Tropiquaria

2 miles from The Walled Gardens of Cannington

The Walled Gardens of Cannington in Somerset feature diverse garden styles within historic priory grounds, including a glasshouse and tearoom, with free access for RHS members on selected days.

2 miles from Greylake

Greylake is a nature reserve on the Somerset Levels offering outdoor wildlife experiences with multiple habitats like reedbeds and wet grassland. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching from hides and viewpoints along accessible trails suitable for wheelchairs. The site is free to enter and provides a peaceful way to connect with native wildlife year-round.

Located in Bridgwater

Bridgwater is a historic market town in Somerset, England, known for its rich industrial and maritime heritage, cultural arts scene, river port, and annual illuminated Guy Fawkes Carnival attracting many visitors.

3 miles from Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill

Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill is a National Trust owned Site of Special Scientific Interest providing extensive outdoor natural landscapes including ancient woodland, calcareous grasslands, rare plant species, and important geological features such as caves with prehistoric fossils. Visitors can explore long-distance footpaths, enjoy scenic hill views, and visit historic sites related to early human occupation and model aircraft flying activities.

3 miles from Burrow Mump

Burrow Mump is a historic hill in Somerset featuring the ruins of a 15th-century church atop a Norman motte, offering visitors panoramic views and a significant war memorial managed by the National Trust.

2 miles from Knightshayes

Knightshayes is a National Trust estate in Devon with a distinctive Gothic Revival house, extensive formal and woodland gardens, and large parkland. Visitors can enjoy exploring the house interior, walking gardens with over 1200 plant species, a restored Victorian kitchen garden, and woodland adventure play. Facilities include a café and shop, and the venue is dog friendly and wheelchair accessible.

3 miles from Gallox Bridge

Gallox Bridge is a 15th century narrow stone packhorse bridge in Dunster, Somerset, crossing the River Avill. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument, managed by English Heritage, and notable for its historic architecture and rural setting near Dunster Castle.

3 miles from Victorian Kitchen Tours (weekends)

10 Oct, 17 Oct…

A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, with stories about the cooks, maids and other staff who worked there.

Near Tiverton Castle

Tiverton Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle in Devon, offering visitors a peaceful private house experience with a fine collection of Civil War arms and armour, medieval features, and beautiful gardens. It is open to the public seasonally with tailored tours and holiday accommodations available.

Located in Tiverton

Tiverton is a historic market town in Devon, England, known for its medieval heritage, wool trade history, and cultural attractions including Tiverton Castle and the Pannier Market. It offers a walkable town centre with rich history and modern amenities for visitors.

2 miles from Wellington Monument

The Wellington Monument is a 175-foot tall triangular obelisk located on the Blackdown Hills near Wellington, Somerset. It commemorates the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo and offers an outdoor historic landmark experience with an internal viewing platform. Owned and maintained by the National Trust, the monument was restored and reopened in 2021.

2 miles from Sand Point

Sand Point and Middle Hope in Somerset are known for their geological formations, rare flora, and archaeological features, including ancient barrows and a possible castle mound. The area is owned by the National Trust and offers extensive walking opportunities with scenic views of the Bristol Channel and surrounding regions.

Located in Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare is a seaside town in Somerset, England, known for its sandy beach, historic piers, cultural venues, and rich heritage as a Victorian seaside resort.

3 miles from Hestercombe Gardens

Hestercombe is a restored garden estate featuring three centuries of garden design with lakes, temples, woodlands, and a house with a contemporary art gallery and bookshop. It offers both outdoor garden exploration and indoor cultural experiences.

2 miles from Yarn Market, Dunster

The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, is a historic Grade I listed octagonal building from the early 17th century, originally built to support the local wool and cloth trade, featuring a unique central pier with timber roofing and marked by Civil War history.

2 miles from Victorian Kitchen Tours (weekdays)

8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…

A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, exploring the work and stories of the cooks, maids and other staff who kept the castle running.

Located in Minehead

Minehead is a historic coastal town in Somerset, England, known for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture, seaside attractions, and outdoor activities. It features a beach, a heritage railway, the Butlins holiday camp, and hosts traditional events like the May Day Hobby Horse festival.

3 miles from Knightshayes Court

Knightshayes Court is a Victorian country house near Tiverton, Devon, known for its architecture by William Burges and extensive historic gardens. The Grade I listed house and Grade II* listed gardens offer a blend of indoor heritage and outdoor landscape experiences, including rare features like a stické court and a golfing memorabilia exhibition.

Near Dunster Castle and Watermill

Dunster Castle and Watermill in Somerset offer a rich experience combining a historic castle, working Victorian watermill, beautiful gardens, and scenic parkland with panoramic views. Visitors can explore the castle interiors, gardens with diverse plants, enjoy family-friendly activities, and visit cafés and shops on site.

Near Gilded Treasures Exhibition: 50 Years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle

5 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)

An exhibition marking 50 years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle, featuring golden objects from the castle’s collection, including its rare gilt leather hangings. Visitors can also learn about the castle’s gift to the Trust and view a film presenting a virtual gallery of the hangings.

2 miles from Brean Leisure Park

Brean Leisure Park is a long-established amusement park in Brean, Somerset, offering a variety of thrill rides, family attractions, and an indoor/outdoor waterpark. It features rollercoasters, a water splash zone, and hosts concerts, providing entertainment for all ages from March to November each year.

