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Somerset

From mansion houses and lush gardens to hidden gorges and eye-catching tors. There's something for everyone to enjoy on a day out in Somerset.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in Somerset

Montacute House 

A masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design, with towering walls of glass, glowing ham stone and surrounding garden. While the upper floors of the house will remain closed for 2025 there is plenty to see on the ground floor, and in the garden and parkland.

Somerset

Fully open today
View up West Drive to Montacute House, Somerset

Dunster Castle and Water Mill 

An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens

Minehead, Somerset

Fully open today
Exterior of Dunster Castle, Somerset, from the main road on a day with blue skies.

Barrington Court 

An atmospheric fragment of old Somerset; the estate is the vision of Colonel Lyle, with a glorious garden, farm buildings, orchards and a wider estate. Currently open weekends only until Saturday 9 March.

near Ilminster, Somerset

Fully open today
Fountain statue of a boy with a swan  on the lily pond in the Kitchen Garden at Barrington Court, Somerset

Lytes Cary Manor 

An intimate medieval manor house with an Arts and Crafts-inspired garden.

near Somerton, Somerset

Fully open today
View of the manor house at Lytes Cary, with autumn flowering borders with purples and reds in the foreground

Stourhead 

A Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden bordering Somerset. A magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, a mystical grotto and rare and exotic trees are just some of the things to discover.

near Mere, Wiltshire

Fully open today
A flowering rhododendron with the Pantheon overlooking the lake in the background at Stourhead, Wiltshire

Tyntesfield 

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol

Bristol, North Somerset

Fully open today
The Gothic west front of Tyntesfield on a sunny day in autumn, wrapped in purple climbing plants

Fyne Court 

A hidden gem in the heart of the Quantock Hills. Explore this wild garden and discover pieces of its history hiding in the undergrowth.

Bridgwater, Somerset

Fully open today
A man and woman with a dog looking at flowers in the cottage garden at Fyne Court

Prior Park Landscape Garden 

Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath with one of only four Palladian bridges found in the world

Bath, Somerset

Fully open today
A view over the Pasture towards the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park, view of Bath city in the background

Coleridge Cottage 

Home of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Bridgwater, Somerset

Closed now
Coleridge Cottage, Somerset, with cream walls, pale green window frames and doors, behind a low stone wall

Wellington Monument 

A striking landmark recently restored, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. Tours of the monument will resume on 5 April - they are available to book at the link below.

Welllington, Somerset

Partially open today
Wellington Monument, Somerset

Brean Down 

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today
Brean Down

Tintinhull Garden 

A place of floral beauty, tranquility and innovation - a gardener's garden paradise. Re-opens Friday 28 March 2025.

Yeovil, Somerset

Fully open today
A large pot filled with orange and yellow flowers; behind, a long pond with waterlilies

Coast and beaches in Somerset

Explore the Somerset coast from wide open beaches to high coastline walks with far-reaching views.

The beach at Bossington 

From Bossington hamlet on the Holnicote estate you can wander down to the pebble beach, where there's plenty of coastal wildlife to spot and far-reaching views.

Somerset

Fully open today
Bossington Beach, looking West on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Sand Point and Middle Hope 

The stunning stretch of coastline around Sand Point and Middle Hope sits north Brean Down. It's one of the most beautiful parts of North Somerset, with a natural pier into the Bristol Channel.

A view down towards Middle Hope beach in autumn

Brean Down coast 

Toward Weston-Super-Mare you'll find Brean Down, a natural pier jutting out into the Bristol Channel.

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today
Brean Down

Castles and forts in Somerset

Discover an ancient castle with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens or explore an Iron Age hillfort repurposed to defend against a possible Napoleonic invasion.

Dunster Castle 

Explore 1,000 years of history at Dunster castle, from its collection of painted leather hangings – the only one of its kind in the UK – to its historic working watermill.

A visitor standing on a platform overlooking Dunster Castle below through the trees, in Somerset

Cadbury Camp 

Sweeping views can be found from the top of Cadbury Camp with buzzards circling overhead, amazing sunsets and a variety of fungi.

A winter view from Cadbury Camp

Brean Down 

Uncover the secrets of Brean Down as you discover the site of a Roman temple and explore the Palmerston Fort.

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today
Brean Down

Outdoor activities in Somerset

Get active with outdoor activities at a National Trust place near you in Somerset

Webber's Post 

Discover where to go for a run or take on a mountain bike ride.

Three mountain bikers cycling through the woods with a dog, near Webber's Post on the Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, Somerset

Get involved

Expand your skills and meet new people when you volunteer with us. You’ll be helping to care for nature and history for many others to enjoy.

Volunteering in Somerset 

Whether you help to look after one of Somerset's gardens, give your time to nature conservation or light up the stories of historic places for visitors, you'll find a rewarding role.

Visitors and volunteer in the Great Hall at Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset

Supporter groups in Somerset 

Discover what you could get out of joining a supporter group in Somerset, and where your nearest is. Volunteer, meet up with like-minded individuals and enjoy a programme of talks and trips.

Visitors walking through Truckle Wood, Tyntesfield

Places to visit in Somerset car-free

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places in Somerset you can visit without a car.

Places you can visit in Somerset without a car 

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places that we care for in Somerset that you can visit without a car. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your a car-free day out.

Silhouettes of two mountain bikers riding near Webber's Post on the Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, Somerset

Upcoming events

Bonkers for bats Trail 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Discover the garden and learn more about these fascinating creatures whilst soaking up the sunshine.

Event summary

on
6 Sep to 18 Sep 2025
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 12 other dates or times

Victorian Kitchen Tours 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Go behind the scenes and into the past with one of the knowledgeable volunteer guides.

Event summary

on
6 Sep to 2 Nov 2025
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 57 other dates or times

Play croquet on the cedar lawn. 

Montacute House, Somerset

Borrow mallets and balls from our visitor reception and have yourself a fun game of croquet. Shorter mallets available for shorter players.

Event summary

on
6 Sep to 28 Sep 2025
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 19 other dates or times

Behind the scenes: Attic Tours (Weekends) 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

If you've always wanted to see more of Dunster Castle, come on an attic tour with one of the castle's knowledgeable tour guides.

Event summary

on
6 Sep to 26 Oct 2025
at
13:30 to 14:30
+ 31 other dates or times

Afternoon Tea 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Relax with a delicious afternoon tea at the Watermill Tearoom.

Event summary

on
6 Sep to 2 Nov 2025
at
14:00 to 15:30
+ 57 other dates or times

Siege of Dunster Displays 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Wander through the house and discover 17th Century highlights in the castle's collection.

Event summary

on
8 Sep to 2 Nov 2025
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 55 other dates or times

Storytelling Mondays (Autumn Term) 

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Monday morning storytelling sessions for little ones.

Event summary

on
8 Sep to 20 Oct 2025
at
11:00 to 13:00
+ 6 other dates or times

Behind the scenes: Attic Tours (Weekdays) 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

If you've always wanted to see more of Dunster Castle, come on an attic tour with one of the castle's knowledgeable tour guides.

Event summary

on
9 Sep to 29 Oct 2025
at
11:00 to 12:00
+ 63 other dates or times
Visitors exploring the sand dunes and the woodland at Formby, Liverpool

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.