Taunton (England)

Taunton is the county town of Somerset, a county in the south-west of England. Taunton has several landmarks room its thousand-year history, and is famous for its cider. == Get in == === By air === The nearest airports are at Bristol Airport (BRS IATA), to the north-west and Exeter Airport (EXT IATA), to the south-west, both about 35 mi (56 km) away. === By road === By road, leave the M5 motorway at exit 25. Taunton has a railway station on the main line from London Paddington (typical journey time 2 hr 5 min) to Exeter (25 min), Plymouth (1 hr 30 min), and Penzance (3 hr 40 min). Bristol is 35 min away by rail. === By train === 1 Taunton station has many rail connections: First Great Western operate direct trains to London Paddington and to Worcester and Great Malvern. CrossCountry operate services to Taunton from Birmingham, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both companies run direct trains to Bristol and Cheltenham Spa, Exeter, Paignton, Plymouth, and Penzance. For train times, see National Rail Enquiries. === By bus === Buses link to Wellington, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Exeter, and Chard. South West Falcon operates a service connecting Bristol, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth. A single fare from Plymouth to Bristol is £28. Tickets can be booked online in advance, but reservations are not strictly required. == Get around == Traffic in Taunton is awful. A park and ride service (the Taunton Flyer) provides transport between the town centre and a large car park at Silk Mills. The best options are to walk or take a bus. However, the bus and railway stations are a good 15 minutes' walk apart! === By bus === Buses are frequent during the week, but evenings and Sundays are very limited. Buses operated by Firstbus - They are expensive. == See == 1 Museum of Somerset, Castle Green, TA1 4AA, ☏ +44 1823 255088, county-museums@somerset.gov.uk. Tu-Sa and Bank Holiday M 10AM-5PM. Volunteer-run museum of local history. Free, donations welcome. (updated Apr 2019) 2 Hestercombe House and Gardens, TA2 8LQ. This is one of the finest examples of the world-renowned partnership between garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. 3 Somerset Cricket Museum, 7 Priory Ave, ☏ +44 1823 275893. Apr-Oct: Tu-F 11AM-3:30PM (phone if travelling). Small volunteer-run museum about cricket. £1. (updated Feb 2016) 4 County Classics Motor Museum, 52-53 North Street, TA1 1ND, ☏ +44 1823 253777. £13.95. (updated Feb 2025) == Do == 1 Brewhouse Theatre, Coal Orchard TA1 1JL, ☏ +44 1823 283244. Professional and community theatre. (updated Apr 2019) Cricket at 2 County Ground, St James St TA1 1JT (just east of river). Somerset CCC play in the First Division of the County Championship. (updated Apr 2019) 3 Taunton Racecourse, Orchard Portman TA3 7BL (B3170 two miles south of town), ☏ +44 1823 337172, info@tauntonracecourse.co.uk. Only in winter, as (unusually) this is solely a jumps course, with meetings every fortnight or so Oct-Mar. The course is near M5 but there's no junction with B3170, you need to exit at jcn 25 onto A358 west, then left onto Bridgewater Rd to zigzag around town. (updated Jan 2019) Rugby Union: Taunton Titans play in National League 1, the third tier. Their home ground is Veritas Park on Hyde Lane, two miles east of town centre. == Buy == 1 Taunton Deane services. Taunton Deane services both northbound and southbound have a WH Smith that sell all kinds of supplies and souvenirs including wooden carvings, aluminium lettering and even Buddha statues. (updated Jan 2018) Farmers Market is held on High St on Thursdays. == Eat == All of the major fast food chains are represented, including two branches each of Subway and McDonald's. The town has a range of coffee shops, including the major chains Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero. 1 Pizza Express, 20 Bridge Street, TA1 1UB, ☏ +44 1823 352245. Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM. (updated Jan 2018) 2 @Tristans, 11 East Reach, TA1 3EW, ☏ +44 1823 332117. Tu-Th 6:30PM-midnight, F Sa 6PM-midnight, Su M closed. (updated Jan 2018) Castle Bow Restaurant, in Castle Hotel, see Sleep, ☏ +44 1823 272671. W-Sa 6:30-9PM. Has a national reputation for cooking excellence, although the prices and formality reflect its fame. The hotel also has Brazz (open daily, breakfast 8-10AM, lunch noon-3PM, dinner 6-9PM, two-course set menu £12). tasting menu £64, à la carte mains from £20. (updated Apr 2019) 3 Willow Tree, 3 Tower Lane, ☏ +44 1823 352835. Tu W F Sa from 6:30PM. Cozy restaurant with superb food, open only in the evening. from £28. (updated Aug 2017) The Skewer House, 41 Bridge Street TA1 1TP, ☏ +44 1823 335711. Traditional and authentic Portuguese food. (updated Mar 2018) 4 The Barn, opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00. == Drink == 1 The Perkin Warbeck, 22–23 East Street, TA1 3LP, ☏ +44 1823 335830. Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F 8AM-1AM, Sa 8AM-2AM. JD Wetherspoon's pub. Its name comes from the supposed heir to the throne who marched an army into Taunton and was executed at the castle. (updated Jan 2018) 2 The Coal Orchard, 30 Bridge St, TA1 1UD, ☏ +44 1823 447330. Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM. JD Wetherspoon's pub. (updated Jan 2018) The Plough Inn, 75 Station Road,, ☏ +44 1823 324404. (updated Mar 2019) == Sleep == 1 Holiday Inn Taunton, Deane Gate Avenue, ☏ +44 870 400 9080. There is also a Holiday Inn Express nearby. (updated Jan 2018) 2 Corner House Hotel, 4 Wellington Rd, ☏ +44 1823 284683. 45-room hotel spread over three buildings, but with no lift. Rooms from £61. (updated Aug 2017) 3 Castle Hotel, Castle Green TA1 4AD, ☏ +44 1823 272671. Upscale hotel, some rooms still need an overhaul. Often booked out for weddings. With good restaurant. B&B double from £180. (updated Apr 2019) 4 Middle Stone Farm Glamping, Brompton Ralph TA4 2RT, ☏ +44 1984 248443. Safari glamping tents on a working farm. Tent £120. (updated May 2022) == Connect == As of May 2022, Taunton has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone. == Go next == West Somerset Railway[1], run by volunteers. Recapture the age of steam. Glastonbury, a place of pilgrimage, [2]. Cheddar Caves and Gorge, [3].