Hebden Bridge, a market town just over the Greater Manchester border in Yorkshire, has been ranked fourth in a study of the UK's best-value autumn getaways. The study, conducted by credit card experts Zable, scored destinations based on factors including average hotel price, autumn rainfall, top-ranked attractions, attraction costs and Instagram posts.
How Hebden Bridge scored
The town achieved a score of 7.65 out of ten, helped by its high number of Instagram posts (22,777,000 - the third-highest in the study) and the percentage of its top-rated attractions (64). Located in the Calder Valley and only a 40-minute train ride from Manchester, Hebden Bridge is described as perfect for autumn visits thanks to its scenery, cosy pubs and canal walks.
The town features old mill buildings, scenic town squares and quaint bridges crossing its waterways. During the day its shops and cafes are busy, while at night its pubs come into their own. Autumn walkers can follow the towpath beside the canal or head to nearby Hardcastle Crags, a wooded valley owned by the National Trust that is free to visit.
Top ten best-value autumn staycations
Fowey in Cornwall topped the list with a score of 7.94, followed by Cambridge (7.85) and Padstow (7.85). Hebden Bridge came fourth, with Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales, rounding off the top five with a score of 7.51. Another Yorkshire town, Knaresborough, also made the top ten, known for its viaduct and hilltop castle.
The full top ten best-value autumn staycations are: Fowey, Cambridge, Padstow, Hebden Bridge, Hay-on-Wye, Ledbury, Rye, Penzance, Tregaron and Knaresborough.
