5 Ways to celebrate autumn in your city

As the clocks go back on October 26th in the UK, we’re officially in the middle of autumn. If you’re utterly obsessed with the leaves changing colour outside your window, or the return of your winter coat from the back of your wardrobe, read on for tips on how to embrace the best of autumn in your city.  

Sip a pumpkin spice latte at a local cafe 

Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, stopping by a cafe near your iQ building is a great way to spend an autumn afternoon. You can grab a table by a window, sip a pumpkin spice latte (or hot chocolate!) with the latest BookClub book, your journal, or even some uni work. Plus, you’re getting to explore more of your uni city!  

Stomp through autumn leaves  

When we think of autumn, we’re thinking about crunching leaves in nature. If you live near a big park, why not head there with some friends to go on an autumn walk? If you’re looking for spaces to check out with amazing autumn leaves, why not visit:  

• Regent’s Park, London – 15 minutes away from iQ Bloomsbury, it’s a central London park famous for its autumn colours.
• Alexandra Park, Manchester – 25 minutes from iQ Lambert and Fairfield House, the park is a great way to spend an afternoon exploring.
• Avenham and Miller Parks, Preston – only a 20 minute walk from iQ Kopa, it's a Victorian park with a gorgeous Japanese rock garden!
• Temple Gardens, Bristol – literally opposite iQ Water Lane House, Temple Gardens is the best place in Bristol to crunch through autumnal leaves on your way to class.
• The Level, Brighton – 5 minutes from iQ Abacus House, The Level is an amazing green space with a skate park for ultimate people watching as you sip your PSL (that’s pumpkin spiced latte for any autumn amateurs out there).
• York City Wall, York  – why not walk along York’s City walls to enjoy an autumnal and historic commute home from classes?
• Gas Street Basin, Birmingham – Running alongside iQ Broderick House, walking along the canal towards Gas Street Basin and beyond is an alternative to a park, but still filled with crunching leaves and gorgeous trees!
• Swanswell Park and Pool, Coventry – just 9 minutes from iQ Weaver Place, Swanswell Pool is an iconic part of Coventry’s history, dating back to the 12th century! Check it out to enjoy a historic autumn walk with friends.  

Watch a spooky movie at the cinema 

If your iQ has a cinema room, there is nothing cosier than taking a pile of blankets and snacks down to the room and watching a Halloween film with friends! If you don’t have a cinema room, check out your local cinema, who often screen Halloween films throughout October, or get super comfy in your private room with your laptop and a hot chocolate. If you want film recommendations, here are 3 of our faves:  

• Monster House – available on Netflix, this film is the perfect childhood throwback for a supernatural animated comedy.
• The Addams Family – available on Amazon Prime, if you’ve recently binged the new season of Wednesday, why not see how the story started?
• Jennifer’s Body – available on Disney+, is an early-2000s iconic story of a girl who turns out to be not so sweet. 

Join in Bonfire Night celebrations 

If you want even more ways to celebrate autumn, then check out Bonfire Night celebrations in your area! Bonfire night’s on November 5th, and people across the UK hold events to let off fireworks and have bonfires to mark the foiled Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Some of these events are free to attend – especially if your building has a great view - and are the best way to celebrate autumn with friends. Here’s a list of Bonfire events happening in iQ Cities:  

• Battersea Park Fireworks, London. - held across November 1st and 2nd, these fireworks are only 20 minutes from iQ Vega (and you might be able to see them from the sky lounge!)
• Abbey Park, Leicester. - a 30 minute bus from iQ Opal Court, Abbey Park fireworks on November 8th has live music and a funfair, as well as fireworks!
• Cinema in the Sky, Nottingham. - on Saturday, November 2nd, check out the Nottingham Racecourse, as it lights up the sky with characters from your fave movies. The best part? It’s an 18 minute bus ride from iQ Exchange.
• Gateshead Stadium, Newcastle. -  a 25 minute ride away from iQ Collingwood, this firework display will have ultimate cosy autumn vibes!
• Plymouth Hoe Fireworks, Plymouth. - these fireworks are just a 7 minute walk from iQ Astor House, making them the perfect evening event on November 5th!
• Bonfire Night at Victoria Park, Bristol. - only a 15 minute bus from iQ Water Lane, this Bonfire Night celebration won't have fireworks, but their bonfire will be huge, and there will be food and drink stalls too.
• Fireworks on The Rec, Bath. - a 30 minute bus from iQ Twerton Mill, these Bath fireworks are donating all the proceeds to charity! 

Get cosy at home 

If you’re more of a ‘hide from the rain and wind’ person than someone spending their walk home from class crunching through leaves, why not find a new video game obsession? Cosy gaming is so in season and can be the perfect way to get away from work and escape into a different world. iQ's GamersClub is the best place to meet other gamers staying at iQ locations, as well as to win free video games and get recommendations for games we’re obsessed with right now. Plus, we have a Discord chat so you can meet new friends to game with!  

Autumn events at your site 

If you're too cosy to go out, your iQ team will be holding events to help you embrace autumn and get to know new people. So far this month, we’ve had Diwali celebrations, BBQs, candyfloss parties and more. You can find specific events by checking out your site noticeboard, using the iQ app. And don’t forget to follow us on social @iQstudents to see more of what’s happening across the country.