20 Attractions to Explore Near Wellington Monument

A beautiful medeival house surrounded by 12 acres of gardens. Different garden rooms are arranged along a yew walk. There is also a bog garden, cottage garden and a river walk. The manor is Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England, and its gate piers and wall to the north entrance of the house are listed Grade II.

Once used largely for the carriage of limestone, the canal is now a tranquil recreational waterway for walking, cycling, boating and fishing. An additional purpose of the canal was the supply of limestone and coal to lime kilns along with the removal of the resulting quicklime, which was used as a fertilizer and for building houses.

A richly detailed composition set in the middle of Vivary Park. Large circular basin with central fountain erected in memory of Queen Victoria and completed 1907. The large building in the background is Jellalabad Barracks, once a depot for Somerset Light Infantry but now residential apartments.

Vivary Park is Taunton’s premium park, located just minutes away from the town centre. At 7.5 hectares, Vivary Park is the perfect place to go for a picnic, a stroll or to spend the day. The public park came about because it’s so close to the centre of the town. The land had been used as for public events since at least 1851 when the first Taunton Flower Show was held there.

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. Exhibits include the Frome Hoard, the Low Ham Roman Mosaic, the bronze-age South Cadbury shield and a range of other objects relating to the history of the county.

Diggerland's campsite in Devon is the perfect location for families to build special and unforgettable memories. Set in the stunning grounds of Verbeer Manor. Surrounded by the beautiful, picturesque Devonshire countryside and within an easy 30 miles drive or cycle of two renowned English National Parks.

Hestercombe House is a historic country house in the parish of West Monkton in the Quantock Hills, near Taunton in Somerset, England. The house is a Grade II* listed building and the estate is Grade I listed on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is surrounded by gardens which have been restored to Gertrude Jekyll's original plans and have made it "one of the best Jekyll-Lutyens gardens open to the public on a regular basis", visited by

Hestercombe House is a historic country house in the parish of West Monkton in the Quantock Hills, near Taunton in Somerset, England. The house is a Grade II* listed building and the estate is Grade I listed on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It served as the Emergency Call Centre for the Somerset Area of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service until March 2012.

Fyne Court is a National Trust-owned nature reserve and visitor centre in Broomfield, Somerset, England. It was a large English country house belonging to the Crosse family since its construction, although the date when it was built is not known. It is surrounded by a large country estate of woodland, ponds and meadows. Within the grounds are a folly and boathouse.

The National Trust's Knightshayes, Devon, is a Victorian country house surrounded by acres of glorious gardens and parkland. The house is Grade I listed. The gardens are Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Out in the parkland, there are woodland walks, acres of tenanted farmland (home to our tenant farmers Exmoor Horn sheep), and our wild play area- so there really is something for everyone.

Chard Museum and Heritage Centre is a museum located in the village of Chard near the border with Devon. Exhibits include the history of Chard, historical agricultural equipment, a display on cider making, a 1960's exhibit, a blacksmith's forge display and an exhibit on John Stringfellow, who worked in Chard and was a pioneer of powered flying machines.

The Quantock Hills are an area of wilderness and tranquillity, which offers Panoramic views lead you through coast, heath and combe. The hills run from the Vale of Taunton Deane in the south, for about 15 miles to the north-west, ending at Kilve and West Quantoxhead on the coast of the Bristol Channel. They form the western border of Sedgemoor and the Somerset Levels.

A beautiful 19th- century watermill set in 5 acres of peaceful, landscaped water gardens, deep in the heart of Somerset. This watermill combines beautiful original features and traditional character with modern comforts. Today it has been beautifully converted into a 4-star hotel, with the historic mill’s stunning original features carefully preserved and sensitively integrated. All of the hotel’s cosy en suite rooms are individually designed and decorated in a traditional country style.

A beautiful reservoir, which is open to the public for watersports, walking and other outdoor activities. Managed by the charity the South West Lakes Trust, the site is promoted for recreational use by the public.

.The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal is a canal in South West England. It links the two towns of Bridgwater and Taunton and measures 14.5 miles long and has 7 locks. There is no navigable connection to the River Parrett today but the Canal is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, nature enthusiasts, fishermen and boatmen alike. The majority of the Canal is rural and offers tranquility to all.

Its 300 acre farm includes 70 acres of withy beds and is found in the heart of the Somerset Levels, an area of huge environmental and conservation importance. The Somerset Levels is the most important wetland area in the UK and home to a wide range of wildlife. This unique landscape provides the perfect conditions for growing basket making willow, known locally as 'withies'.

Coleridge Cottage is a cottage situated in Nether Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset, England. It is a grade II* listed building. The 17th century cottage was originally two buildings which were later combined and expanded. The cottage was constructed in the 17th century as two attached buildings. One contained a parlour, kitchen and service room on the ground floor and three corresponding bed chambers above, and an adjoining byre or barn.

Killerton House is the focal point of a substantial estate given to the National Trust in 1944 by Sir Richard Acland. The Aclands settled in this part of the country in the 16th century and earned the hereditary title of baronet by their loyalty to the King in the Civil War. The estate covers some 2590 hectares. Included in the Estate is a steep wooded hillside with the remains of an Iron Age Hillfort on top of it, also known as Dolby, which has also yielded evidence of Roman occupation, thoug

Tropiquaria Zoo is one of the most unique zoos or wildlife parks in the country. There is a mainly African theme to the tropical hall and aquarium as well as the large number of outside enclosures. The zoo is a member of BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and has successfully bred a number of endangered species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish.

Cleeve Abbey was founded in 1198, and the first Circestircian monks arrived here from Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire. Over its 350-year monastic history Cleeve was undistinguished amongst the abbeys of its order, frequently ill-governed and often financially troubled. The abbey remains include a gatehouse, cloister range, refectory with a superb angel roof, and a 'painted chamber' featuring medieval wall paintings.