School Visits

Somerset - the heart of the West Country

Land of cheddar cheese and apples - a real taste of the West Country! Wells, Glastonbury, Exmoor, over 40 miles of coast - Somerset is the ideal destination for groups.

Did you know there are over 150 attractions in Somerset and many of these are keen and happy to accept school groups - indeed, many have stated their relevance to the National Curriculum in the Somerset Tourism Directory . This free full colour publication is packed with information on things to see and do throughout this beautiful county and is available from Somerset Tourism - tel: 01823 355255; email scphillips@somerset.gov.uk

Places to visit include some large and small museums such as the Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, the Fleet Air Arm museum, Yeovilton, and of course the large County museum at Taunton. There are some fascinating Interpretation centres including the Willows and Wetlands Centre, near Taunton and the River Parret Centre, Langport.

The county boasts many historical and heritage attractions such as Wells Cathedral, in England's smallest city and Glastonbury Abbey - where monks claimed to have found the bones of King Arthur and Gwynevere. Cadbury Castle in South Somerset is a large Iron Age hill fort, the alleged site of King Arthur's Camelot.

There are spectacular showcaves at Wookey Hole and Cheddar (the home of cheddar cheese!) and an abundance of wildlife at Cricket St Thomas near Chard.

Somerset is gaining a reputation as a centre of food and drink excellence - school groups could visit a working cider farm or see real cheddar cheese being made. There are over a dozen farmers markets throughout Somerset all offering quality local produce direct from the friendly and enthusiastic farmers and producers.

There are several farm and animal attractions in Somerset such as Animal Farm near Burnham-on-Sea and Ferne Animal Sanctury near Chard.

Somerset is easy to get to with excellent road and rail routes - just a few hours from London or Birmingham but with a timeless rural beauty that will be remembered long after the visit!

Advice and Information

For general advice contact the Somerset Visitor Centre - tel: 01934 750833 email: somersetvisitorcentre@somerset.gov.uk or any of the expert and friendly staff in the different Information Centres (many are open all year round)

Events

For up-to-date events information take a look at our events section.