# Chew Magna Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Chew Magna, a historic Somerset wool town by the River Chew, close to Chew Valley Lake, Bristol and Bath. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A honey-stone wool town beside a shimmering Somerset lake Photo © Nathalie Choubineh, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants) Chew Magna sits quietly in the Chew Valley, a few miles south of Bristol and within easy reach of Bath, its raised medieval pavements and weathered stone cottages a legacy of the wool money that once flowed through the town. In the 16th century, Henry VIII's antiquary John Leland passed through and called it a 'praty clothing towne', and little of that character has been lost since. The village has 50 listed buildings, including one Grade I structure, and its streets still funnel down to the River Chew, crossed by the late-15th-century Tun Bridge. Beyond the town, the valley opens out into farmland, hedgerows and the vast expanse of Chew Valley Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in the country, with the limestone rise of the Mendip Hills forming a backdrop to the south. It is a landscape built for slow days: gentle walking, lakeside birdwatching, cream teas and pub gardens, all within twenty minutes of a major city. Chew Magna was named Britain's best village by the Sunday Times in 2011, and it has since built a reputation for green living, with the parish working towards zero-waste status. ## Getting to Chew Magna Chew Magna sits just off the B3130, around eight miles south of Bristol city centre and roughly twelve miles from Bath, making it an easy drive from either city along the A37 or A38. Bristol Airport is only a few miles to the west, and Bristol Temple Meads station has regular mainline connections to London and beyond, from where a car or taxi covers the last leg into the valley. Local bus services link Chew Magna with Bristol and surrounding villages, though a car is the most practical way to explore the wider Chew Valley and Mendip countryside at your own pace. ## Best time to visit Chew Magna Spring and summer bring the valley to life, with long evenings for walking beside Chew Valley Lake, pub gardens in full swing and the countryside around the village at its greenest. Autumn is prized by birdwatchers, when the lake's wintering wildfowl begin to arrive and the reservoir becomes one of the most active birding sites in the South West. Winter is quieter and often misty, better suited to fireside pub lunches and short walks than long days outdoors, while the village's stone buildings and church make an atmospheric backdrop whatever the season. ## Where to stay in Chew Magna(2) [All hotels in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/hotels) About staying in Chew Magna Chew Magna makes a peaceful base for exploring the countryside between Bristol and the Mendip Hills, and while the village itself has only a handful of places to stay, the wider Chew Valley is well stocked with hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts. The Bear and Swan, right in the centre of the village, pairs boutique rooms with a proper pub atmosphere, while The Pony Chew Valley offers a smarter, food-led stay just outside the village on Moorledge Road. For a wider choice of hotel rooms, Bristol and Bath are both under half an hour's drive away and offer everything from budget chains to grand Georgian townhouses, making it easy to combine a night in the city with days out in the valley. Further afield, villages around Chew Valley Lake and towards the Mendip Hills have their own smaller inns and farmhouse B&Bs, many with views over the reservoir or the surrounding fields. These tend to book up quickly in summer and during the autumn birdwatching season, so early booking is worthwhile if you want to be close to the lake itself. Wherever you stay, the compact size of the Chew Valley means nowhere is really far from Chew Magna, and a short drive brings you back into the village for dinner or a morning walk along the River Chew. [The Bear & Swan 13 South Parade, Chew Magna](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/hotels/the-bear-swan) [The Old Farmhouse 14 High Street, Winford](https://staycation.co.uk/winford/hotels/the-old-farmhouse) [Carpenters Arms Stanton Wick, Pensford](https://staycation.co.uk/pensford/hotels/carpenters-arms) [The Dundry Inn Church Road, Winford](https://staycation.co.uk/winford/hotels/the-dundry-inn) [Rosemary House Accommodation 12 Parsonage Lane, Winford](https://staycation.co.uk/winford/hotels/rosemary-house-accommodation) [The Copper Coin 35 Felton Lane, Winford](https://staycation.co.uk/winford/hotels/the-copper-coin) [Winford Manor Hotel Old Hill, Bristol](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/hotels/winford-manor-hotel) [Bridge Farm Guesthouse Bridgwater Farm, Bristol](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/hotels/bridge-farm-guesthouse) ## Things to Do in Chew Magna [All attractions in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions) Top things