Make time for a grown up getaway this autumn

10th September 2026

 Adult-friendly autumn breakaways to South East England - Couple at the Lazy Shack credit Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Families flock to South East England in the summer holidays to enjoy the coast, countryside and a wealth of family-friendly attractions. But as the children return to school in September, a welcome hush fills the spaces that, just weeks earlier, overflowed with joyful family chaos. Early autumn brings mild days, golden evenings and quieter hotels and destinations, perfect for a grown-up retreat. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway under the stars, a secluded hideaway in the woods or a luxury spa retreat with friends, South East England has everything you need for that perfect adults-only getaway.

 Updown Farmhouse in Deal, Kent

A countryside Retreat

Escape to a historic country estate to enjoy stunning interiors, glorious gardens and sweeping countryside views. Fairmont Windsor Park deliver a quintessential, English countryside break with a grand mansion house hotel, sleek spa and 40 acres of greenery bordering the royal landscape of Windsor Great Park. If you’re looking for a stay amongst glorious gardens, visit Gravetye Manor in Sussex, where beautiful grounds, including an outstanding kitchen garden, surround the Manor House hotel and Michelin Starred restaurant. For a more intimate country retreat, head to Updown Farmhouse in White Cliffs Country, a lovingly restored Grade II-listed farmhouse and restaurant set in 7 acres of Kent countryside, close to the pretty coastal town of Deal.

Stargazing in Eastbourne, credit Matt Kuchta

Romantic evenings under the stars

As England’s newly crowned best stargazing spot, Eastbourne is your gateway to the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve and the perfect base for clear nights under the stars. Beachy Head and Birling Gap offer breathtaking views of the night sky twinkling over the English Channel. Stay at Belle Tout B&B, a lovingly converted 19th Century lighthouse perched on cliffs of Beachy Head. Or, head to the Isle of Wight, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with minimum light pollution and an excellent spot for stargazing. Unique Hideaway’s “Stargazers' Retreat” near Ventnor promises sea, stars and serenity and features a traditional Toono window for stargazing well into the night.

Downash Treehouses in East Sussex

Unwind in a secluded canopy

Enjoy uninterrupted peace and quiet in a secluded cabin or treehouse in the woods. At Downash Wood, East Sussex, each self‑catering space is set within its own private pocket of woodland and combines solitude with luxury mod cons. Also in the East Sussex countryside lies Swallowtail Hill, a 50-acre private nature reserve and one of the finest sites for biodiversity in England. Hidden within their quiet, wooded glade sits The Roundhouse—a bespoke, secluded sanctuary for two.

View over Denbies Wine Estate from the restuarant at Denbies Vineyard Hotel, Surrey

Prefer Prosecco and Pints to Peppa Pig?

Surround yourself with grapevines and raise a glass in “England’s Wine Country”. Enjoy lush views, delicious dining, wine tastings and a very short walk home. The jewel in the crown of English wine is Denbies Wine Estate, England’s largest single estate vineyard, which offers tours and tastings, walking trails, a wine library, restaurants and farmhouse hotel. Tillingham Estate in East Sussex also offers a complete wine experience, pairing organic and biodynamic practices with a winery, a culinary experience inspired by the seasons and a boutique hotel or luxury bell tents.

If wine isn’t your tipple of choice, there are also hundreds of microbreweries and distilleries to visit, including some in exceptional heritage settings. The taproom at Windsor & Eton Brewery boasts up to 22 of their flagship Bitters, IPAs and Pilsners on tap alongside guest beers, ciders and artisan pizza. The brewery was awarded a royal warrant to supply beer to Queen Elizabeth II. The creative city of Portsmouth is crammed with thriving independent businesses including a microbrewing and distilling community. Gin and rum lovers must visit the Portsmouth Distillery Co, set inside the 18th Century Fort Cumberland, where you can taste uniquely flavoured, artisanal spirits and immerse yourself in the distillery'shistory. Other celebrated distilleries in South East England include: Bombay Sapphire Distillery, near Basingstoke, whose sole distillery produces and bottles every drop of the brand's famous blue-bottled gin; and The Isle of Wight Distillery, home of Mermaid Gin, hand crafted on the island using wild-foraged ingredients.

The Pig in the Wall, Southampton, credit Jake Eastham

Cosy up to your partner in a welcoming boutique hotel

Escape to an intimate boutique hotel to enjoy long lie ins, leisurely breakfasts, stylish interiors, personalised touches and discreet luxury. For a city break, stay at The Roseate Reading – the ‘UK’s most stylish Townhouse Hotel’ (Evening Standard) and which perfectly blends vintage opulence and cutting edge design. Or, cosy up to your partner in the The Pig in Wall, a gorgeous higgledy-piggledy bolthole, tucked within Southampton city’s medieval walls. For a quintessential English village retreat, escape to The Marquis of Granby, an award winning pub with rooms in the pretty Kent village of Alkham.

Dining out at Webbe's Rock a Nore in Hastings, East Sussex

Taste the region with a Foodie Break

With the most sunshine hours in the UK, rich pastures, and thriving coastal waters, South East England provides an exceptional environment for growing local produce which can be enjoyed in the region’s farm shops, vineyards and restaurants. For the ultimate fine-dining, head to the pretty parish of Bray, near Windsor, renowned globally for its foodie credentials with multiple Michelin-starred restaurants set amongst the instagrammable village lanes and river views.

And with 400 miles of coastline, it’s no surprise that the freshest fish and seafood can be found at South East England’s coastal destinations and daily specials are often straight off the boats with the morning catch. Webbe’s Rock a Nore restaurant in Hastings has one of the shortest ingredient journeys in Britain – just one minute across the beach from boat to kitchen and nearby Rye Bay celebrates its scallops every year. Further East along the coast, Folkestone has emerged as one of the South East’s exciting foodie destinations with the Harbour Arm at the heart of the town’s recent foodie revival.

Where do you like to escape to for a grown-up getaway? Share your thoughts with us at @VisitSouthEastEngland and visit https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/accommodation for more inspiration.