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Somerset Travel Guide explores the southern English county of Somerset, located in the West Country. The county has many aspects to it from the seaport of Bristol to the rural delights of the Somerset countryside, very much the English countryside at its best. There are some historic sites in the county along with iconic festivals such as the Glastonbury Festival.



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Somerset Guide

Overview and Attractions
Somerset Hotels
Somerset Map
Somerset Weather
Low Fare Flights



Overview and Attractions

There are interesting contrasts with the gentle, rural countryside associated with much of the county to the fun filled festival. The virtues of a relaxing quiet holiday taking it easy can be contrasted with the trills and spills of the energetic activities on offer in Exmoor National Park.

The Quantock Hills are among the most scenic parts of the UK. Located close to Exmoor, the area is devoid of majors towns and cites and there is plenty of unspoilt villages and countryside with a rural landscape to enjoy. The Quantock hills offer walkers some fantastic walks where you are likely to see some great wildlife, having a picnic is a favourite pastime here and in these ideal surroundings it is easy to see why.

Somerset has some well known stately homes such as Montacute House, a stunning Tudor mansion that currently houses period paintings from the National Portrait Gallery. Whilst Lytes Cary is a 15th century manor with a chapel that is located in rural Somerset, it offers visitors the chance to see the arts and crafts gardens and enjoy walks in a peaceful environment.

Bath is among the great tourist attractions in the UK, less crowded than most cities with its attractions conveniently concentrated in to an area that can be easily navigated around by foot, it makes for a historic, interesting visit that is full of its own unique character. Most famous for the Roman Baths, Bath has many attractions and visitors may well find they want to devote some time to exploring its attractions further.

Historic Glastonbury Abbey is set in many acres of parkland in the town of Glastonbury. There is speculation that King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are buried in the Abbey grounds. The grounds are a place for tranquillity and peace away from the hustle and bustle of other places. The Visitor's Centre contains a Museum with an interesting model of how the Abbey might have looked in 1539. There is a display of the town and a Children's Display. There is a gift shop for souvenirs as well as Fish and Duck ponds and a Picnic and Wildlife Area. Audio Tapes in several languages help visitors to navigate around the site at their own leisure. For more information please see:

Glastonbury Abbey

The most famous attraction in Bath is the Roman Baths, a World Heritage Site. The home of the UK's only hot spring, the Romans built a wonderful temple and bathing complex that still currently flows with natural hot water. Visitors can see the water's source and walk where Romans would have walked on the stone pavements. The extensive ruins and treasures from the spring have been painstakingly preserved and presented using the best of modern interpretation. There are audio guides available to enhance your understanding of the site. For more information please see:

Roman Baths

Cheddar Caves and Gorge is a popular tourist attraction and has been for many years. There is some outstanding natural beauty to enjoy here, there are cathedral-like Caves and Britain's biggest Gorge. There is also the famous Cheddar Man that is reputed to be Britain's oldest complete skeleton. Gough's cave is the largest of the showcave, with 1/4-mile of cathedral-like caverns,
carved out over a million years by Ice-Age meltwaters, leading to the Diamond Chamber and Solomon's Temple. There is a million-year-old river bed that was re-discovered by Richard Gough in back in 1890. Gorge Walk is a 3-mile waymarked circular route where you can explore the estate. For more information please see:

Cheddar Caves and Gorge

The world renowned Glastonbury Festival is held in Somerset, it is among the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. Visitors can see a huge tented city as they arrive, it has cult status particularly among the young and is almost a right of passage for some. The site itself has some distinct regions, the commercial aspects concentrate around the Pyramid, Other and Dance stages. The relaxed areas are the Jazzworld and Acoustic areas, and whilst the family oriented areas like the Kidz Field, the Theatre and Circus fields. The festival is held in a wonderful location among hundreds of acres in Vale of Avalon, an area rich in symbolism, mythology and religious traditions going back hundred of years. There are people from all walks of life that come to the festival determined to have the time of their lives, there are people young and old, from all backgrounds, nationalities and faiths and musical tastes. The atmosphere and vibe bring many people back year on year, the mellow, chilled out vibe is enjoyed by many. There is plenty of music with a huge number of bands on stage, theatre cabaret, circus and more. For more information please see:

Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts

The well known Exmoor National Park was created in back in 1954, with the aim of conserving and enhancing the wildlife, beauty and heritage of the National Park. The park aims to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public. There is much to see and enjoy here, there are some great landscapes to see, and there is plenty of tranquillity and wilderness evident here too. Wildlife fans will certainly enjoy a trip here, you can spot the wild red deer or the native Exmoor Pony among others, there are also many more to look out for in this wildlife haven. For those that like the great outdoors, there is plenty to do here, walkers have a great landscape in which to enjoy their walks, cycling is popular here too and is horse riding to name but a few. Anglers also come to the park, as do those wanting to go sailing and hand gliding, so whatever your interest or activity there is likely to be something for you to enjoy here. For more information please see:

Exmoor National Park

Arts and culture enthusiasts are catered for at the Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre. Inside there is a main auditorium, The Brewhouse Gallery and Link visual art exhibition spaces, The Studio, a flexible space for film and small performances and a Restaurant and Café Bar. There is a varied programme of events for suitable for young and old ranging from theatre to exhibitions to music to comedy to workshops and others. The centre is seen as an important meeting place for creative talents to meet and engage with each other. For more information please see:

The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre

The Two Brewers is a traditional pub located in the heart of the Somerset village of Street. This family orientated pub has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for its visitors. There are some great meals served at both lunch times and evenings, along with an extensive menu of snacks, starters and desserts. Fans of ales can enjoy the extensive menu of ales available. For more information please see:

The Two Brewers

Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury is both a Falafel Bar and an Internet cafe. Some great organic vegan and vegetarian food is served at the Falafel bar. Whilst the Internet Cafe ensures you can surf the web, check your emails and check anything you want to for a few pounds an hour. There is home made tea, as well as organic teas and coffees to try. A must for fans of organic and vegetarian food, there are many temping dishes here to try that have proved to be a hit with visitors. The Rooms are housed in historic gothic building where the original Glastonbury Festivals were staged in the early part of the 20th century. For more information please see:

Assembly Rooms Glastonbury

Accommodation in Somerset is available to suit a wide range of budgets from those on a budget to those seeking a stay in a more luxurious hotel. It is wise to do your research and ensure your hotel is actually located at a convenient location for your needs and the hotel offers the amenities you require. There are a range of fine hotels available in Somerset, for further information please see:

Selection of Somerset Hotels

For a full list of Somerset Hotels please see:

Somerset Hotels


Our concise trip around Somerset with the Somerset Travel Guide has taken us to some great attractions, the world famous Glastonbury Festival has put the county on the world map. There some great heritage sites such as the Roman Baths in Bath and Glastonbury Abbey, sure to please fans of history and culture. Exmoor National Parks gives visitors to enjoy the great outdoors and there is plenty of the gentle English countryside on offer in Somerset, it is perfect for a relaxing break. The county of Somerset is sometimes overlooked in the rush by visitors to go to the south coast, but with its own brand of attractions visitors to the county are unlikely to be disappointed.

Somerset Travel Guide

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