November is the greatest month to escape Britain – here's where to go
November might just be the perfect time to escape Britain. The days are short, the weather often woeful, leaving many of us stuck in a gloom that lingers until Christmas. So get away for a few days and recharge the batteries.
Few people do so in the run-up to the festive season, meaning prices are usually low and sights less crowded. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Cologne – for an early slice of Christmas
Cologne holds probably the best of Europe’s Christmas markets. It has seven markets, which begin opening on Nov 26 and run until Dec 23. One of the best is held in the square by the cathedral, and there is a “rustic” one in the Old Town. And you don’t have to fly there. Eurostar connections from London via Brussels take less than four hours (eurostar.com). More details at cologne-tourism.com.
Cape Town – for wine and warmth
November is probably the most beautiful month in Cape Town, with 10 hours of sun a day and top temperatures averaging 70F (21C). And while it’s an 11 to 12-hour flight, you won’t be hit by jet lag, as the time difference is only two hours. So book a few nights in Cape Town then head to the Winelands, before catching spring at its best on the Garden Route, which starts either in Witsand or Stilbaai. Read our complete guide here.
The Canary Islands – for bargain winter sun
Late November and early December are the best times of year to get a bargain fix of winter sun. These are very quiet weeks for bookings, and tour operators will be falling over themselves to offer you a good deal.
And you don’t necessarily need a long-haul flight. It’s just over four hours to the Canary Islands, where you can expect temperatures of 70F (21C), with plenty of sunshine. The islands appeal to a wide variety of travellers. Tenerifehas the big resorts and, increasingly, a good choice of smart hotels; Lanzarote has excellent beaches and some of the more attractive developments; Fuerteventura has wilder beaches and huge sand dunes; and La Gomera works for escapists and walkers.
The 15 best destinations for November sun
Val Thorens – for very early skiing
It has already started snowing in the high Alps. Keep an eye on it. If a decent base forms by early December, a quick break the week before Christmas will probably offer the best-value skiing of the season. It never sells out, so you can wait until you are sure of the snow and book late. You won’t get sunburnt, but you will find empty pistes and much lower prices. Val Thorens is the highest resort in the Three Valleys and has the best snow record. Our resort guide is here.
Lewes – for Bonfire Night
For a Bonfire Night like no other, head to the East Sussex town of Lewes on November 5. The event claims to be the only proper bonfire night celebration left in the UK and involves several individual processions, 17 burning crosses, and plenty of costumed revelry and fireworks. During the evening a number of large effigies are led through the streets before being burned on the bonfire - previous editions have seen likenesses of Osama Bin Laden, Vladimir Putin, Alex Salmond, President Bashar al-Assad, Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, Sepp Blatter, Katie Hopkins and Tony Blair. This year? The Telegraph’s columnist Boris Johnson got the nod. Sorry, Boris.
See our guide for more spectacular Bonfire Night experiences.
Ypres – to remember
This November 11 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War. Nowhere will the poignancy of the moment be more acute than at the sounding of The Last Post under the Menin Gate. That day there is a morning service in St Martin’s Cathedral, followed by the Poppy Parade to the Menin Gate Memorial with, at 11am, a special Last Post Ceremony. There will also be the usual, nightly sounding of The Last Post at 8pm. More information: www.ieper.be and www.lastpost.be. The easiest way to reach Ypres is by road via the Dover-Calais crossing (www.poferries.com), or by rail with Eurostar via Brussels (www.eurostar.com).
New York – for Thanksgiving and bargains
The annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York (November 22) is one of the biggest events in the city. There are public viewing areas at Central Park West, Columbus Circle, 6th Avenue, and 34th Street, but some of the best vantage points can be found from the comfort of your hotel room. The JW Marriott Essex House, the Mandarin Oriental, the Residence Inn, the Ritz-Carlton and the New York Hilton Midtown all overlook the route - but don't expect rates (or flights in and out of the city) to be cheap. You can make up for the expenditure the following day. Black Friday (November 23) is the US-equivalent of Boxing Day - expect massive sales at shopping outlets across New York - ideal for some early Christmas shopping.
Marrakech – for sun and shopping
Depending on your taste in temperature, you might argue that the former imperial city of Marrakech, in Morocco, is at its best in November. The raw heat of July and August (in the mid-90s, or over 34C) will by then have been replaced by a more restrained 72F (22C), making a walk around the medina – or across the central plaza, the Djemaa el-Fna – an altogether more palatable prospect. See our guide to the best hotels in Marrakech.
10 of the best cities for a warm winter break
Florida – for family fun
The nickname says it all. The “Sunshine State” basks in warmth in the 20s C throughout the year, making for a destination where life looks towards the beach. To be exact, Florida boasts 1,350 miles of coastline (more than any US state other than Alaska), with its key cities (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville) clinging to this sandy edge. Of course, the interior also pleases. Orlando and its theme parks sit at the heart of the matter.
India – for festivals and forts
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, runs this year from November 5-9, which might be a little too soon for a last-minute break. But November is a great time to visit India, anyway - the summer heat is easing, making it a better time to tour regions such as Rajasthan, with its bustling towns and forts, and also to visit beach destinations such as Goa. You can also see Pushkar at its most vibrant. The town's annual camel fair (November 12-23) combines camel races, markets for livestock, jewellery, clothes and textiles, and a general carnival atmosphere. Cox and Kings offers holidays to all parts of India.
Abu Dhabi – for the Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton may have the title sewn up, but there's still races in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi (November 23-25) to negotiate. A trip to the UAE, around seven hours from Britain by air, is perhaps the simpler option. It has excellent beaches, high-end hotels and restaurants and bills itself as a more cultured alternative to Dubai, with numerous museums - including an outlet of the Louvre. F1 fans might prefer to head for Ferrari World, of course. And in terms of temperature, November is the ideal time to visit, with the mercury simmering at a pleasant 25C. For a package including entry to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, see Gullivers Sports Travel.
