Taunton

Cricket takes centre stage here - this Somerset town hosts proper county matches at The County Ground, where the crack of leather on willow echoes across well-manicured pitches. Taunton sits confidently in the heart of the county, surrounded by the gentle rolling hills of the Blackdown Hills AONB and the flat expanses of the Somerset Levels.

Wellington Monument dominates the skyline from its perch on the Blackdowns, a towering tribute to the Iron Duke that's visible for miles around. The climb up through Birch Wood rewards you with cracking views across the Vale of Taunton Deane. Down in the town itself, the medieval streets hold their own charm, though the high street can feel a bit quiet midweek.

Outside town, the landscape shifts dramatically. Royston Lake and Luxhay Reservoir offer peaceful waterside walks, while Swains Lane Nature Reserve provides a proper dose of Somerset wildlife. The Somerset Levels stretch away to the north - vast, flat wetlands that flood spectacularly in winter and become a paradise for birds.

Rail links from London Paddington make this surprisingly accessible for a weekend break, with the M5 providing easy access by car. The surrounding countryside offers everything from gentle valley walks to serious hill hiking on the Blackdowns.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around Taunton gives you the perfect base for exploring both the town's attractions and the diverse Somerset landscape. You're within easy reach of the Quantock Hills to the north and Exmoor's southern edges, while the coast at Burnham-on-Sea is less than an hour's drive through classic Somerset countryside.