//
County in South West England
Photo: Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Somerset is a predominantly rural county in the West Country in England. The county is home to the Glastonbury Festival, one of the UK's major music festivals.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
the larger of which is the 2nd biggest in Britain
Somerset hosts numerous RSPB and WWT nature reserves, and the wetlands of the Levels are a true avian hotspot, with literally millions of starlings coming to roost in one of England's most dramatic natural displays.
As well as the easily tourist-accessible show caves listed under "See", the Mendips is riddled with more challenging and complex caves available to experienced cavers. Paid guided expeditions are available for the brave but inexperienced.
One of the largest and most famous festivals of performing arts in the world.
Offers three days of folk music on the Mendip plateau.
Somerset County Cricket Club play at County Ground in Taunton.
A 9-mile walking and cycling route along a disused railway trackbed. It heads north from Cheddar to Axbridge, Sandford and Yatton.
In the summer, local strawberries with Somerset clotted cream.
Don't miss the authentic locally-made Cheddar cheese, which is a world apart from the generic factory cheese often sold under the cheddar name.
Meat or a meaty fish cooked in cider with potatoes, onions and mushrooms.
There are plenty of opportunities to sample this fine west country drink whilst in Somerset. There are plenty of small farms that will sell you Scrumpy cider, and most pubs also serve proper farmhouse cider, especially out in the countryside. Some of it can be very strong so watch out! A good place to purchase is Sheppy's Cider Farm just outside Taunton.
The best way to get around Somerset is probably by car - while certain major towns and cities are served by rail, many popular tourist destinations, such as Clevedon, have no station, or, like Minehead, are served only…
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bristol · International · BRS
Loading places around the airport…
Roman and Georgian spa town with Roman baths and Georgian architecture; the entire city is a .
England's smallest city.
Bristol is a city in the West Country of England. Famous for its maritime history it also offers a great and diverse range of attractions, hotels, bars and events.
the county town
Bridgwater is a town in Somerset. Notable buildings include the Church of St Mary and Blake Museum, which is a largely restored house in Blake Street and was the birthplace of Admiral Blake in 1598.
Chard is a town of 14,000 people (2021) in Somerset. The town has a very unusual feature, a stream running along either side of Fore Street.
seaside resort with pier
a town known for its Tor and New Age associations, plus its nearby music festival
Ilminster is a town of 5,800 people (2011) in Somerset. The town has the buildings of a 16th-century grammar school, the Ilminster Meeting House, which acts as the town's art gallery and concert hall.
small town in the heart of the Levels
Minehead is a coastal town in northern Somerset, England.
Portishead is a large port town in Somerset with a population of about 25,000 (2018). Historically a fishing port, it underwent rapid expansion during the 19th century when it became a hub for chemical industry.
Shepton Mallet is a historic market town (population 11,000 8n 2011) in the English West Country county of Somerset.
Watchet is a harbour town in Somerset. It is also a popular holiday destination and is a stop on the West Somerset Railway.
traditional seaside resort
Wincanton is a town of 5,300 people (2011) in Somerset. Midway between Alfred's Tower and Glastonbury Tor.
Yeovil is a town in Somerset. The helicopter manufacturer AugustaWestland is the major local industry.
Abbots Leigh is a small village just outside of Bristol along the A369 towards the M5 motorway.
Cheddar is a large village, with the largest gorge and caves in Britain. It has a population of around 5,800 (2011).
Long Ashton is a dormitory town 5 km south west of Bristol in Somerset, England. It is known for its bio science research centre Fenswood Farm, known by the locals as The Farm.
Porlock is a coastal village in Somerset in Exmoor National Park with a population of 1,440 in 2011. Following West End Lane takes you to West Porlock and then Porlock Weir with its harbour.
Exmoor National Park is situated in the south west of the United Kingdom. It spreads across the north coast of Devon and west Somerset and was one of Britain's first national parks.
a range of limestone hills in northern Somerset designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
one of the UK's first national parks, it is composed mostly of open heath and moorland
Articles and travel topics about Somerset (England) and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsCut London travel costs with contactless transit capping, avoid airport rail traps, and explore renowned national museums completely free of charge.
6 min read
Nature & adventureMaster driving single-track roads in the Scottish Highlands and Skye. Navigate passing places, explore Glencoe and the Quiraing, and manage summer midges.
6 min read
ItinerariesLeave London behind on easy direct train day trips. Discover Roman baths in Bath, honey-stone colleges in Oxford, and the royal castle in Windsor.
6 min read
InspirationFive small towns where you can unpack for a few days, walk everywhere, and hear yourself think, all reachable without a car.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.