Somerset Attractions

Somerset offers visitors a choice of local attractions in the county, visitors can see a range of interesting and charming places to discover. Somerset is sometimes viewed as one of England’s quieter and more rural counties making it ideal for those that want to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing break away from the crowds. The county includes a number of historic houses and buildings, world heritage sites, scenic beaches and coastline, gardens and parks, galleries, theatre, concerts and events. Somerset’s location in south west England means the tranquil English countryside and the great outdoors are all within reach located close to local towns and villages with a range of things to see and do in the county.

We have outlined a number of interesting attractions and places to visit for visitors to Somerset, these include:

The most famous attraction in Bath are the Roman Baths, part of the 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.

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.

Historic Glastonbury Abbey is set in 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 towns and cites. 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.

Cheddar Caves & Gorge is a popular tourist attraction, visitors can see some outstanding natural beauty to 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 way-marked circular route where you can explore the estate.

Montacute House is a stunning Tudor mansion that currently houses period paintings from the National Portrait Gallery. The historic house is located in the Somerset village of Montacute, a few miles from Yeovil in scenic parkland. The house dates back to the late 16th century and is regarded as a prime example of Elizabethan renaissance architecture and is a Grade I listed building. Highlights inside the house include the long gallery, tapestries and impressive glass windows on the east front. The gardens date back to Elizabethan times and have undergone changes during the 18th and 19th centuries and include a range of trees, flowers, plants and borders. The Courtyard Café offers a choice of hot and cold food and drinks.

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 for visitors, 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, as 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.

The Quintock Hills are An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and among the most scenic parts of the UK. Located close to Exmoor and a few miles from the town of Bridgwater; the area is devoid of major 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.

Arts and culture enthusiasts are catered for at the Brewhouse Theatre and 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.

It is recommended that prior to visiting Somerset; visitors do their research and ensure any sights and attractions they plan on visiting are actually open on the days you intend on coming. The transport is also worth checking as maintenance and engineering works can mean a restricted service on public transport and the road network.

Somerset is a county that offers visitors with a mix of towns, historic market villages and seaside resorts including a number of picturesque locations in the rural Somerset countryside. The city of Bath along with Taunton offer an ideal place from which to explore the county, local attractions and charming market towns and villages ensuring visitors can enjoy both the urban and rural when visiting the county.

The county includes a number of well known attractions including the city attractions in the World Heritage City of Bath, Glastonbury Festival and Abbey and Exmoor National Park. Somerset’s attractions ensure visitors can enjoy a short break, weekend away or a longer stay here.




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