Attractions in Somerset
Outings within 20 minutes’ drive
Wells Cathedral and The Bishops Palace are astonishing 12th Century architecture and worth exploring. The Vicars Close is the oldest intact mediaeval residential street in Europe. The cathedral has a 14th Century astronomical clock with jousting knights and the palace moat is home to swans who ring the bell for their tea. You can book a High Parts Tour which takes you right up into the roof of the cathedral, or a visit to The Chained Library for an expertly guided look at ancient books and manuscripts. Smaller children might enjoy feeding the ducks on the moat or visiting the recreation ground along from the palace.
The famous Cheddar gorge is a spectacular fissure in the Mendip Hills, and at the bottom are the equally wonderful Cheddar Caves. The souvenir shops and cafés are less worthwhile. The massive Cheddar Car Boot Sale is a fun entertainment on Sunday mornings
Wookey Hole rivals Cheddar with its cave system and underground lake. Next to the caves are lots of amusements for children, which they seem to like.
Next to the lead mines at Charterhouse is the humble little Church of St Hugh, which is open on Sundays in summer, with a stunning Arts and Crafts interior.
Glastonbury feels like stepping into another world. The area, known as the Isle of Avalon, echoes with the legends of King Arthur and the High Street appears not to have moved on very far. A climb of Glastonbury Tor is very restorative, particularly if you take the mystic waters offered at the foot of the hill. Glastonbury Abbey is a rich record of monastic life. An earthier view of life can be found at the nearby Somerset Rural Life Museum. Continuing a bit further South West is Clarks Village discount shopping centre and the Shoemakers Museum.
The Somerset Levels are a special landscape with amazing birdlife. Great for quiet walks down old drovers’ tracks or for some serious wildlife hunting. Somerset Wildlife Trust manages Westhay Moor which has its origins in the peat industry and the RSPB manages Ham Wall Nature Reserve. Guides can be booked in advance too. If you are visiting between November and February, look out for the spectacular starling murmurations - call the Starling hotline, 07866 554142, to get an update on where they are. The Avalon Marshes website gives more, including details of the prehistoric Sweet Track, the Abbots Fish House and local wildlife. Another Birders’ favourite is Chew Valley Lake.
You may like to take your children to Shepton Mallet Prison where you can have tours or arrange a sleepover! Or if the idea of a prison seems a little intimidating, there is Kilver Court Gardens a few minutes away, which also boasts an impressive cafe, plant nursery and homewares shop. A bit further on is The Royal Bath and West Showground, which, as well as the annual agricultural show, hosts antiques fairs, flea markets, car shows and music festivals. Check out what’s on.
Frome has more listed buildings than any other Somerset town, from its days as a rich wool town. It has some interesting independent shops on Catherine Hill and a monthly market of arts and crafts, the Frome Independent. Along the road, Nunney Castle is worth exploring too.
Radstock was an important part of the Somerset Coalfields and its history is recorded at the Radstock Museum, which brings to life the harsh realities of the town’s past. It is well curated to capture the imagination of young visitors too.
At Cranmore, the East Somerset Railway has a preserved station, an engine shed with locomotive repairs and steam train rides on high days and holidays.
Younger children give good reviews for Chew Valley Animal Park. Or Farringtons Farm Shop and Café is just ten minutes by car and has a Playbarn for rainy days.
Yeo Valley Organic Garden was conceived by Sarah Mead and is a delight for plantsmen and landscapers (seasonal). Yes, the yoghurt Yeo Valley.
Milton Lodge, on the southern slope of the Mendip ridge, has beautiful gardens overlooking Wells. It is one of a number of Somerset gardens that open under the National Gardens Scheme.
Outings within 40 minutes’ drive
The World Heritage City of Bath has lots to see – the architecture of The Royal Cresent, The Circus and Great Pulteney Street, the Roman Baths, with hot springs from under the Mendip Hills, Thermae Bath Spa, Bath Abbey, museums and galleries, shopping and restaurants. Bath can get very busy, so choose off-peak times. There is a Park-and-Ride on the edge of the city if you are going at a busy time. Bath Guides will take you on a free walking tour. The Museum of Bath at Work is off the busiest tracks and offers an interesting insight. On the skyline above Bath is the American Museum, with stories of early settlers, folk-art and textiles, set in a magnificent house and grounds.
Bristol
Bristol, sitting astride the River Avon, gained a reputation as a merchant city. Tobacco and sugar were important commodities, with all that went with those trades. Brunel left his mark with Temple Meads Station, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain. The city’s industrial past can be further explored at the M Shed, on the vibrant Wapping Wharf on the harbourside. Younger visitors might find We The Curious educative and fun. Bristol is a centre for ballooning and you can book a flight over Bristol or Bath or wherever the wind takes you at Bristol Balloons or Bailey Balloons.
A trip to Longleat is an all-day outing with lots to do in addition to the renowned Safari Park.
Heading south, aeronautical and automobile enthusiasts will enjoy The Fleet Air Arm Museum and Haynes Motor Museum. Haynes also has a Karting track.
For a gentler pace, there are National Trust properties at Stourhead, Lytes Carey, Barrington Court, Montacute, Tintinhull, Tyntesfield.
Hauser and Wirth at Bruton gets a mention below for food, but the contemporary art gallery is one of a number worldwide founded by pioneers of the world of art dealing. Check for current exhibitions. Free access to the gallery and to the prairie garden by renowned designer Piet Udolf.
Somerset is not really a bucket-and-spade place, but you could head for
