Autumn in the Far North of Scotland and London: Northern Lights, Autumn Colour and Early Christmas Sparkle

Rainbows over the Flow Country, the Northern Lights on a clear September night and the first Christmas lights on Regent Street. In episode 217 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, part two of our autumn special, Tracy heads to the far north of Scotland with Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours, then travels the length of the country to London with Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours.

If you missed part one, episode 216 covered the Lake District, the Cotswolds and Devon, following on from our spring and summer episodes. This week is for anyone weighing up an autumn trip to Scotland’s north coast or the capital: what your realistic chances of seeing the aurora are, how the shorter days change a Highland driving itinerary, where London’s autumn colour is at its best, and why late November may be the smartest time of year to see the city dressed for Christmas. Plenty here to help you settle on your dates.

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What you’ll learn in this episode

• Why autumn is Robert’s favourite season in the far north, and how the weather itself, with full rainbows across huge skies, becomes part of the experience
• Your realistic chances of seeing the Northern Lights from September onwards, and which parts of the north coast give you the best shot
• Why the dark skies are worth stepping outside for even when the aurora stays away, including the Milky Way and the Garvault Hotel’s dark sky nights in the Flow Country
• Where autumn colour shows up in a landscape with few trees, from the last of the heather to early morning mists over the lochs and rivers
• Where to drive to see the red deer rut, and why you need to take extra care on the roads at dusk
• How the shortening days change an October or November driving itinerary, and what time tours wrap up by early November
• Whether the book ahead advice still applies once the season quietens, which family-run B&Bs close for winter, and why the pricier hotels drop their rates
• Sally-Ann’s two pieces of advice for making the most of the far north in autumn, and what to pack
• How London’s rhythm shifts once the summer visitors go home, and why locals feel they get their city back
• Where to find the best autumn colour in London, from Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill to St James’s Park and the Italianate Gardens in Kensington Gardens
• Why autumn and winter are the best time for the West End, with new shows opening and casts changing over in October and November
• Which WalksDevour tours come into their own in autumn, including the City of London pubs tour, the Ceremony of the Keys and Westminster Abbey on a rainy day
• How Becki spends an autumn evening in London, from gaslit streets in the Inner and Middle Temples to a cosy pub with a book
• When London’s Christmas lights switch on and the markets open, and why late November gives you the festive atmosphere without December’s crowds or prices