Places To Visit

Weston-super-Mare is a fantastic base to explore some of Somerset’s biggest tourist highlights and is the gateway to the south west. We’ve got fabulous countryside, pretty villages, National Trust properties, historic sites, cider farms, spectacular caves, steam railways and interesting places to visit all within an hour’s drive.

Wookey Hole

Wookey Hole is home to the largest show caves in England.  In addition to the caves, there's a Dinosaur Grove, a vintage arcade, magic mirrors a museum and the Wookey Circus at weekends. It is around a 20 mile drive from Weston.

Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain's most beautiful and breath-taking sights. It is England's largest gorge and boasts spectacular caves you can visit. Cheddar is around a 30-minute drive from Weston but it can be done on the 126 bus.

Wells

Wells is England’s smallest city but don't let that put you off – it's incredible to visit with its picture-postcard Bishop’s Palace complete with its drawbridge and moat, the incredible Vicars Close and cathedral, as well as loads of cosy tea rooms and pubs. 

Clevedon

Clevedon is a Victorian seaside town steeped in living history with the only Grade I listed pier you can still visit in England and which was described by Sir John Betjeman as the most beautiful pier in England. It’s also home to the famous Curzon Cinema which has been entertaining people ever since its first performance in 1912 to raise money for the families of the victims of the Titanic disaster.

Glastonbury

Glastonbury has so much more to it than its famous music festival. Climb the Tor, visit the abbey and meander through the town’s quaint and quirky shopping street while bumping into people who have never left the town since falling in love with the place at their first Glastonbury Festival years ago.

North Somerset's quirky lighthouses

Quirky lighthouses are the norm in this part of Somerset. Burnham has three, one of which looks like a Punch & Judy stand sitting on top of nine stilts, then there’s Black Nore, near Portishead, which looks like a spaceship and Battery Point at Portishead with its black metal pyramid tower. You can walk from Battery Point to Black Nore and back in an afternoon.

Burnham

Catch the number 20 bus from Weston and you will be transported to Burnham-on-Sea  - a town with three lighthouses, Britain's shortest pier and a leaning church. Only one of Burnham's three lighthouses is working - the nine legged Low Lighthouse - which stands on the beach and has been likened by some to a Punch and Judy stand. St Andrew's Church is another must-see with its distinctive leaning tower while, just a short walk further along the promenade is Burnham Pier which is the shortest in Britain.

Brean Down

You'll see Brean Down - that large headland to the south of Weston's main beach -  from wherever you are in Weston-super-Mare but to appreciate this spectacular peninsular and fort properly you should visit it. You can hop on the Burnham bus or, if you're feeling energetic, walk or cycle there along the pretty eight-mile-long Brean Down Way.

West Somerset Steam Railway

West Somerset Railway is a 20-mile steam railway carving through stunning Somerset countryside and hugging the coast. Pick it up at Bishops Lydeard and let it take you all the way to the charming seaside town of Minehead.

Tyntesfield House

Tyntesfield House looks like something straight out of a fairytale with its romantic turrets, pinnacles and sweeping staircases. This remarkable National Trust property is even more remarkable given that it was funded by bird poo - imported guano (dried bird mess) which was used as fertiliser.

Bristol

Bristol makes a cool and easy day out with the SS Great Britain, the suspension bridge, Banksy’s art and museums among its many attractions. It's also home to blockbuster must-see events such as the city's Balloon Festival.

Shepton Mallet Prison

Shepton Mallet Prison once housed the infamous Kray twins and is now one of the south west's best-loved but most chilling tourist attractions. Shepton Mallet Prison is day-out you will never forget. Until it closed in 2013, it was Britain's oldest working prison, housing some of the most feared prisoners in the country, and now you can see and experience what it was like to be locked up there. You will go onto the wings, step into the cells, walk in the exercise yard and visit the execution area. 

Mendip Hills

The Mendip Hills offer some spectacular walking and cycling routes.

Sand Bay, Sand Point & Middle Hope

Catch the open-top Coaster Service number one bus to Sand Bay for spectacular views, peace and quiet, a huge unspoilt beach and a cracking walk. There's a few places to eat and drink on the road behind the sand dunes or alternatively bring a picnic, head for Sand Point and drop down into a quiet rocky cove for lunch with a view.