Forget hibernating: it’s time to roast, toast and crunch some leaves.

This year has somehow lasted a decade yet gone by in the blink of eye. And yes, it’s true Autumn is upon us. But don’t mourn the long summer days, tis the season for chunky knits, warming drinks, hunkering down and getting your cosy on.

photo by Johnny Sands

Here’s our Liverpool Autumn bucket list:

Go on a hot choc tour

Yeh cold pints in the sun are nice, but have you ever had a Mallow Hot Chocolate from Moose Coffee on an autumnal afternoon? Velvety and smooth, rich and warming, smothered in whipped cream and soft marshmallows – if we could bathe in it, we would. And if you get banned for life for acting weird with a hot drink, there are loads of other places that do chocolatey hugs in mugs, some of our favourites are: Leaf, The Quarter, 92 Degrees Coffee, Rococo, Coast, and Coffee and Fandisha. More here.

Walk it off

When you’ve had your fill of liquid gold, it’s time to walk it off. And we’re calling it, Autumn walks are the best. The crunch of the leaves, the crispness of the air, the excuse to put on that massive scarf that makes you feel like Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, it all just works. So wander around leafy Calderstones or Sefton Park, get windswept down at Otterspool or head to the docks and get some sea air while you’re at it.

Sit by a roaring fire

It might be a bit trickier getting a spot this year, but nothing says cosy Autumn hygge like sitting with a half by an open hearth. The city is chocka with atmospheric pubs, go traditional at The Belvedere, relax Scandi style at Fredericks, enjoy small plates and a big fire at The Pen Factory, blag a fireside booth at The Three Piggies or relax with a cask ale by the Baltic Fleet’s log burner.

GET COSY IN A GEORGIAN QUARTER PUB

There’s something about The Georgian Quarter in the Autumn that we just can’t get enough of and the fact it isn’t short of places for a drink makes it all the better. Wrap up, go for a wander and end up in the corner of a pub with a pint – sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? Read our ultimate Georgian Quarter pub crawl here and thank us later.

Think of others

Everyone should have a safe place to stay whatever the time of year but as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, we need to do everything we can for those who haven’t. The Whitechapel Centre annual Sleepout can’t happen this year but you can still Sleepout at Home on the weekend of 9-11 October. Just choose your night, find somewhere safe (like your garden, garage, backyard or even your lounge) to build a shelter to sleep in and ask anyone who can to sponsor you.

Go On A Terrifying Tour

If you’ve outgrown your Halloween outfit and truth be told you’re way too old to be trick or treating, we know just the thing to do. Shiverpool have been putting the willies up people (don’t you dare laugh) for some years now and they’re at their most terrifying around Halloween. If you want to hear creepy tales, learn about the mysteries and history of Liverpool and have a thrilling good time, the Shiverpool tour is for you. Expect the unexpected. Get tickets here.

Roast it

Tis the season for great hunks of meat (or great slabs of nuts) mountains of crispy potatoes, cauli cheese and lashings of gravy… all hail the season of the roast. And in Liverpool when we roast, we roast right. There are loads of great places to get your fill, from old favourites like The Blackburne Arms to new kids on the block Wolf and Waffle, city pickings like The Little Shoe, Baltic Social, Dockleaf or out of town feasts at Spitroast or Delifonseca. Take your pick and hunker down with a big glass of red.

P-p-p-pick up a pumpkin

Some might say 2020 has been scary enough, but Halloween is just around the corner and picking your own pumpkin is a classic Autumn activity that will get you in the mood to ghoul. Head to the pumpkin patch in Hightown, at Church View Farm in Lydiate there will be a fairground and food vans to check out too and at Church View on the Wirral you can have a look around the farm too. It’s loads of fun and you’re supporting local suppliers too. Read our guide here.

Work on your winter layer

No one wants to be nesh in November or freezing in December, so make like a hedgehog and get your winter layer sorted with some hearty bites before the cold kicks in. Loads of places are cooking up hearty plates, using local produce and great ingredients. Load up on pasta at Casa Italia, feast on the best of the season at Belzan, make your own smorgasbord at Baltic Market, fill up on falafel at Maray, get Lebanese comfort foot at Bakchich, try out the new menu at the Three Piggies, or head to Maggie May’s for classic scouse. 

Stock up on knits

Doesn’t everyone pretend they are in a Scandinavian police drama in Autumn? And if not, why not? Skulking around in a chunky knit is what this season is all about and let’s be honest vintage is best so hit Red Brick Vintage at Cains Brewery Village, Resurrection on Bold Street or 69A on Renshaw Street and grab yourself something cosy for those walks by the river.

photo by Liverpool Shopfronts

Start ‘that’ shopping

Everyone knows someone who has an excel gift spreadsheet on the go from March, spoiler, it’s not us. Maybe this could be the year you’re a bit more organised? Maybe it could be the year you don’t order random crap off Amazon at the last minute and support local instead? There are loads of brilliant Liverpool businesses who need your support more than ever, like Slower Space, Freida Mo’s, Freedom of Ztyle, Dig Vinyl, Synergentix, Whiskey Business and loads more.