The best things to do in Somerset allow you to experience the finest of the English countryside at your own pace. It is a rural county in South West England with lots of unspoiled spaces, beautiful buildings, and history. To the north, it borders Gloucestershire and Bristol, Wiltshire to the east, and Dorset and Devon to the south.

Pay a visit and get your fill of limestone caves, gorges, and sweeping landscapes and fields. Take this beautiful chance to get away from the bustle of it all.

So, here’s our 13 Best Things to Do in Somerset [England]

Landmarks

1. Glastonbury Tor

It does not take much to understand why the tor has inspired incredible myths. It is a looming landmark crowned by the medieval St. Michael ruins. There is no mistaking it – it is visible for miles around, which places it on any list of the best things to do in Somerset. One lore identifies it as the home of Arawn or Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the underworld, while another more famous Celtic legend weaves Glastonbury Tor with the mythic Isle of Avalon. King Arthur, anyone?

Price: Free
Hours: Open access
Location: Glastonbury in Somerset, England

2. Wells Cathedral

This enormous Gothic cathedral is the centre of a series of impressive ecclesiastical buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a masterpiece of several Gothic styles including hundreds of carved figures and scissor arches. Among the numerous highlights is the West Front, the mechanical clock which is the second-oldest in England, the Lady Chapel, the fan-vaulted Chapter House, and the ancient chained library.

Price: lb6 for adults and lb3 for children
Hours: 7 AM to 7 PM from April to September; 7 AM to 6 pm from October to March
Location: Cathedral Green, Wells, England

Outdoors

3. Chalice Well & Gardens

Since the day of the Celts, this spot has been a popular pilgrimage site. The 800-year-old well is known as the Red Spring or Blood Spring for its iron-red water believed to have healing properties.

Price: lb4.20 for adults and lb2.10 for children
Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 4.30 PM
Location: Chalice Well Trust, 85-89 Chilkwell St, Glastonbury BA6 8DD, United Kingdom

4. Cheddar Gorge

No list of the top things to do in Somerset is complete without mentioning Cheddar Gorge. The towering limestone cliffs, deep natural canyons, and subterranean caves make it a premier attraction in the area. Glacial meltwater carved these caves, which have been inhabited since the last ice age.

Price: lb20 for adults and lb14 for children
Hours: 10.30 AM to 5.30 PM
Location: 20 miles northwest of Wells on the A371

5. Ham Hill

Expect captivating views from this 390-acre country park and geological site, which is also the highest point in Somerset.

Price: Free
Hours: Open access
Location: 7 miles west of Yeovil off the A303 near Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England

Restaurants

6. The Rainbows End Cafe

Homemade, award-winning cakes put The Rainbows End Cafe on the map. But more than the bespoke cakes, this utterly charming wholefood cafe is making bigger waves for their vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian offerings. Hearty and healthy servings of veggie chilli, moussaka, and quiche will steal your heart, making a visit to this cheerful place one of the best things to do in Somerset for your tummy.

Price: Daily specials cost lb6.75 to lb8.95; Celebration cake starts at lb85
Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM
Location: 17B High Street, Town Centre, Glastonbury BA6 9DP, United Kingdom

7. Goodfellows Cafe & Seafood Restaurant

Steps from the famous Gothic cathedral, Goodfellows serves something good to everybody. Homemade pastries and light lunches abound in the continental cafe while the seafood bistro comes alive with a good seafood tasting menu and evening fine dining. The food is fish-centric, mostly modern Mediterranean, crafted from fresh local produce.

Price: Mains costs lb11 to lb24
Hours: Open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM; 6 PM to 9.30 PM every Wednesday to Saturday
Location: 5-5B Sadler St, City Centre, Wells BA5 2RR, United Kingdom

8. The Hood Arms

If you are walking around the fossil beaches of Somerset, be sure to drop by this 17th-century coaching inn in Kilve. Here, you will find one of the best food pubs in Quantock, along with displays stepped in local history and artifacts. Specials include Exmoor trout, venison casserole, and saltmarsh lamb.

Location: Kilve TA5 1EA, United Kingdom

Historic Buildings

9. Montacute House

Fans of the show Henry VIII know the Montacute House as the Greenwich Palace from the BBC adaptation of the novel Wolf Hall. But this late Elizabethan mansion with a nice garden has been charming people since the 1590s – no doubt it is one of the best things to do in Somerset. The finest 16th and 17th-century interiors in England can be found here, as well as plenty of Elizabethan portraits.

Price: lb11.40 for adults and lb5.70
Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM
Location: Middle St, South Somerset, Montacute TA15 6XP, United Kingdom

10. Coleridge Cottage

The atmosphere of Coleridge Cottage inspires you to look over your shoulder and believe that the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge will just pop in after a casual stroll outside. This 17th-century cottage has been so well-maintained that it is such a treat to explore.

Price: lb5.80 for adults and lb2.90 for children
Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM every Thursday to Monday
Location: 35 Lime St, Nether Stowey, Quantocks, England

Museums

11. Lake Village Museum

Instead of the usual exhibits, the Lake Village Museum features a prehistoric bog village in six clusters. The houses are made of reeds, hazel, and willow. A visit is really one of the most interesting things to do in Somerset.

Price: lb3.50 for adults and lb2 for children
Hours: 10 AM to 3 PM Monday to Saturday
Location: The Tribunal, 9 High St., Glastonbury, England

12. Haynes Motor Museum

Meet fellow car lovers inside this museum that features a 400-strong car collection, from the popular Aston Martins to the odd Sinclair C5.

Price: lb14 for adults and lb8 for children
Hours: Open daily from 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM
Location: Sparkford, Yeovil BA22 7LH, United Kingdom

13. Wells Museum

The bones of the infamous Wookey Hole Witch rest here, along with exhibits on local life, cathedral architecture, and choice archaeological finds, including a 2-m skeleton of an ichthyosaur.

Price: lb3 for adults and lb1 for children
Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM
Location: 8 Cathedral Green, Wells, England

Find accommodation in Somerset, England

Recommended Accommodation in Somerset

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