As the days are getting colder, wanting to spend your days at the beach might not seem as appealing, even if the UK has several gorgeous seaside towns to explore.
For many, the first day of September marks the beginning of autumn, which means that ice creams in the sun might turn into a cup of tea in front of an open fire, listening to the rain hit the window outside.
Autumn also makes for a great opportunity to explore different British town and villages, as the change in weather will make them feel even more magical – sometimes even literally.
Leila Dean, from Manchester, took to social media to document her stay in Burley, a small village in the New Forest in Hampshire. In her video, she shared snippets of her stayed, as she named it the ‘perfect’ English village.
“I ended up in a village called Burley and it has to be one of the best places I’ve ever visited in the UK,” she said at the start of her clip.
“It’s situated in the New Forest, and it’s known to have horses everywhere,” she said as she showed horses walking around freely on the streets.
She went on to share snippets of her chosen accommodation, having opted to book a room in a nearby manor house that had big areas of nature to explore.
“And in the town, it is full of horses, lovely people, and witchcraft,” she explained.
In the 1950s, a Scottish woman named Sybil Leek lived in Burley. She soon became known as the ‘witch of Burley’, as she was a self-proclaimed white witch. She became Britain’s most famous witch after the decriminalisation of witchcraft in 1951. She opened her own occult shop in the village, called A Coven of Witches, which is still in operation today and sells witchcraft-related items.
While Sybil ended up moving to America due to locals discomfort of her presence, Burley has maintained its connection to witchcraft, and the shops and attractions reflect this quirky history, drawing visitors interested in its magical heritage, according to the New Forest’s website. Doesn’t it just sound like the perfect place to visit for Halloween?
Leila was then seen petting a horse, saying all the horses were friendly as they just grazed around the village, looking for the best patch of grass for their next snack.
She went on to share the activities she’d taken part in, which included visiting the local shops, including the famous fudge shop, before renting bikes to explore the surrounding nature.
“And honestly, it was such a wholesome day,” she said. She went on to write in the caption of the video: “Burley you have my heart. The best place for couples, besties or children! Bike rides, horse rides and so much more.”
Leila went on to share a second video of their adventure from their second day in the village, which included taking a walk with a group of alpacas, before going to a farm where you can pick your own flowers and berries.
“I literally cannot recommend this place enough,” she said at the end of the video.
