When autumn arrives with its crisp air and golden leaves, some British cities simply shine brighter than others. Experts have found which locations offer the most comfort during the cooler months, and it's Chichester that's claimed the crown.
The West Sussex city topped the rankings after researchers examined factors that make a place perfect for autumn enjoyment.
Experts at Betway looked at independent bookshops, cafes, parks and nature spots, museums, and even how much rain falls during the season - all calculated per 10,000 residents.
It turns out Chichester's winning formula includes six independent bookshops and an impressive 67 coffee shops. That's quite the achievement for a city with just over 30,000 residents. It was described as having a "rich array of culture" and "incredible" views - "it never looks more beautiful than in autumn".
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Chichester was voted the cosiest place for a staycation
|DISCOVER SUSSEX
Brighton secured second place, while Wells - officially England's smallest city - took third position in the cosiness rankings.
Brighton's appeal lies partly in its impressive autumn rainfall - at 308mm, it recorded the highest levels among all cities studied. The experts noted: "Nothing beats the sound of rainfall as you cosy up with a book or watch the world go by from a cosy cafe window."
The seaside city boasts 267 cafes, 56 museums and 23 parks, making it ideal for those seeking shelter from autumn showers or scenic walks along the windswept beachfront.
Wells punches well above its weight despite having just 11,000 residents. The Somerset city offers eight parks and nature areas - that's seven per 10,000 people. By comparison, nearby Salisbury has four times the population but only five green spaces.
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With its cathedral, Bishop's Palace and medieval architecture, Wells creates a picture-perfect autumn scene.
Britain's cosiest autumn cities (cosiness score)
- Chichester (8.12)
- Brighton (6.78)
- Wells (6.75)
- Bath (6.04)
- Inverness (6.01)
- Canterbury (5.52)
- Ely (4.84)
- Chester (4.58)
- York (4.49)
- Winchester (4.36)
The scores reflect how each city performed across all the cosiness factors. The experts calculated these by looking at facilities per 10,000 residents, ensuring fair comparison between larger cities and smaller ones.
Brighton's appeal lies partly in its impressive autumn rainfall - at 308mm, it recorded the highest levels among all cities
| GETTYBath claimed the museum crown with 46 venues across the city - that's 4.85 per 10,000 people. Meanwhile, Inverness flew the flag for Scotland as the only Scottish city to make the top 10.
Canterbury offers seven independent bookshops and 90 cafes, though it receives just 197mm of autumn rain - among the lowest recorded.
The experts said: "Autumn lends an extra dash of romance to the delightful cobblestone streets of Canterbury, creating a quintessentially British scene straight out of a Richard Curtis movie that pushes it into sixth place on the list."
Ely might have barely 19,000 residents, but the Cambridgeshire city holds its own with nine museums. The nearby Fens burst with colour during September and October, while Jubilee Gardens provides river views.
Chester's 127 cafes nestle beneath Tudor-style architecture, alongside five bookshops and 19 museums. York follows with 246 cafes and 51 museums, including the York Castle Museum's Victorian street recreation.
Winchester completes the list with four bookshops and 41 cafes - perfect refuges from its 216mm of autumn rainfall.
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