jolidays.co.uk
Somerset is a historic and scenic county in South West England, known for its heritage cities, natural landscapes, and cultural festivals like Glastonbury.
Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is a well-preserved Neolithic chambered tomb near Wellow in Somerset, featuring multiple burial chambers inside a long stone mound, notable for its alignment with the midwinter sunrise and managed by English Heritage for public access.
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.
Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a medieval quadrangular castle ruin located in Somerset, England, featuring a decorated chapel with notable medieval murals and an archaeological collection of lead coffins. The site offers visitors a blend of historic ruins and detailed heritage managed by English Heritage. It tells the story of the Hungerford family and their significance through English history.
Barrington Court is a Tudor manor house in Somerset, combining historic architecture with Arts and Crafts-style gardens originally designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Visitors can explore the historic house, converted stable buildings, and extensive ornamental gardens including a kitchen garden supplying the onsite restaurant.
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.
Sherborne Castle is a historic 16th-century Tudor mansion set within 1200 acres of Capability Brown-designed gardens in Dorset, with ruins of a 12th-century castle on the grounds. Visitors can explore both the partly open mansion and extensive outdoor gardens, with special events throughout the year.
Dyffryn Gardens is a National Trust-managed historic Edwardian botanical garden and arboretum in Wales featuring extensive themed outdoor gardens, a grand Edwardian manor house open for tours, and a variety of plant collections and sculptures. The gardens combine formal and themed outdoor garden rooms with impressive lawn and water features, and visitors can explore both the natural and architectural heritage of the site.
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.
Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument is an 18th-century historic monument located on Lansdown Hill near Bath, commemorating the Royalist commander Sir Bevil Grenville, who was mortally wounded in the 1643 Battle of Lansdowne during the English Civil War. The outdoor monument stands 25 feet tall, featuring inscriptions and heraldic symbols, and is a protected Grade II* listed and scheduled ancient monument.
Stanton Drew stone circles are one of Britain's largest Neolithic henge monuments featuring multiple stone circles, historic geophysical surveys, and ancient features including The Cove. It is an outdoor archaeological site rich in history, local myths, and accessible freely to the public near Somerset village.
Keynsham is a historic market town in Somerset, England, with Roman and medieval heritage, well served by rail and bus. It features a walkable town center with cultural events, a market, and riverside parkland.
Fyne Court is a National Trust nature reserve and visitor centre in Somerset, featuring historic estate grounds with woodland, ponds, meadows, and remnants of a 19th-century country house. Visitors can explore outdoor natural habitats as well as indoor visitor facilities including a café and shop.
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.
Dolebury Warren is an Iron Age hillfort and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Somerset, featuring ancient earthworks and diverse natural habitats managed by the National Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust. It offers outdoor exploration of historic ramparts and rich wildlife on a limestone ridge in the Mendip Hills.
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.
Walton and Ivythorn Hills are a National Trust managed biological site of special scientific interest in Somerset featuring limestone hills, calcareous grasslands, historic buildings, and walking trails including the Polden Way.
Temple Church in Bristol is a historic ruined church originally built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, later rebuilt and heavily damaged during World War II. The site features a leaning tower and outlines of the original circular church, and is now preserved as an open ruin managed by English Heritage, offering a unique outdoor historical experience.
Watersmeet House is a National Trust property in Devon featuring a historic fishing lodge with a tea room and shop, nestled at a river gorge confluence and serving as a gateway to extensive woodland and riverside walks. The site includes a notable area of ancient oak woodland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
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.
Stourhead is a historic estate in Wiltshire featuring a Grade I listed Neo-Palladian house, an acclaimed 18th-century English landscape garden with classical temples, an artificial lake, and significant art collections, managed by the National Trust.
Leigh Woods is a 2 km² national nature reserve near Bristol, featuring ancient woodland, rare plant species, and historic sites like the Stokeleigh Camp hillfort. It offers outdoor activities including walking, rock climbing, and mountain biking in a protected natural environment.
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.
Clevedon Court is a historic 14th-century manor house in North Somerset, managed by the National Trust, featuring medieval architecture, extensive terraced gardens, and a collection of family heirlooms and Eltonware pottery. The house and gardens offer both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences and showcase the heritage of the Elton family.
Ewenni Priory is a historic Norman Romanesque religious settlement featuring robust defensive walls and gates, still serving as a local parish church. Visitors can explore both indoor church areas and outdoor fortifications with accessible paths.
Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a historic 14th-century chantry college complex in Somerset featuring a Grade I listed great hall, medieval architecture, and ruins of outbuildings. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a glimpse into medieval religious and farming life with indoor historic buildings and outdoor heritage site elements.
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.
Muchelney Abbey is a historic English Heritage site featuring the ruins of a medieval Benedictine abbey and an intact Tudor Abbot's House, set on the island-like Somerset Levels. Visitors can explore foundational ruins outdoors and the architectural interiors of the Abbot's House indoors, experiencing a significant religious and architectural heritage spanning from the 7th to 16th centuries.
Dyrham Park is a Grade I listed baroque country house and extensive parkland in Gloucestershire, England, featuring historic interiors with Dutch art, 274 acres of gardens, an orangery, and a stable block now a tea room. It offers public access with events and has been a filming location for notable productions.
Lytes Cary is a Grade I listed historic manor house in Somerset dating from the 14th century, featuring a chapel, Great Hall with period furnishings, and extensive Arts and Crafts style gardens listed as Grade II. The National Trust owns the property and offers public access to the older parts of the house and the distinctive gardens set in themed 'rooms' with hedges, ponds, and an orchard.
Cadbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort located in Somerset, England, featuring ancient earthworks and ditches on a natural ridge. It is historically significant and managed by the National Trust with ongoing conservation efforts to preserve its natural and archaeological features.
Tyntesfield is a richly detailed Victorian Gothic Revival country house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England. A Grade I listed building, it offers visitors grand interiors, extensive gardens, a historic chapel, and a working farm visitor centre with activities for children. Owned and managed by the National Trust, it hosts tours of the house and grounds, a café, and various heritage exhibits.
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.
Tintinhull House and Garden is a Grade I listed 17th century house with a 20th century garden in South Somerset, owned by the National Trust, offering historic interiors, artistic paintings, and extensive garden rooms styled after Hidcote Manor.
Cheddar Gorge is a striking limestone canyon in Somerset featuring impressive cliffs, prehistoric caves open to the public, diverse wildlife, and various outdoor activities including climbing and scenic walks. The site offers visitor facilities such as a centre and restaurant, blending natural wonder with accessible tourism.
Montacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion in Somerset, England, known for its exceptional Renaissance architecture and the longest surviving Long Gallery in England. The venue offers both indoor experiences in its historic rooms and exhibitions, and outdoor experiences with its Grade I listed gardens and extensive parkland. It hosts historical portraits in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and has served as a filming location for films and TV dramas.
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.
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.
Westwood Manor is a Grade I listed 15th-century manor house in Wiltshire, featuring historic interiors with fine furniture, musical instruments, tapestries, and beautifully restored gardens, open to the public during summer days.
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.
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.
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.
Alfred's Tower is a 49-meter high folly tower located in Somerset, England, commemorating King Alfred the Great and historic events from the 9th century. It features a viewing platform accessible by spiral staircase and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The tower is part of the National Trust and stands on the historic Stourhead Estate.
Prior Park Landscape Garden is a historically significant English landscape garden near Bath, designed by Alexander Pope and Capability Brown, featuring iconic structures like a Palladian bridge and Gothic temple, set in a steep valley with lakes and restored grounds open to the public.
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.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, Somerset is a 100-acre zoo and working farm featuring the largest elephant facility in northern Europe, a diverse collection of animals including African and Asian species, extensive outdoor exhibits, indoor play and educational areas, a long hedge maze, and active conservation programmes. It offers food services and family-friendly activities in a mixed indoor and outdoor setting.
Glastonbury Tor is a prominent hill in Somerset, England, topped by the roofless tower of St Michael's Church. It features mysterious terraced slopes and is steeped in history, mythology, and spirituality, including links to King Arthur and the island of Avalon. The site is managed by the National Trust and is a notable landmark visible for miles around.
Glastonbury is a historic market town in Somerset known for its ancient abbey, Arthurian legends, New Age spiritual community, and proximity to the world-famous Glastonbury Festival site. Visitors can explore historic religious sites, cultural museums, and scenic landscapes.
Little Solsbury Hill is an Iron Age hillfort located in Somerset, offering panoramic views over Bath and the Avon River. The site features archaeological remains including stone ramparts and medieval field systems, situated within the scenic Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and managed by the National Trust.
Ebbor Gorge is a limestone canyon in Somerset renowned for its geological formations, Neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts, rich biodiversity including rare butterflies and bats, and scenic trails managed as a national nature reserve by Natural England.