Taunton, the county town of Somerset, offers a blend of historic charm and modern convenience. With a millennium of history, visitors can explore Taunton Castle, now housing the Museum of Somerset, and the newly elevated Taunton Minster. The town serves as a strategic base for exploring the West Country, featuring key landmarks like Musgrove Park Hospital, the Somerset County Cricket Club ground, and the UK Hydrographic Office. Vivary Park hosts the renowned Taunton Flower Show annually. Its compact center and excellent rail links make it an ideal stopover or extended stay destination for travelers seeking culture, history, and tranquility away from larger metropolitan hubs.
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Stay in the town center near Taunton Castle and St Mary Magdalene Church. This area provides easy walking access to major historical sites, dining options, and shops, placing you at the heart of the city's cultural and commercial activity.
Taunton is well-connected by rail to Bristol and London Paddington. The town center is compact and walkable. Historical remnants of the Grand Western Canal and Bristol and Exeter Railway add unique character to the urban landscape, enhancing the visitor experience.
Visit year-round, but spring to autumn offers mild weather ideal for outdoor exploration. The Taunton Flower Show in March is a major spring highlight. Summer is also excellent for attending cricket matches at the Somerset County Cricket Club ground.
fortified castle in Somerset, England, UK
church in Taunton, UK
building in Taunton, England
range of hills west of Bridgwater in Somerset, England
Hill range and National Landscape region in Devon and Somerset, England, UK
Grade II* listed building in Cheddon Fitzpaine, Somerset, England, UK
World War II defensive line in south west England
triangular obelisk on a point of the Blackdown Hills, Somerset, England, UK
museum in Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom
village in Somerset, England, UK
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church in Broomfield, Somerset, England, UK
An experienced chef and a bright, breezy team run this welcoming little bistro. Sit in the cosy, intimate dining room or the bright conservatory with sliding glass doors and a retractable roof. Hearty, unfussy cooking mixes French-influenced dishes with updated British classics.
WebsiteDating back to the 18C, this lovely stone-built inn sits in a picture postcard village and its back garden and terrace is a real jewel. The chef-owner’s personality, his experience in previous kitchens, and his knowledge of the locale, all inform his appealing menu of modern, balanced dishes that are big on flavour and guaranteed to hit the spot. Four bedrooms occupy what was once the skittle alley.
WebsiteDespite being just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Chard, there’s a wonderfully rural feeling that accompanies a visit to this former 17C farmhouse. The inn is nestled in a lush green valley overlooking the Blackdown Hills, with its converted outbuildings turned into bedrooms. The cooking offers dashes of creativity while still delivering satisfying pub dishes like slow-roasted pork belly. They take a local, seasonal and nose-to-tail approach to their ingredients, with animals reared on site and produce grown in the kitchen garden.
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