UK destination ‘better than Spain and Italy’ named as best for September holiday

As the weather in the UK starts to change, with rain beginning to pour and the wind starting to have a little nip, September is often a popular time of year to escape the cold and jet set abroad for a holiday to extend the summer and soak up some sun.

While Spain, Greece and Turkey dominate our travel habits in the autumn, one destination much closer to home has actually been rated the best place in Europe to visit in September.

Instead of lounging on a beach, sipping sangria and snacking on tapas, think of a stunning sunset countryside walk followed by a cosy pub lunch.

According to the illustrious travel guide Lonely Planet, the Cotswolds has ranked higher than the textbook Autumn destinations for a getaway this month.

The travel experts were left stunned by the rolling hills and the golden light of September which seems to “ooze honey”.

They added: “This land of rolling hills, hiding historic towns and stone hamlets in their clefts and valleys, has long attracted urbanites seeking an English idyll.

“Visit in September not just to miss the heaviest onslaughts of coach tours, but to enjoy the countryside at its finest and to admire the leaves beginning to spark into their fiery autumn finery in the wonderful arboretums at Westonbirt and Batsford.”

Although it isn't much of a hidden gem, with it at the top of many countryside destination lists in the UK, the sheer size of the area means there are plenty of towns and villages to explore and get lost in.

The region is also famous for being the home of some big-name figures, with the Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson, and David Cameron all having houses there.

Filled with both literary and cinematic history, it has become one of the UK’s poshest areas, which has soared in housing prices, with the average sale now close to £600,000.

Picture postcard villages such as Castle Combe and Bourton-on-the-Water can often be overrun with tourists for much of the year, but using them as an endpoint for a peaceful walk can be a perfect way to enjoy their beauty and still find some peace and quiet.

The guide also gives a shoutout to the Cotswolds Way, a 102-mile route connecting Chipping Campden and Bath that weaves up over the region's hills, which is perfect to jump on and off for a day, blowing the cobwebs away.

While temperatures in September are lower than our European neighbours, visitors can still expect a pleasant 18C high. Elsewhere on the list, the Cotswolds ranked higher than Istria (the northern tip of Croatia), La Palma (often forgotten about Canary Island) and the university town of Bologna in Italy.