Bridgwater

Bridgwater sits where the tidal River Parrett bends through the Somerset Levels, a few miles from the sea at Bridgwater Bay and hemmed in on its western side by the wooded slopes of the Quantock Hills. It has never been a chocolate-box town, and it does not try to be one: for centuries it was a working port and industrial centre, shipping Bath and Bridgwater brick and tile products around the world, and that no-nonsense character still shapes the place today. The tall spire of St Mary's Church, at 174 feet the tallest medieval spire in Somerset, is the one landmark you can see from almost anywhere in town, a useful compass point when exploring the older streets around the Cornhill.

The town's history runs deeper than its Georgian shopfronts suggest. Bridgwater was the birthplace of Admiral Robert Blake, one of the most successful naval commanders England has produced, and it played a pivotal role in the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, the last pitched battle fought on English soil, when the Duke of Monmouth's rebel army was crushed on the moors just outside town. That layered past, combined with easy access to the Somerset Levels, the Quantocks and the coast, makes Bridgwater a useful and interesting base for exploring this often-overlooked corner of the South West.

Top things to do in Bridgwater

Bridgwater rewards a bit of digging. Beyond the ordinary high street lies a genuinely distinctive set of attractions, from naval history to industrial heritage and one of the country's most spectacular annual events.

• Blake Museum — Housed in the late 15th-century building reputed to be the birthplace of Admiral Robert Blake, this town museum covers Bridgwater's role in the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion, along with Blake's sea chest and displays on local trade and archaeology.
• St Mary's Church — The parish church's 174-foot spire is the tallest medieval spire in the county, and the building itself contains a large altarpiece attributed to the Italian painter Andrea Vaccaro.
• Somerset Brick and Tile Museum — A reminder of the industry that once dominated the town, with a preserved 19th-century kiln, one of the few of its kind left in southern England, illustrating how Bridgwater brick and tile were shipped across the globe.
• Bridgwater and Taunton Canal towpath — Built in the early 19th century to link the River Parrett with the River Tone, the canal's towpath offers an easy, level walk or cycle out of town with views towards the Quantocks and the Levels.
• The Willow Man — A striking 12-metre woven willow sculpture beside the M5 near junction 24, celebrating the Somerset Levels' long tradition of willow growing and basket-making.
• Sedgemoor Battlefield, Westonzoyland — A short drive from town, the site of the 1685 Battle of Sedgemoor can still be walked, with information boards explaining the last pitched battle fought on English soil.
• Bridgwater Carnival — Held every November, this is reputed to be the largest illuminated carnival procession in Europe, with roots going back to 1605 and celebrations of the failure of the Gunpowder Plot; mile-long processions of huge illuminated 'carts' powered by on-board generators fill the town centre after dark.

Getting to Bridgwater

Bridgwater sits directly on the M5, with two junctions (23 and 24) serving the town, making it one of the most accessible towns in Somerset by car; Taunton is around 20 minutes away and Bristol under an hour. Bridgwater railway station has regular services on the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton/Exeter, run by Great Western Railway, putting London Paddington within around two hours by train with a change. National Express coaches also call at Bridgwater on routes along the M5 corridor. For onward exploration, the Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels and the coast at Burnham-on-Sea are all within a 20-minute drive.

Best time to visit Bridgwater

Spring and summer bring the best weather for walking the Quantock Hills or the canal towpath, and for day trips out to the coast at Burnham-on-Sea or Brean. However, many visitors deliberately time a trip for early November, when the town is transformed by Bridgwater Carnival, one of the biggest single events in the South West calendar, drawing crowds of well over 100,000 for the illuminated procession. Outside carnival season, Bridgwater is a quieter, functional sort of place, which suits those who want an affordable base for exploring rural Somerset without the crowds of Bath or the coastal resorts.

Where to stay in Bridgwater

Bridgwater has a practical spread of accommodation reflecting its role as a working town rather than a tourist honeypot: budget and mid-range chain hotels cluster near the M5 junctions and the town centre, useful for anyone touring Somerset by car. For something more characterful, the surrounding villages and the fringes of the Quantock Hills offer country inns, farmhouse B&Bs and self-catering cottages, while the coast at Burnham-on-Sea and Brean, a short drive away, adds seaside guesthouses and holiday parks to the mix.

Food and drink in Bridgwater

Bridgwater's food scene is unpretentious but solid. The Artichoke Gastropub on Clare Street has built a good local reputation for quality steaks and pub classics in a relaxed setting, while The White Willow offers gastropub food with a popular beer garden. The Malt Shovel on the High Street is a well-regarded traditional pub known for friendly service and reasonably priced food, and out on the edge of town The Bower Inn, an 18th-century pub with attractive gardens, serves hearty classics like beer-battered fish and chips. For a full English fish and chip experience, The Admiral Blake combines a chippy with sit-down restaurant seating. It is not a food-tourism destination in the way Bath or Bristol are, but there is enough here for a satisfying meal after a day exploring the Levels or the Quantocks.