Updated 2024.
Thinking of visiting Somerset, the historic land of cyder and cheese in England’s South West, a land of indescribable beauty where Romans languished in hot-spring spas and Bishops preached from the earliest Cathedrals?
One of the UK’s most beautiful counties, there are dozens of things to do and see if you’re planning a few days out in Somerset – great places to visit in the historic towns, sandy beaches to laze on, trails to tread along the stunning coastline and deep into nature parks.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Somerset or just going for a day out, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here are our top picks of the best places to visit!
Best Places to Visit on Days Out in Somerset (UK)
An ‘insider guide’ to Somerset authored by local travel expert Claire Martin.
Known as Somersetshire in the olden days, this county is located some 140 miles southeast from London (3 hours by car on the A303), and is bordered by Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Bristol. The county is largely rural, meaning that there is lots of natural beauty – including rolling hills, barren moorland, and charming seaside towns!
However, Somerset isn’t lacking in cities at all. It’s got the famous city of Bath, which has stunning Georgian architecture and a huge amount of history spanning back to Roman times, and Wells, which is England’s smallest city and the city with the oldest Cathedral! And Bristol, which isn’t technically in Somerset but it borders the northern part of the county.
If you’re looking for ideas on places to visit in the UK for a great day out, or weekend away, see our ‘Insider Guides’:
- Family Days Out in London
- Days Out in Kent
- Visiting the Sights of Wiltshire
- 2-Day Trip to Cambridge
- 2 Days in The Peak District
- Aberfeldy in the Scottish Highlands
A Day Out in Bath
Bath is probably the most visited destination in Somerset, and for good reason. It is most famous for its Roman Baths which were built by the Romans when they discovered hot springs there.
After Roman times, Bath was often at the epicentre of medieval history – the first King of all of England was crowned on the site where the Abbey now stands. It also had a heyday in the Georgian period, so make sure that you don’t miss the beautiful crescent houses while you’re in the city. In fact, the Abbey Cathedral and the Royal Crescent top the list of free things to see in Bath).
An ideal weekend in Bath includes all of the historical attractions, but also leaves plenty of time for pampering. You can do that at the Thermae Bath Spa, which runs off Bath’s hot spring waters. After soaking at the spa, enjoy the city’s diverse restaurant scene, including cream teas at the Pump Room and vegetarian fine dining at the Oak Restaurant.
Everyone should see Bath at least once in their lifetime, it’s one of England’s famous World Heritage sites! If you’re coming from overseas to tour the UK, it’s an easy destination to fit into your itinerary (after spending 2 days in London, for example).
The Mendips
The Mendips are a set of rolling hills just to the south of Bristol. At only seven miles from the city’s southern boundary, they are an ideal day trip from Bristol. There are loads of hikes that you can do in the area; one of my favourites is Black Down, which is the highest point in the Mendips, and from here you can see an epic view of the Somerset coastline.
Another Mendip hike that I love is Three Priddy Droves. This takes you around three droves, which are historic roads. There are lots of wildlife spotting opportunities en route, and it’s a lovely quiet circular walk.
If you’ve got a bit more time on your hands, you could do the Mendip Way. This is an 80-kilometre walk that stretches from Weston-super-Mare to Frome, and goes through various notable towns like Cheddar and the city of Wells. You’ll see the best of the Mendips this way, but the hike will take at least three days. There is camping and accommodation available en route.
Visit Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar is technically in the Mendips Region, but it deserves a spot of its own on this list. This is one of the best places to visit in Somerset because of its natural beauty, and also due to its historic significance. Cheddar Gorge is the deepest and largest gorge in the UK. It’s pretty mesmerising – you can either drive or walk through the gorge, or hike around the top.
There are also caves around the town. Some of these are currently closed, but they will hopefully reopen in the future. It is here where Cheddar Man, the ancient remains of a Mesolithic skeleton (dating back around 10,000 years) was found. It was the oldest prehistoric skeleton to be found in the UK. You can learn all about this at Cheddar’s museum of prehistory.
And, of course, you can’t visit Cheddar without trying some cheese! It’s famous for – you guessed it – cheddar cheese, and there are a few shops in town where you can try the authentic stuff, as well as some varieties with different flavours.
Ashton Court and the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Most of Bristol isn’t technically in Somerset. The city is in a county of its own (historically called ‘Avon’ but now just ‘Bristol’) and sits between South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. However, there are parts of the city that are very much within Somerset’s boundaries – in particular Ashton Court, which is a popular recreation space for people living in the city.
Ashton Court is a historic property with 850 acres of grassland and woodland. The house itself isn’t open to the public but there is a cafe and beautiful gardens, and a deer park in the grounds.
Near Ashton Court is the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in Victorian times and crosses the deepest part of the Avon Gorge. There are stunning views over the gorge and towards the city from the bridge; you can walk over from the North Somerset side to Clifton to enjoy them!
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a popular seaside town. It’s not as beautiful as the many beaches in Devon and Cornwall, but it does have lots of accommodation options and is particularly great for family holidays, with lots of kid-friendly attractions. There’s also the famous Grand Pier, which has indoor rides, plenty of food stalls and games, and lots of fish and chip shops. As far as Great British seaside breaks go, it’s a pretty fun place!
