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Bakelite Museum | Cadbury Castle | Cleeve Abbey | Coleridge Cottage | Dunster Castle | Hungerford Castle | Fleet Air Arm Museum | Glastonbury Abbey | Haynes Motor Museum | Helicopter Museum | Muchelney Abbey | Nunney Castle | Stoke-Sub-Hamdon Priory | Shoe Museum | Taunton Castle | Wells Cathedral | Woodspring Priory

Bakelite Museum

Vast nostalgic collection of Bakelite and retro plastic artifacts, ranging from quirky Victorian wares to stylish Art Deco pieces. Includes many unusual items such as a full size jukebox and a Bakelite coffin.

Opening times: Easter~Oct, Thurs-Sun, 10.30am to 6pm Admission Charge
Location: Orchard Hill, Williton, Somerset, TA4 4NS
Tel: 01984 632133
Website: bakelitemuseum.co.uk
Facilities: parking, cafe

Cadbury Castle

The ancient hill-fort above the village of South Cadbury is identified by legend as the site of King Arthur's Camelot. There is some compelling evidence to back this up as excavations confirm that a large timber fort stood here around AD 500 (Arthur's period). Archeologists say it was the biggest known fort in Britain at that time and so it may have been Arthur's stronghold. Also the nearby Villages of West Camel and Queen Camel, hint of the name Camelot. Archeologists have also found evidence that a Roman army stormed the hill about AD 70. Skeletons uncovered near the hilltop's south-west corner suggest the Romans had massacred women and children.

Cadbury Castle from Parrock Hill © Copyright Graham Horn (CC2)

The site can be accessed from the end of Castle Lane (pedestrian access only), just south-west of the village. A small car park is situated on Church lane, near the entrance to Castle Lane.

Cleeve Abbey

Late 13th-c red sandstone abbey ruins, featuring some of the finest cloister buildings in Britain. Of particular interest are the monk's quarters (dorter range), which rarely survive in most other sites. Also contains rare medieval wall paintings and mosaic tiled floors.
Run by English Heritage*

Opening times: Apr~Nov, daily, 10am to 5pm. Admission Charge*
Location: Abbey Road, Washford, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0PS
Tel: 01984 640377 - Website
Facilities: Parking, shop, picnic area
Image Credit: Patrick Mackie (CC2)

Coleridge Cottage

Samuel Coleridge, lived here from 1797 to 1800, during which he wrote some of his most famous works including: Kubla Khan, Frost at Midnight and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Coleridge Way, a 36 mile walk, begins in the village and runs all the way to Porlock on the coast, through much of the countryside that inspired him.
Run by the National Trust*

Opening times: Apr~Sep, Thu-Sun & BHs 2pm to 5pm Admission Charge*
Location: 35 Lime St, Nether Stowey, Somerset, TA5 1NO - Tel: 01278 732662 Website

Dunster Castle

A fairy-tale crenellated castle set on a hill overlooking Dunster village. Dating from 1070, it was the home of the Luttrell family for 600 years. Read more about Dunster Castle...

Farleigh Hungerford Castle

The castle ruin still stands guard over the Somerset/Wiltshire border, set in the picturesque Frome valley. Built by Sir Thomas de Hungerford, a Wiltshire squire and one-time speaker in the house of commons. The rectangular inner keep has five story angle towers and outer walls with towers and a magnificent gateway. Enclosed within is St Leonard's Chapel, containing rare medieval paintings and many memorials to the Hungerford family. Run by English Heritage*

Opening times: all year, daily from 10am (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Farleigh, Somerset, BA2 7RS - Tel: 01225 754026 Website
Facilities: parking, shop

Fleet Air Arm Museum

Europe's largest collection of vintage Naval aircraft from biplanes to Sea Harriers and the first British Concorde. Interactive and permanent displays explain how aircraft fly and tell the history of naval flight. Also tour the award winning 'Aircraft Carrier Experience' with realistic working flight deck. Great all weather family attraction.

Opening times: all year, daily from 10am (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, Somerset, BA22 8HT - Tel: 01935 840565 Website
Facilities: parking, refreshments, gift shop

Glastonbury Abbey

The ruins of the abbey date from the 12th century. The body of King Arthur is said to lie here. Read more about Glastonbury Abbey...

