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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

Golden sunshine lights up a view of Montacute House, surrounded by autumn trees
Place
Place

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 2024 there is plenty to see on the ground floor, and in the garden and parkland.

Somerset

Fully open today
Exterior view of Dunster Castle and Garden in Somerset
Place
Place

Dunster Castle and Water Mill 

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

Minehead, Somerset

Fully open today
View of the White Garden at Barrington Court
Place
Place

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

Lytes Cary Manor 

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

near Somerton, Somerset

Fully open today
Light on a tulip tree on an island in the lake at Stourhead, Wiltshire
Place
Place

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

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
View from the Fountain Garden to the west front of the house at Tintinhull, Somerset
Place
Place

Tintinhull Garden 

A place of floral beauty, tranquillity and innovation - a gardener's garden paradise.

Yeovil, Somerset

Closed now
The Courtyard at Fyne Court in early autumn
Place
Place

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 view over the Pasture towards the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park, view of Bath city in the background
Place
Place

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

Coleridge Cottage 

Home of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Bridgwater, Somerset

Fully open today
Wellington Monument, Somerset
Place
Place

Wellington Monument 

A striking landmark recently restored, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. Tours of the monument take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays - click on the button below to book. The countryside is open all year.

Welllington, Somerset

Fully open today
Brean Down
Place
Place

Brean Down 

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today

Plan ahead

Visitors with their dogs sit in the garden in autumn

October half term in Somerset 

There are tricks and treats galore at our places in Somerset for spooky season. From pumpkin trails to apple folklore, discover spine-shivering family fun for October half term.

A child running towards a Christmas tree at Dunster Castle in Somerset

Christmas in and around Somerset 

For Christmas 2024 discover magnificent houses, enchanted winter woodlands, Elizabethan revelry and seasonal food and drink in and around Somerset. Here's a few suggestions to start planning your festive visit in 2024.

Coast and beaches in Somerset

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

Bossington Beach, looking West on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset
Place
Place

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
A view down towards Middle Hope beach in autumn
Article
Article

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.

Brean Down
Place
Place

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

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.

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

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 winter view from Cadbury Camp
Article
Article

Cadbury Camp 

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

Brean Down
Place
Place

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

Outdoor activities in Somerset

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

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

Webber's Post 

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

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.

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

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 walking through Truckle Wood, Tyntesfield
Article
Article

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.

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.

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

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.

Upcoming events

Event

Dunster Castle School of Magic 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Dunster Castle school of magic returns for another adventure. It's time for the Pumpkin Games at the Dunster School of Magic. Get your sports shoes on and be ready to compete.

Event summary

on
14 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 20 other dates or times
Event

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
14 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
11:00 to 12:00
+ 59 other dates or times
Event

Storytelling Mondays 

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Monday morning storytelling sessions for little ones.

Event summary

on
14 Oct to 21 Oct 2024
at
11:00 to 13:00
+ 1 other date or time
Event

Afternoon Tea 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Relax with a delicious afternoon tea at the Watermill Tearoom.

Event summary

on
14 Oct to 23 Dec 2024
at
14:00 to 15:30
+ 70 other dates or times
Event

Behind the scenes: Attic Tours 

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
15 Oct to 30 Oct 2024
at
11:00 to 12:00
+ 23 other dates or times
Event

Leaf Bunting Crafternoons 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Gather leaves from around the grounds and head to Camellia House to create a keepsake from your visit.

Event summary

on
19 Oct to 3 Nov 2024
at
11:30 to 14:00
+ 5 other dates or times
Event

Coleridge's 252nd Birthday: An Evening of Cheese and Poetry 

Coleridge Cottage, Bridgwater, Somerset

Join us for an evening celebration of Coleridge's 252nd birthday on Monday, October 21st, 2024. Immerse yourself in a magical evening filled with fireside poetry readings, intimate tours, and delicious cheeseboards by candlelight.

Event summary

on
21 Oct 2024
at
18:00 to 21:00
Event

Seasonal Garden Walk: Autumn Colour 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Discover autumn colour in the garden on a walk with a member of our garden team.

Event summary

on
22 Oct 2024
at
10:30 to 11:30
A group of four women along a path, in the background, down a hill is a reservoir

Where will you visit next?

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