Wells City and Cathedral
Wells is the smallest city in England, but its size certainly doesn’t take away from its beauty. The city is landmarked by an incredible Cathedral – the first one in England that was built in Gothic style. It has a long history spanning back to the 12th century when its construction began. Nowadays, you can admire the exterior and enter inside, exploring the magnificent unique features around the Cathedral.
Close by, there’s also Vicar’s Close. This street dates back from around the 14th century and is considered the oldest purely residential street in Europe. It is usually lined with cars nowadays, but it’s still a great photo opportunity!
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury sits a few miles from Wells. It’s most famous for its festival, which is the biggest in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. However, there’s plenty to see and do in Glastonbury outside of festival season.
First, hike up to the top of Glastonbury Tor. This tor has connections with both the Druids and Arthurian mythology. Fill up your water bottle at Chalice Well, which is just below the tor and serves healing water. In the town, there are the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and a few quirky shops that offer everything from tarot card readings to potion ingredients.
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet is a small market town in Somerset. There’s not a huge amount to do here, but it’s worth visiting to tour the Shepton Mallet Prison. This is no longer a working prison (it stopped operating in 2011), but the tours are a really eye opening way to learn more about the UK’s penal system, both past and present.
Somerton (the origin of Somerset)
Somerton is a fascinating town that not many tourists visit. It was the county town in the 14th century – and the entire county is now called ‘Somerset’ because of this town! It’s a small place which you can explore in an hour or two. Somerton’s main appeal is its fascinating historic buildings – just walking around the streets will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time!
However, many of these beautiful buildings have history, so I’d recommend following this free self-guided walking tour as you explore.
The Quantocks Hills
The Quantock Hills are a spectacular AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in Somerset – in fact, they were the first AONB in the country! The area doesn’t just have hills – you’ll also be able to enjoy ancient coastline, moorland, woodland and charming villages.
If you’re into long distance hiking, the 51 mile Coleridge Way follows the footsteps of some of Samuel Coleridge’s favourite places in the Quantocks and Exmoor. He was a romantic poet who loved to write about beautiful places – and the Quantocks got his seal of approval.
There are plenty of short walks available too. Two of the most popular are walking around Klive Beach, which is the Jurassic Coast of Somerset, and Staple Plain and Beacon Hill – from the top of Beacon Hill, you can see Weston-super-Mare, over to Wales, and down into Exmoor.
Minehead
Minehead is a tourist town on the Bristol Channel that’s perfect for family holidays – it has a large expansive beach and a busy harbour, as well as plenty of attractions suitable for people of all ages! Most famous is perhaps the West Somerset Railway, a steam train that starts in Bishops Lydeard and travels around the Quantocks, Exmoor and past Dunster Castle before terminating in Minehead.
Minehead is also the official start of the South West Coast Path, a 630-mile trail that spans from here, through Devon and around the Cornish coast before re-entering Devon and terminating in Dorset.
Exmoor National Park
Exmoor is a spectacular national park that straddles both Somerset and Devon. It encompasses both moorland and a majestic coastline, terminating in the dramatic cliffs of the Valley of the Rocks (which is over the border in Devon).
There are a several places of interest in the Somerset area of Exmoor:
- Porlock is a beautiful village with a friendly atmosphere. It’s a fun place to hang out in for a day or two, and you can also hike to Porlock Weir, which offers some lovely coastal scenery.
- Dunster is another historic village, famous for Dunster Castle.
- Dunkery Beacon is the highest point of Somerset – it is located inland, but has epic views of Exmoor’s coastline from the top!
You can also hike this part of the South West Coast Path, which spans along Exmoor’s coastline.
Yeovil
Yeovil is a country town in the east of Somerset, not too far from its border with Dorset. The Yeovil Railway Centre is worth visiting, especially if you have kids in tow as it does short train rides. There’s also the Yeovil Country Park, which is a lovely place near the town for a short stroll and to enjoy some nature.
However, Yeovil’s most famous attraction is perhaps the Elizabethan mansion Montacute House. Built in Renaissance style, this is one of the most spectacular manor houses in Somerset and all of England. You can visit the house and learn about its fascinating history, as well as learn new facts about the era in general, and also visit its expansive gardens and grounds.
Taunton
Taunton is Somerset’s county town, and although there aren’t a huge amount of attractions here, it’s still worth visiting for half a day or so! The most notable attraction is Taunton Castle which is home to the remarkable Museum of Somerset. There’s also the historic town centre with a few points of interest – you can follow the Taunton Heritage Trail which will detail these attractions to you.
Also, you can hike the 13 mile Taunton to Bridgwater Canal, which is regarded as one of the best hikes in lowland Somerset. As you follow the trail, you’ll skirt around the edge of the beautiful Quantocks and also be able to look out for local wildlife.
Why Visit Somerset
Somerset is a wonderful county with a beautiful coastline, and lovely beaches. It’s mostly rural, which means that there are so many ideal spots for a peaceful seaside or country break. That said, there are also two historic cities and countless charismatic towns – so if you enjoy culture and history, there’s plenty to explore here too! Whatever your travel preferences, there’s no doubt that you’ll find something to adore in Somerset.
Claire Martin is a South West England travel expert. She has lived in Bristol, Bath and Exmouth in Devon, and has travelled all over the West Country.
She shares her local tips on her blog Go South West England.
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