Taunton

Taunton is the county town of Somerset, a role that passed to it from Somerton about 1366. The built-up area had 61,665 people at the 2021 census. The name means town on the River Tone.

The town lies between the Quantock, Blackdown and Brendon hills, so the countryside is close in several directions. Taunton Castle was rebuilt by the Normans in the 12th century, and parts of its inner ward house were turned into the Museum of Somerset. The racecourse is close to the Blackdown Hills, about 2 miles from the centre. Each August the Taunton Flower Show fills Vivary Park for two days with floral marquees, designer gardens and arena acts; the 2026 show ran on 7 and 8 August.

Getting here is straightforward. Taunton station is a principal stop on the Bristol to Exeter line, which suits guests who would rather not drive the whole way. The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, a navigable waterway that opened in 1827 and links Taunton with Bridgwater, offers a flat way out of town on foot or by bike. Its towpath is part of National Cycle Network route 3, which runs from Bristol and Bath to Land’s End. A cottage near Taunton suits a stay with a county town to hand and hills on several sides.