Market Towns in South Somerset

As classically Somerset as you can find, Somerton evokes memories of country life at its most quintessential. It’s conveniently walkable: start at the historical heart of Market Square and take in the town’s many landmarks like the rare octagonal-tower Church of St Michael and All Angels.

This ancient market town lies at the heart of the Somerset Levels, strategically placed at a crossing point over the River Parrett. 

Once of great strategic importance on the Fosse Way, this compact little Ham Stone town now has a quiet, unhurried charm with a variety of cafes, including Provender, with its deli counter, shops and an inn.  South Petherton's fine church has an octagonal central tower with twelve bells.

This thriving community is one of the largest parishes in Somerset and has one of the oldest domestic dwellings, the National Trust's Treasurer's House, as well as an impressive 13th parish church with one of the finest carved tie beam roofs in Somerset and an old grammar school founded in 1661.

Once a major Roman garrison town on the Fosse Way and the county town of Somerset until the 19th century. Ilchester's past is echoed in the Georgian houses and town hall, which contains a fascinating museum. Its 13th century church tower changes from square to octagonal as it rises.

The quintessential English village, with wide streets and glowing hamstone buildings, many of which are thatched which welcomes visitors to its many attactions.

Known as Ivell in Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, Yeovil is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a thriving market community and is still a country town at heart surrounded by beautiful countryside. An important centre for the leather industry in the 19th century, the town is famous for its glove-making with its football club nick-named the Glovers and for making helicopters. It has numerous shops, a country park, theatre and entertainment centre.

Settled in ancient times on a major Roman route through the West Country, Yeovil means ‘town on the river’. It’s south Somerset’s centre for entertainment and shopping, and is a centre for everything from top-league football to leather goods to military technology.

Bruton is a bit of a one off, even more so than every Somerset town.

Miles from anywhere, it’s a tiny and intense place, with shops, houses and chapels crowded close together even though it stands in the middle of tracts of rolling hills, and this gives it a very special character.

Chard is geographically the highest town in Somerset and nestles in a corner of South Somerset between Dorset and Devon.

Castle Cary - one of the most attractive of Somerset's market towns.

Tucked away in a secluded spot a few miles off the A303, the golden stone of Castle Cary and Ansford exudes a warm glow complemented by its glorious setting in the South Somerset countryside and its friendly inhabitants.