Discover Somerset

Local Culture

Somerset is possibly one of the most diverse counties in the UK

Turner painted it, Coleridge wrote about it and sea shanties have been sung about it. The Somerset stretch of the coast has captivated the artistic spirits of countless people over the centuries and continues to do so as is demonstrated by the numerous prints you can buy of views from the cliff tops or over the mudflats.

The resort of Minehead is home to award-winning artist Leo Davey who takes his inspiration from the local geology while the harbour town of Watchet has created Contains Art - a flexible space for artist, designers and makers to show their work in old shipping containers.

Bridgwater is where the first Arts Council funded Arts Centre in the Country was born and the town is known internationally as the home of carnival for its illuminated processions each November which are the biggest and brightest in Europe. Also in the Autumn, more than 100 locations across the County including many on the coastal strip take part in an Art Festival.

With stunning sunsets and extraordinary vistas, it is not surprising that as well as being the subject of so many photographs the Somerset coast has also featured in films and TV programmes.

Broadchurch was filmed at Clevedon, The Café in Weston, Pandemonium on the Quantocks, the Crimson Field and Another Mother’s Son at Berrow Dunes and Wolf Hall on Bridgwater.

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