Taunton

Two golf courses within the town limits tell you something about Taunton's character. This is Somerset's no-nonsense county town, where the cricket ground has proper heritage and the high street still has independent shops that actually survive.

Taunton sits in the Vale of Taunton Deane, surrounded by proper countryside that rolls gently towards the Quantock Hills. The town itself has a market feel - busy on Saturdays, sensibly quiet midweek. The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre anchors the cultural scene, while the Somerset Cricket Museum celebrates the county's sporting pride. You'll find the curious Somerset Space Walk's Pluto installation here too, part of a solar system scattered across the county.

Cricket fans make pilgrimages to the County Ground. The Somerset Military Museum tells local stories well, though it's not exactly a crowd-puller. More intriguing is the Willow Cathedral, an art installation that captures Somerset's basket-making heritage in living form.

The M5 runs right past Taunton, making it brilliantly connected to Bristol and Exeter. Junction 25 puts you in the town centre within minutes. Direct trains link to London Paddington in under two hours, while local lines head west into Devon and north to Bridgwater.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to walk into town for evening meals, yet positioned for day trips across Somerset. The Quantocks are a twenty-minute drive north, while Exmoor's southern edge is equally accessible. From Secret Valley to the Somerset Levels' flat expanses, the camping options suit every taste, whether you fancy glamping luxury or traditional pitches under open skies.