The Best Free Things to Do in Somerset
Somerset is one of the best places to spend the weekend in the UK. With beautiful cities like Bath and Wells, incredible beaches, and the quaint towns of Frome and Bruton, there’s something for everyone. There’s so much to explore you could easily spend a week (and a lot of money) trying to see it all. But there’s plenty of incredible things to do in Somerset that won’t cost you anything. In this guide, I’ve put together a list of the best free things to do in Somerset and where you’ll find them.
Where is Somerset?
Somerset’s a county in South-West England, bordering Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon. It’s home to over 500,000 people, and the world-famous Glastonbury festival.
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How to get to Somerset
The nearest airport is Bristol which is about a 45-minute drive from the heart of Somerset. If you’re coming from another part of England, you can get trains into Bristol or Bath station. A train from London Paddington Station to Bristol Temple Meads takes about 1 and a half hours. A train from London Paddington to Bath Spa takes 1 hour 20.
How to get around Somerset
I’d suggest driving if you want to get around Somerset easily. It’s a large county and having a car gives you the flexibility to stop wherever you want to explore.
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If that’s not an option for you, don’t worry! There’s 10 train stations across the county – including Bath, Bridgewater, Taunton, Yeovil, Castle Cary, Crewkerne, Frome, Highbridge, Weston-Super-Mare and Temple combe. Fancy something a little different? Somerset’s home to the longest heritage railway in England – the West Somerset Railways. It’s 20-miles long and runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, travelling through beautiful villages and offering incredible views.
The best free things to do in Somerset
Spot some artwork at Hauser and Wirth
Hauser & Wirth, named after the three owners, Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser, is an art gallery with several locations around the world. You’ll find it just outside the charming town of Bruton, and it’s one of the best free things to do in Somerset. Entry to the gallery and the landscaped garden is free and is the perfect place to spend a few hours. Afterwards, why not pay a visit to Durslade Farm? Set within Hauser and Wirth, the produce is all locally sourced.
Hauser & Wirth | Best Free Things to Do in Somerset
Drive one of England’s most incredible roads at Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, and one of the most beautiful landmarks in England. You might not have heard of the nearby village of Cheddar, but you’ll definitely be familiar with it given that it’s the home of Cheddar cheese. Seeing Cheddar Gorge should be high on your list – it’s the most beautiful free thing to do in Somerset. With cliffs over 450ft tall, Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in Britain. Now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can drive right to the top and admire incredible views over Somerset. Fancy walking instead? Read this for 11 of the best.
Walk along the river in Bruton
You can’t visit Somerset without exploring the beautiful village of Bruton. There’s a real sense of calm about this town that I’ve not felt in many places I’ve visited. It’s full of charming houses, incredible restaurants, and beautiful walks. Spending an afternoon walking along the river is one of the best free things to do in Somerset.
Wondering where to eat whilst you’re in Somerset? Read my complete guide to the very best places
Bruton | Best Free Things to Do in Somerset
Spot the Bridgerton locations in Bath
Bath was the first place I ever visited in Somerset and it quickly became one of my favourite destinations for a UK staycation. It’s stunning – full of great places to eat and lots of beautiful buildings to explore. More recently Bath has become even more popular after appearing in many famous scenes in the Netflix series Bridgerton. Whilst you can book on to a walking tour with a guide to show you the different locations, it’s easy enough to find them yourself. Here’s the route I’d suggest following:
- Abbey Green (start here)
- The Cross Bath (3-minute walk)
- Theatre Royal Bath (4-minute walk)
- Royal Crescent (12-minute walk)
- Assembly Rooms (6-minute walk)
- Guildhall (10-minute walk)
- Holburne Museum (11-minute walk)
Climb up to Glastonbury Tor
Tor is the Celtic name for a cone-shaped hill, so Glastonbury Tor is a hill in Glastonbury. From Glastonbury you can either walk to the Tor (about 10-minutes), or a bus will take you from the Abbey to the base of the Tor. It’s owned by the National Trust but entry is free, and reaching the top will take you about 20-minutes. Afterward, head back to Glastonbury and browse the independent shops along the high street.
Glastonbury Tor | Best Free Things to Do in Somerset
Visit Europe’s oldest street
Vicars’ Close in Wells is rumoured to be the oldest residential street in Europe and it’s absolutely stunning. If you’ve seen Hot Fuzz, you might recognise this place – it was used as a location for the movie. It’s one of the best free things to do in Somerset!
See the wild ponies at Exmoor National Park
Exmoor National Park spans over 18,000 acres and sits across Somerset and Devon. In my opinion, it’s the best free thing to do in Somerset. Not only is it absolutely stunning, but it’s also home to the Exmoor pony – wild horses that roam the land in the National Park. There’s few things more magical than seeing horses walk freely right next to you.
Exmoor National Park | Best Free Things to Do in Somerset
There’s my guide to the best free things to do in Somerset. Have I missed any? Let me know in the comments below.
