The enchanting forest just over an hour from London that’s pure ‘autumn magic’

Jump on the train and be in this magical forest in just over an hour (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) After what may well have been the UK’s hottest summer ever, many of us are ready to step into autumn. The start of October typically brings a few things: cooler temperatures, shorter days, pumpkin spiced lattes, and long walks with the promise of a pub lunch at the end. There are hundreds of stunning forests and parks dotted around the UK, but only one seems to capture the true ‘magic’ of autumn. Home to over 2,000 acres of forest, walking trails, and treetop adventures, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest is a great place to watch the leaves change colour, transforming the landscape into a kaleidoscope of orange, red, and yellow. It even has a dedicated autumn walking trail. Nestled in the valley between Goudhurst, Hawkhurst, and Flimwell in Kent, the forest is known locally as one of the ‘Seven Wonders Of The Weald’ — seven heritage attractions across the High Weald region of Kent and East Sussex. Bedgebury is at its best in autumn, but it’s open all year round (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) One reason Bedgebury is so beautiful this season is its sheer number of trees. Bordering the walking trails, stretching over the park’s lakes, and dotted amongst the vast woodland, they provide a stunning backdrop for stretching the legs and soaking up the scenery. And that’s not all. Visitors keen to see conservation in action can take a wander through the Bedgebury National Pinetum. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. While the entire forest is really magnificent in autumn, in the Pinetum are more than 10,000 specimen trees, including rare and endangered conifers. And if you fancy seeing all that autumn colour from a different perspective, you can take to the treetops at Go Ape’s high ropes experience for a bird’s-eye view of the forest below. Tripadvisor reviewer Denise S from Cheshunt described the forest as ‘magnificent’ and said it ‘looks like heaven’. ‘As a dedicated dog walker and hardy rambler, I am always on the lookout for that great walk that ticks all the boxes,’ she wrote. Denise went on to add that her criteria for a ‘great walk’ includes: ‘ample parking, clean toilets, fridge magnets on sale and a nice cup of tea and slice of cake for the reward after a long walk.’ And, according to her, Bedgebury ticked every box. ‘I enjoyed this place so much. I came here with my head full of worry but came away a different relaxed person. I was whacked out from the walking but could not stop watching this forest on YouTube. If I could give this place 10 stars then I would.’ Advice from Denise: make sure to pick up a map at the office. Being such a vast and expansive area, it’s easy to get lost. One user on TikTok described it as one of her ‘favourite places to escape’ (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) It’s free to enter Bedgebury, but there are parking charges. On weekends and bank holidays, there’s a £12 fee per car. During the week, that drops down to £10. But, if you make the early bird slot (arrive by 8 am and leave by 11 am), you’ll only have to fork up £3.50. There’s no need to book in advance unless you’re planning on doing the Go Ape experience. After all that activity, it’d only be right to stop off for a hot chocolate at Bedgebury Cafe, found smack bang next to one of the Pinetum’s most beautiful lakes. Somewhere to enjoy all year round, Bedgebury is also known for its impressive lights display at Christmas. Each year, Bedgebury forest puts on a spectacular lights show for visitors (Picture: Getty) How do I get to Bedgebury forest? If you’re travelling from London, the quickest and easiest way to get to the forest is by car. There’s plenty of parking once you arrive and, if traffic is light, should take you around one hour and 20 minutes. If you don’t have access to a car, hop on the train at Charing Cross and buy a ticket to Wadhurst. Luckily, there don’t tend to be a bunch of stops on this route, so you should be at your next destination in just over an hour. 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