Taunton

Taunton is a bustling market town nestling on the river Tone which is situated in the spectacular valley of Taunton Deane between the Quantock and Blackdown Hills. It is the county town of Somerset and the home of the famous cider makers! This traditional market town combines the remnants of its dramatic past with the buzz of a modern town, which has many fine architectural features and has an extensive shopping mix that makes a great day out for visitors. It has a turbulent past and featured in many a bloody uprising, the most famous being the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, which ended in Judge Jeffery’s infamous 'Bloody Assize' which was held in the great hall of the castle.

Overshadowing all is the parish church of St Mary Magdalene with its superbly decorated tower, which is the highest in Somerset. Visitors can naturally discover the many architectural gems it has to offer, but many more can be discovered by following the Taunton Heritage Trail, which takes walkers through attractive back streets, parks and gardens. This self-guided, circular walk illustrated by attractive brass plaques in the pavement leads visitors past some great places of interest, such as the three wooden pigs marking the area of the Old Pig Market which operated from 1614 to 1882. You'll be able to find a modern interpretation of King Arthur’s sword in the stone and a plaque at the Northern end of the High Street commemorating the declaration of the Duke of Monmouth as King in June 1685.

Travel to the sandy beaches at Minehead (dog restrictions apply) or to Burnham-on-sea (dog restrictions apply) to the South Coast of Lyme Regis or Sidmouth (some dog restrictions apply).

There is a wide range of shops, malls and stalls throughout Taunton, from big High Street names to small specialist’s retailers offering superb shopping facilities for all the family. The popular antiques market open on Mondays only has 130 stalls to browse. On the last Thursday of every month you have the rare delight of sampling and buying locally produced fresh fare directly from the surrounding farms at the farmers market held in the centre of Taunton.

With a wide range of bistros, cafes, restaurants, pubs, takeaways and sandwich bars you'll find Taunton Town Centre has a lot to offer when it comes to food and drink. All are in modern or traditional styles offering style, taste and tradition for all the family. For an alfresco meal choose from the floral parks and gardens to the banks of the River Tone.

Taunton offers first class leisure centres all with a comprehensive range of activities, swimming pool, tennis courts and golf courses. There is also a cinema and bowling complex on the edge of the town centre. For those Cricket enthusiasts, come and watch some first class cricket matches in traditional surroundings from April to September. Centrally located is the award winning floral displays and gardens of Vivary Park, with the ornate iron gates, fountain and the Victorian bandstand, which have all recently been restored to their former glory. See the park at its best when it hosts the Taunton Flower Show, the 'Chelsea of the West', in early August.

The Quantocks and Blackdown Hills are excellent for walking and a rich variety of birds make it an ideal area for bird watching. Perhaps a bike ride may be more to your liking, following one of the designated cycle routes in the Deane. There are suitable routes for everyone, from the keenest cyclist, who needs the demands posed by the Blackdown or Quantock Hills, to the leisurely cyclist who can enjoy the countryside of the Somerset Levels.

Taunton is the youngest racecourse in Britain, opening on 21st September 1927. It's enviable position in a bowl within the Blackdown Hills favours it with pleasant weather conditions which often meant that Taunton can race when other courses face abandonment.

Visit in the autumn and enjoy one of the oldest and largest fairs in the county. The Bridgewater Fair takes place at the end of September and the first Friday in November is the famous Bridgewater carnival.