Haynes International Motor Museum

Vast international collection of the worlds greatest makes of motorcar. Hundreds of vintage vehicle and motorcycles, with classic brands such as Austin, MG, Morris, and high performance cars like Jaguar and Ferrari; all displayed with immaculate style. Also includes an American classics collection. There is plenty for the kids to do too, with themed adventure play areas, a soft play bus, go-karts and super diggers.

Opening times: all year, Mar~Oct, daily 9.30am to 5.30pm, Nov~Mar, 10am to 4.30pm (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7LH - Tel: 01963 440804 Website
Facilities: parking, refreshments, shop

The Helicopter Museum

The world's largest vintage helicopter collection, with over 70 helicopters and auto gyros from around the world, including the Queen's Royal flight.

Opening times: all year, Wed-Sun from 10am (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Locking Moor Rd, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, BS24 8PP - Tel: 01934 635227 Website
Facilities: parking, gift shop, helicopter flights

Muchelney Abbey

Founded in 639 by Benedictine monks, the monastery was destroyed in Viking raids and re-built around 950. The monastery was finally dissolved in 1538 and converted for use as farm buildings. The current remains date to the 12th-c and include a thatched priest's house with a two-storey medieval hall, a kitchen with massive double-sided fireplace, a guestroom with coffered oak ceiling and parlour with linenfold paneling and ornate stone fireplace.
Run by English Heritage*

Opening times: Apr~Nov, daily from 10am Admission Charge
Location: Muchelney, Somerset, TA10 0DO - Tel: 01458 250664 Website
Facilities: parking, shop

Nunney Castle

Located in a pretty village on the eastern edge of the Mendips, this medieval moated castle is probably the finest in the county. Although heavily damaged during the Civil War, it is still an impressive sight. Constructed in 1373 by John de la Mere in a medieval French style, it has four impressive towers that rise 50 feet above its broad water filled moat. Run by English Heritage*

Opening times: any reasonable time Free Entry
Location: Nunney (near Frome), Somerset Website
Facilities: parking, toilets

Stoke-Sub-Hamdon Priory

Complex of 14th-c ecclesiastical buildings built for the priests of the Chantry Chapel of St Nicholas. Run by the National Trust*

Opening times: Mar~Oct, daily 10am to 6pm (or dusk) Free Entry
Location: North Street, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, TA14 6QP - Tel: 01935 823289 Website

The Shoe Museum

The museum is located in the oldest part of the original Clark's shoe factory set up by Cyrus and James Clark in 1825. Exhibits include hundreds of shoes from Roman times to the present, buckles, engravings, fashion plates, manufacturing machinery and hand tools.

Opening times: all year, Mon-Fri 10am to 4.45pm (closed Xmas & BH) Admission Charge/Free Entry
Location: High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EO - Tel: 01458 842243 Website
Facilities:

Taunton Castle

An impressive 13th-century Bishop's fortress. The Great Hall was a law court for centuries and the scene of judge Jeffreys's 'Bloody Assize' in 1685. More about Taunton Castle...

Wells Cathedral

Dating from the 12th-c, Wells Cathedral is England's most wholly Gothic Cathedral. It contains the most extensive example of medieval sculpture still surviving in the British Isles. More about Wells Cathedral...

Woodspring Priory

Worth visiting if you are in the area. It can be reached by footpath from Sand Bay (Weston-Super-Mare) or by car from the village of Kewstoke. Run by the Landmark Trust, it contains a small museum. The priory was originally a house of Augustinian monks, founded in 1210. It was endowed by William de Courtenay, a grandson of one of the knights who murdered Thomas Becket. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the priory church was used as a farmhouse. The priory sits in a blissful rural setting just above Wood spring Bay. The National Trust acquired the estate in 1968 and it later passed into the care of the Landmark Trust who fully restored it, and currently let out parts of the building on a self-catering basis. Run by the Landmark Trust

Opening times: all year, Mon & Fri (except BH), 10.30am and 3.30pm. Free Entry to Museum
Location: Near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset - Tel: 01628 825920 Website
Facilities: Car park (National Trust), shop

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Please note that the above information was accurate at the time this page was last updated. This information is subject to change at any time (opening times in particular), therefore if you plan on visiting any of the above attractions, please check the owner's website first or phone them for the latest details.