Region
Somerset
Base in Bath or Taunton with a car; without one, pick Bath, Wells or Weston-super-Mare and day-trip by bus.
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Key facts · United Kingdom
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP, £)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- G · 230 V
- Time zone
- GMT, BST from late March to late October
Rules in force · 13Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
- England ↗Advance single train tickets are far cheaper than walk-up fares; book 2–12 weeks ahead.
- England ↗Most local bus fares in England are capped at £3 per single journey (2025 rule; check locally).
- England ↗Contactless bank cards work on London transport and on many regional buses; no separate card needed.
- West Country ↗A UK railcard (Two Together, Family & Friends) cuts most West Country fares by a third; buy before you travel.
- West Country ↗Country lanes are single-track with high hedges; hire a small car and expect 30–40 mph averages.
Somerset is a rural county where the headline sights — Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury Tor, Exmoor, the Levels — sit in villages, not cities. Rail reaches Bath, Taunton, Yeovil and Weston-super-Mare; everything else needs a car, a bus or a long walk. Two nights in Bath plus two in Taunton or Minehead covers the county without repacking daily.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- BathCity guide
Rail from London, Roman baths, Georgian streets; gateway to the north of the county.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - Weston-super-MareCity guide
Seaside resort with rail and M5 access; cheap beds for the coast and Cheddar.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - TauntonCity guide
County town, main rail junction, base for the Quantocks and Exmoor's east side.
Best Apr–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - MineheadCity guide
Exmoor coast, West Somerset Railway terminus; quiet in winter.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- WellsCity guide
Cathedral and Bishop's Palace; half a day, plus Wookey Hole nearby.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - CheddarCity guide
Gorge and show caves; go early, parking fills by mid-morning in summer.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - YeovilCity guide
South of the county; Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton and Montacute nearby.
Best Apr–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - BridgwaterCity guide
M5 stop; EDF visitor centre for Hinkley Point tours, passport needed.
Best May–Sep, Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Bath 2 nights; Wells and Glastonbury as day-trips by bus or car
- 4 nights
- Bath 2 + Taunton or Minehead 2; Cheddar, the Quantocks and Exmoor
- 5 nights
- Bath 2 + Weston-super-Mare 1 + Minehead 2; coast, gorge and Exmoor
- Somerset Levels flood after heavy rain; minor roads close — check before driving in winter.
- Glastonbury Festival in late June books out beds and fills roads for miles; avoid unless you are going.
- Many rural buses stop by early evening and run rarely on Sundays.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | Bath | 60 min | early evening | Bus from Bath takes about an hour; last return is early evening — check the timetable. |
| Cheddar | Weston-super-Mare | 45 min | early evening | Bus or car; the gorge walk and caves need 3–4 hours. |
| Glastonbury | Taunton | 60 min | early evening | Tor climb is steep and muddy after rain; allow 90 minutes up and down. |
| Exmoor (Dunster) | Minehead | 20 min | early evening | West Somerset Railway runs Minehead to Dunster and beyond; heritage line, not mainline. |
| Bristol | Bath | 25 min | late evening | Frequent trains; a separate city guide covers it. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding in the county; travel light between bases by train or car.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | × |
| Weston-super-Mare | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Taunton | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
| Minehead | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| Wells | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Glastonbury | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Cheddar | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| Yeovil | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | × | × |
| Bridgwater | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go | ok |
| Portishead | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| West Country (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SomersetCounty-wide, mild and wet | cool | cool | ok | best | best | ok | ok | ok | best | ok | cool | cool |
- Somerset
- Rain falls year-round; May–June and September are the driest and quietest. July–August is warmest but busiest on the coast. Winter is mild, grey and short on daylight.
Pack a waterproof; the Levels and Exmoor are exposed and change fast.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Paddington | Bath Spa | Great Western Railway train | ~1 h 30 | Trains continue to Bristol and Taunton; book ahead for cheaper fares. |
| London Waterloo | Yeovil | South Western Railway train | ~2 h 30 | Slower line serving the south of the county; also Crewkerne. |
| Bristol Airport | Bath / Weston-super-Mare | Bus or car | ~40–50 min | The region's main airport; no rail link, use the A38 or the airport bus. |
| Cardiff / Manchester / the North | Bristol Temple Meads or Taunton | CrossCountry or GWR train | ~2 h from Cardiff, ~3 h 30 from Manchester | Both stations are served by long-distance trains; times vary by route. |
| By car | Bridgwater / Taunton | M5 | ~2 h 30 from London | M5 serves the north; the A303 crosses the south near Yeovil and Ilminster. |
Regional passes
Railcard (UK-wide)
checkPays off if you take several UK train trips; check eligibility and current price.
Bus day tickets (local operators)
checkUseful for a single day of village-hopping; coverage is patchy, check routes first.
National Trust membership
checkWorth it only if you plan three or more trust houses in the county.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Cheddar cheese | Cheddar and farm shops | Farmhouse cheddar differs from supermarket blocks; buy at the source. |
| Strawberries and clotted cream | County-wide in summer | A June–August treat; cream teas in village cafes. |
| Somerset casserole | Pubs county-wide | Meat or fish cooked in cider with potatoes, onions and mushrooms. |
| Farmhouse cider (scrumpy) | Pubs and cider farms, e.g. near Taunton | Often stronger than it tastes; ask for the strength. |
Go next
Bristol
plannedTrain ~15 min from Bath
Major city just north of the county.
Devon
Train or M5 west
Exmoor continues into Devon; the coast path runs on.
West Country
Region guide
Plan Somerset as part of a wider West Country trip.
United Kingdom
Country guide
Rail passes, tipping and plug facts for the whole country.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 4 bases
- Day trips
- 5, 20 min to 1 h
- Nights suggested
- 2–5 nights
- Ways in
- 5 listed
- Best months
- Apr, May, Sep
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Somerset
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