds, in Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us where you’d like to go and how long you’d like to spend there, and we’ll plan the day around the daylight and the traffic. Get a quote and book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Close to the city, try Sutton Park, the Lickey Hills and the Clent Hills. Within about an hour, Cannock Chase, Kinver Edge, Wyre Forest and Bodenham Arboretum are all good choices. Batsford and Westonbirt arboretums are further away but have some of the best displays in the country.
Usually from mid-October to early November, though it varies with the weather each year. Check the arboretum or park's own updates before you visit.
Bodenham Arboretum in Worcestershire and the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas are both around 40 to 45 minutes away by road, depending on your starting point.
For keen autumn visitors, yes. It's around an hour and three-quarters away, and it has one of the country's best maple collections. It's very busy at peak weekends, so book ahead and arrive early.
Yes. Sutton Park and the Lickey Hills are both on the city's edge, with woodland walks that suit a half-day trip.
From Sunday 25 October 2026, it gets dark by early evening. Arrive in the morning or around midday to make the most of the daylight.
