 |
Visit SomersetLong sweeping beaches and coastal resorts at Minehead, Burnham-on-Sea, |
 |
Somerset West Railway (Bishop Lydeard)Take a journey of discovery, relive your childhood, or simply sit back and relax as you travel along one of Britain's best and longest Heritage Railways. Experience the feeling of working steam locomotives as you join the team on the footplate, shovel coal into the firebox, blow the whistle, open the regulator and feel the power.
|
 |
Farmers MarketEnjoy the atmosphere of a traditional, English market at lively Farmers Market where you can buy fresh, wholesome, good quality food direct from the producer. You will find a great variety of local food including cheeses, breads, meats, fish, cakes, pies, preserves, chutneys, fruit, vegetables, cider, apple juice, potted herbs and honey. Many products are local specialities and there is a wide variety of organic food.
|
 |
The Brewhouse TheatreThe Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre operates from purpose built premises in Coal Orchard, near the centre of Taunton. The building opened in March 1977 and currently comprises a 350 seat Main House, The Brewhouse Gallery and Link visual art exhibition spaces, The Studio, an adaptable space for film and small scale performance, the Cultivate Hub, a creative making space, and a Café Bar.
|
 |
Fun FarmEvery visitor can join in with the hands on animal feeding and ask the farmer anything about the animals from breeding them, feeding them to treating them if they are poorly. In short you, you can make your visit as educational as you want! Children can play outside or inside or ride the quad bikes. |
 |
Vivary ParkVivary Park has always amazed residents no matter how long they've lived here. With little pockets of natural landscaping and vast lawns, flowers and lake it becomes a place for active children and a haven for the more mature. The park occupies the land that in medieval times was the fish farm or vivarium for the priory and castle. There are no visible remains of the lakes now but this ancient use lives on in the park's name 'Vivary'. For information on events in the park click here.
|
 |
Hestercombe GardensHestercombe is a unique collection of three gardens spanning three centuries of garden history and design. All have undergone acclaimed restoration works and today provide important examples of gardens in contrasting styles that continue to grow and develop. Hestercombe offers a great destination for an exciting short stop or a wonderful leisurely day out.
|
 |
Goodlands GardensGoodlands Gardens resides between the River Tone and Taunton Castle. It is one of many areas throughout the rivers 33 kilometres that the public and visitors can enjoy. It offers real peace and tranquillity that such important waterways provide. If you pay a visit to the Somerset County Museum at Taunton Castle ask reception for directions to Goodlands Gardens from the rear of the castle.
|
 |
Somerset Cricket MuseumSomerset's award winning cricket museum is within walking distance of the main Rail and Bus stations. |
 |
St Mary Magdalene ChurchSt Mary's church was probably established as part of the reorganisation of Taunton by Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, by 1180, and has been the town church since 1308. The church with a 163 foot tower is built of sandstone and has a painted interior. Most of the statues and stained glass date from the Victorian restoration. Within the church are a variety of memorials and tablets including War Memorials for soldiers from Somerset. |
 |
Taunton flower show - August 2010Taunton Flower Show is the premiere event of its type and has become renowned throughout the west. Held in the centre of Somerset's county town in the historic Vivary Park, the show is a traditional British flower show. |
 |
Taunton in BloomBringing life, beauty, and colour to Taunton Deane with an exciting initiative designed to make our part of Somerset a cleaner and greener place to live, work and visit with the help of the local community. It promotes involvement and action by citizens of all ages, the municipal government, local organizations and businesses. The program strives to improve the tidiness, appearance and visual appeal of Taunton's, open spaces, neighbourhoods, parks, and streets through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees. A focus on the preservation of heritage and culture is also an integral part resulting in an improved quality of life.
|
 |
Somerset Art Weeks 2010
Next year's event will feature a wide range of exhibitions and art projects. There will be venues throughout Somerset including galleries, art venues, village halls, schools, historic buildings, public spaces, hospitals, artist studios, gardens, local shops, pubs and cafes. Somerset Art Weeks 2010 will bring Art to Everyone! Dates: 18th September to 3rd October 2010.
|
 |
Museum of SomersetThe Museum of Somerset is a project being led by Somerset County Council’s Heritage Service to conserve and restore Taunton Castle and to rejuvenate the Somerset County Museum located within it. The aim is to create a visitor attraction that will tell the story of Somerset from prehistoric times to the present day, and display its history and heritage in exciting new ways. Free admission to the permanent collections will continue. The Somerset County Museum closed to the public in April 2008 and will re-open at the end of the refurbishment and re-fit works as the new Museum of Somerset. |
 |
The Castle HotelAt the gateway to the South West, The Castle Hotel successfully combines the style, luxury and dedicated service you would expect at one of Europe’s leading family-run castle hotels.The Castle has a worldwide reputation for the warmth of its hospitality, the luxurious comfort of its accommodation and the excellence of its restaurant, ranked among the top 40 best places to eat in Britain by The Good Food Guide and surely the finest of restaurants in Taunton. The Castle Restaurant is complemented by the popular, trend-setting brasserie, BRAZZ, the Castle’s modern bar-cafe. |
 |
Taunton Swimming poolFree swimming lessons from October for 11-17yrs and Adult non swimmers. Call reception for more information on 01823 284108. |
 |
Taunton RacecourseTaunton Racecourse, Somerset, is England's youngest National Hunt racecourse and one of the most beautifully located racecourses in the country, with outstanding views across the Racecourse to the wooded slopes of the Blackdown Hills, yet only a few minutes drive from the M5 and the centre of Taunton. |
 |
Glastonbury AbbeyVisit Glastonbury Abbey to see a living Christian sanctuary that may have been the site of the oldest church, and was certainly once the greatest Abbey, in the country. See the possible burial place of King Arthur and take the time to explore the 36 acres of Abbey grounds. |
 |
Glastonbury TorGlastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. Tor is a local word of Celtic origin meaning 'conical hill'. The Tor has a striking location in the middle of a plain called the Summerland Meadows, part of the Somerset Levels. |
 |
Fleet Air Arm MuseumThe National Museum of the Royal Navy comprises four Museums, reflecting the fact that the Royal Navy operates on the sea, under the sea, on the land and in the air. The Fleet Air Arm Museum represents the flying arm of the Royal Navy. With four exhibition halls, over ninety aircraft and over 2 million records and 30 thousand artefacts the Museum is the world's second largest naval aviation Museum. |