This is a sum up of every previous answers plus an additional solution using HTTP Refresh Header via .htaccess

1. HTTP Refresh Header

First of all, you can use .htaccess to set a refresh header like this

Header set Refresh "3"

This is the “static” equivalent of using the header() function in PHP

header("refresh: 3;");

Note that this solution is not supported by every browser.

2. JavaScript

With an alternate URL:

<script>
    setTimeout(function(){location.href="http://example.com/alternate_url.html"} , 3000);
</script>

Without an alternate URL:

<script>
    setTimeout("location.reload(true);",timeoutPeriod);
</script>

Via jQuery:

<script>
    window.location.reload(true);
</script>

3. Meta Refresh

You can use meta refresh when dependencies on JavaScript and redirect headers are unwanted

With an alternate URL:

<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="3; url=http://example.com/alternate_url.html">

Without an alternate URL:

<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="3">

Using <noscript>:

<noscript>
    <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="3" />
</noscript>

Optionally

As recommended by Billy Moon, you can provide a refresh link in case something goes wrong:

If you are not redirected automatically: <a href="http://example.com/alternat_url.html">Click here</a>

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