3 miles from Halswell Park

Halswell Park is a Grade I-listed Elizabethan and Baroque house set within historic 18th-century parkland with temples and lakes. Visitors can explore restored state rooms and join behind-the-scenes tours of the full restoration project. The site offers both indoor exploration of the house and outdoor enjoyment of the gardens and water features, with refreshments available on the roof overlooking scenic views.

Near Greencombe Gardens

Greencombe Gardens is an organic woodland garden set on a sheltered hillside with superb views over Porlock Bay, featuring extensive collections of plants including National Plant Collections and notable champion trees cared for with organic methods.

2 miles from Cleeve Abbey

Cleeve Abbey is a medieval Cistercian monastery in Somerset featuring some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in England, including cloisters, a refectory with a wooden vaulted ceiling, medieval tiled floors, and historic wall paintings, open to public visits under English Heritage.

2 miles from Discover a Hidden Masterpiece: The Gilt Leather Hangings at Dunster Castle

7 Oct–1 Nov, 7–8 Nov…

Explore Dunster Castle’s refreshed display of seventeenth-century gilt leather hangings depicting Antony and Cleopatra. The display presents new research and examines the hangings’ craftsmanship and place in art and culture.

3 miles from Brean Down Fort

Brean Down Fort is a 19th-century military fortification located on a headland in Somerset, England, known for its historical coastal defense role, Bronze Age archaeological finds, and WWII experimental weapons testing. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.

3 miles from Dunster Butter Cross

The Butter Cross in Dunster is a historic 15th-century market cross, a Grade II* listed building and scheduled ancient monument, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval market traditions in Somerset.

3 miles from Behind-the-Ropes Tours (weekends)

10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…

A volunteer-guided tour takes visitors beyond the usual visitor ropes at Dunster Castle, exploring repurposed rooms, hidden areas and their history. The tour lasts about an hour.

3 miles from Bickleigh Castle

Bickleigh Castle is a medieval water castle and fortified manor house on the banks of the River Exe in Devon, with accessible ground floor, gardens, and chapel. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, open gardens, café facilities, and parkland areas.

2 miles from Daw's Castle

Daw's Castle is a historic clifftop fortress in Watchet, Somerset, established by King Alfred to guard against Viking attacks. It offers free public access during daylight hours, with nearby amenities and paid parking available. Visitors can explore the impressive outdoor site and also visit nearby historic attractions.

3 miles from Behind-the-Ropes Tours

5 Oct, 12 Oct…

Visitors take a guided tour beyond the usual visitor route at Dunster Castle, exploring repurposed spaces and learning about their history and the castle’s inner workings.

Near Coleridge Cottage

Coleridge Cottage is a 17th century historic cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and wrote some of his famous works. Now a National Trust writer's home museum, it features period rooms, a garden with wildflowers, and serves as the starting point for the Coleridge Way walking trail.

Near Romantic Women Tour

8 Oct, 15 Oct…

A volunteer-led tour through the rooms of Coleridge Cottage explores the women who influenced Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life and writing, including Sara Fricker and Dorothy Wordsworth.

3 miles from West Sedgemoor

West Sedgemoor is a protected wet meadow nature reserve in Somerset, known for its extensive bird populations and rare plants. The reserve itself is closed to the public to protect wildlife, but visitors can explore surrounding public footpaths for outdoor views and wildlife spotting.

3 miles from Brean Down

Brean Down is a limestone promontory in Somerset, England, extending into the Bristol Channel and offering rich natural, historical, and archaeological interests including fossils, ancient temple remains, and a Victorian fort. It is a notable wildlife habitat and a National Trust property open to the public.

3 miles from Dunster Castle

Dunster Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle and 17th-century manor house in Somerset, featuring medieval gates, Victorian Gothic remodeling, and extensive gardens including a National Plant Collection. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences as a National Trust property.

3 miles from Attic Tours (Weekends)

11 Oct, 18 Oct…

A guided tour of Dunster Castle’s attics explores hidden rooms and corridors and the daily lives of the servants who lived there.

3 miles from Brean Down

Brean Down in Somerset offers a scenic outdoor experience with historic ruins, coastal walks, and a beachside café. Visitors can explore archaeological remains, enjoy spectacular views, and engage in family-friendly activities in a natural setting.

2 miles from Old Beaupre Castle

Old Beaupre Castle is a Grade I listed ruined medieval fortified manor house in Llanfair, Wales, featuring a notable Renaissance porch and three courts, set within historic landscaped gardens. Visitors can explore the outdoor ruins and grounds free of charge all year round.

3 miles from Holnicote Estate

Holnicote Estate is a historic country estate in Somerset within Exmoor National Park featuring extensive natural landscapes, historic villages, walking trails, and a hotel-operated hunting lodge. The estate includes notable hills such as Dunkery Hill and Selworthy Beacon, ancient monuments, and a National Trust-managed nature reserve.

3 miles from Attic Tours (Weekdays)

6–7 Oct, 13–14 Oct…

A guided tour of Dunster Castle’s attics explores hidden rooms and corridors and the lives of the servants who once lived there. The tour involves climbing a spiral staircase.

2 miles from Dunster Working Watermill

Dunster Working Watermill is a restored 18th century watermill in Dunster, Somerset, featuring working overshot wheels to grind organic flour, set within the grounds of Dunster Castle. Visitors can explore the historic mill machinery indoors and enjoy the surrounding outdoor area including the castle grounds and a cafe.

3 miles from Selworthy

Selworthy is a picturesque village on the Holnicote Estate with thatched cottages, scenic walking trails including Selworthy Beacon and Bury Castle hillfort, a historic tea-room, and diverse natural landscapes offering both indoor and outdoor experiences.