There are plenty of things to see and do in Glastonbury but if you are planning on having a day out of town, here are some amazing places to visit in this beautiful part of Somerset.
Within 30 Minutes
- Wells Cathedral and The Bishops Palace – 15 minutes by car – 6.9 miles – Built between 1175 and 1490 Wells Cathedral has been described as “the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”. The nearby Bishops Palace and Gardens is surrounded by a breath-taking moat (with resident swans!), visitors can cross a flagstone drawbridge, walk under the portcullis and experience a true hidden gem in the heart of the city of Wells.
More information on Wells Cathedral here and The Bishops Palace here
- Wookey Hole Caves – 17 minutes – 7.6 miles – Wookey Hole Caves is the UK’s largest show caves system, home to the infamous Witch of Wookey Hole and the new Chamber 20 with rare rock formations.
More information here
- Battle of Sedgemoor Battlefield – 22 minutes – 11.8 miles – One of very few battles fought in Somerset since King Alfred’s time, the Battle of Sedgemoor was an attempt to change the political landscape of Britain, but it ended badly for Somerset.
More information here
- Burrow Mump – 23 minutes – 12.3 miles – Historic Burrow Mump is another island on the Levels. Reaching 79 feet high it overlooks the River Tone, where the old course of the River Cary joins the River Parrett.
More information here
- Muchelney Abbey – 28 minutes – 13.7 miles – Once a wealthy Benedictine house and the second oldest religious foundation in Somerset, but as part of the dissolution the abbey’s principal buildings were demolished by Henry VIII in 1538.
More information here
- Cheddar Gorge and Caves – 29 minutes – 14.7 miles – Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge with a maximum depth of 137 metres with a near-vertical cliff-face to the south, and steep grassy slopes to the north.The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years old, was found.
More information here
Within 60 Minutes
- Montecute House – 31 minutes – 18.8 miles – Montacute House is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone and its surrounding gardens, it is a place of beauty and wonder.
More information here
- Vivary Park – 38 minutes – 22.4 miles – Linking the end of the pedestrianised High Street with the lower slopes of the Blackdown Hills is the award-winning Vivary Park, a member of the European Garden Heritage Network and laid out on the site of the vivarium fish lake which, in mediaeval times supplied the castle and the priory.
More information here
- Weston Super Mare Beach and Weston Sand Sculpture Festival and The Helicopter Museum – 43 minutes – 23.1 miles – The original British seaside resort of Weston Super Mare is steeped with Victorian history. Dominated by a long stretches of glorious, sandy beach, Weston Super Mare has lots to offer and is mostly on the level with no steep walkways to access the beach. The huge, level promenade offers vistas over the beach and sea to Brean Down, Steep Holm, Flat Holm and Wales. The Weston Sand Sculpture Festival is a month long festival displaying the work of many international artists producing extraordinary sculptures with around 5000 tonnes of Weston beach sand! The Helicopter Museum is the largest dedicated helicopter collection in the world with over 100 helicopters on display in an all-weather undercover hanger. Exhibits include two of the Queen’s Royal Flight helicopters, the current world speed record holder G-LYNX, a Vietnam veteran Huey and a Russian Hind gunship.
More information on Weston Super Mare here and Weston Sand Sculpture Fesitival here and The Helicopter Museum here
- The Museum of Somerset – 41 minutes – 22.5 miles – Set in the heart of Taunton, The Museum of Somerset lies within the 12th century Taunton Castle and tells the county’s fascinating story from prehistoric times to the present day, using real objects, interactive games, eye-catching film projections and the words and voices of Somerset people, past and present.
More information here
- Stoney Littleton Long Barrow – 43 minutes – 22.8 miles – Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is one of the country’s finest accessible examples of a Neolithic chambered tomb. Dating from about 3500 BC, it is 30 metres long and has multiple burial chambers open to view.
More information here
- Farleigh Hungerford Castle – 46 minutes – 25.9 miles – In a beautiful valley of the river Frome, on the border between Wiltshire and Somerset and only nine miles from Bath, stands the remains of Farleigh Hungerford Castle. Started in the 14th century, it still has much for visitors to enjoy and provides a great day out for families with children, couples and even walkers enjoying the beautiful surrounding countryside.
More information here
- West Somerset Railway and Dunster and Dunster Castle – 46 minutes – 26.2 miles – West Somerset Railway is the longest heritage line in the UK. The line starts at Bishops Lydeard and finishes at Minehead and line meanders through the Quantock Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty and along the Bristol Channel Coast. Break your journey at Dunste where there are delights at every turn in Dunster, whether it be the castle on the hill with its magnificent stables or the packhorse bridge and working watermill. It is hardly surprising that in one of the most intact medieval villages in Britain there is so much to explore and hidden gems around every corner such as the Prior’s Dovecote, Tithe Barn and a church containing the longest Rood screen in the country.
More information on West Somerset Railway here and Dunster here
- Bath and The Roman Baths – 47 minutes – 25.4 miles – American Museum & Gardens – 47 mins – 26 miles – The American Museum takes you on a journey through the history of America, from its early settlers to the twentieth century. With its remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts, the Museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions.
More information on Bath here and The Roman Baths here
- Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton Observatory – 48 minutes – 27.2 miles – Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of Bristol’s most recognisable structures. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it marks a turning point in the history of engineering and has come to symbolise a city of original thinkers and independent spirit. Established in 1766, the Clifton Observatory is an iconic landmark of Bristol offering a unique viewing platform overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the city of Bristol.
More information here and here
- Tyntesfield – 49 minutes – 26.8 miles – At its heart Tyntesfield is a Victorian country house and estate, which serves as a backdrop to the remarkable story of four generations of the Gibbs family. Their tale charts the accumulation of wealth from the guano trade, transformation of a Georgian house to a Victorian Gothic masterpiece and the collection of over 50,000 objects.
More information here
- SS Great Britain – 53 minutes – 27.6 miles – SS Great Britain is a museum ship and former passenger steamship, which was advanced for her time. She was the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854. She was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859), for the Great Western Steamship Company’s transatlantic service between Bristol and New York City.
More information here
If you do plan to visit any of these places, visit the Glastonbury Information Centre first to pick up some information about the place you are visiting and where applicable ask if they have any discount vouchers for entry. Also ask your accommodation provider who may have discount vouchers for your chosen attraction.
A full list of activities, attractions, parks and gardens to visit in Somerset can be found here
Have you visited an amazing place close to Glastonbury you think should be included on the list?
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