to do in Chew Magna Chew Magna rewards unhurried exploring, and its surroundings offer some of the best walking, wildlife-watching and history in this corner of Somerset. - **St Andrew's Church** — a Grade I-listed 12th-century church at the heart of the village, with later medieval additions and a fine tower typical of the region's wool-funded churches. - **Chew Valley Lake** — a 1,200-acre reservoir completed in the 1950s to supply Bristol, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most important sites in Britain for wintering wildfowl, with more than 270 recorded bird species. - **Tun Bridge and the raised pavements** — a 15th-century packhorse bridge over the River Chew, reached along one of the village's distinctive elevated stone walkways. - **Chew Court** — the surviving fragment of a former summer palace belonging to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, a reminder of the town's medieval importance. - **Pensford Viaduct** — a striking 95-foot Grade II-listed former railway viaduct across the River Chew, a few minutes' drive from the village and a popular spot for photographs and walks. - **Stanton Drew Stone Circles** — one of the largest complexes of Neolithic standing stones in Britain, just outside the village and cared for by English Heritage. - **Woodford Lodge** — the fishing and permit hub on Chew Valley Lake, with a tackle shop, bird-watching hides and a lakeside restaurant. [Chew Valley Animal Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/chew-valley-animal-park) [Hartcliffe Farm ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/hartcliffe-farm) [Hengrove Park ⭐ 3.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/hengrove-park) [Redpoint Bristol ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/redpoint-bristol) [Crazy Climb Bristol ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/crazy-climb-bristol) [Hamburger Hill Paintball ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/hamburger-hill-paintball) [Congo Falls Adventure Golf ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/congo-falls-adventure-golf) [Victoria Park Bristol ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions/victoria-park-bristol) ## Where to Eat in Chew Magna(2) [All restaurants in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants) Food and drink in Chew Magna The Pony Chew Valley, a former coaching inn on the edge of the village, has built a strong reputation for its garden-grown produce and has held a Michelin star, drawing diners out from Bristol and Bath. The Bear and Swan, in the centre of the village, combines a traditional pub atmosphere with boutique rooms, making it a popular stop for both a pint and an overnight stay. Woodford Lodge, on the shore of Chew Valley Lake, offers a more relaxed lakeside restaurant for those out walking, fishing or birdwatching. [The Bear & Swan ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/the-bear-swan) [Lazy Lobster ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/lazy-lobster) [Chew Kitchen Limited ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/chew-kitchen-limited) [🍽️Restaurant Antoniasdeli Catering Ltd](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/antoniasdeli-catering-ltd) [The Pony Chew Valley ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/the-pony-chew-valley) [Chew Valley Raj ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/chew-valley-raj) [The Woodford ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/the-woodford) [Travellers Rest - Pensford ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants/travellers-rest-pensford) ## Attractions Near Chew Magna [All attractions in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Chew Magna. [1 mi Chew Valley Animal Park Bristol · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/chew-valley-animal-park) [3 mi Hartcliffe Farm Bristol · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/hartcliffe-farm) [4 mi Hengrove Park Bristol · ⭐ 3.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/hengrove-park) [5 mi Redpoint Bristol Bristol · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/redpoint-bristol) [5 mi Crazy Climb Bristol Bristol · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/crazy-climb-bristol) [5 mi Hamburger Hill Paintball Bristol · ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/hamburger-hill-paintball) [5 mi Congo Falls Adventure Golf Bristol · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/congo-falls-adventure-golf) [5 mi Victoria Park Bristol Bedminster · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bedminster/attractions/victoria-park-bristol) ## Camping in Chew Magna [All campsites in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/camping) About camping in Chew Magna England does not permit wild camping without the landowner's explicit permission, so anyone wanting to camp near Chew Magna needs to book into one of the established sites dotted around the Chew Valley and the fringes of the Mendip Hills. The valley's gently rolling farmland and hedgerowed lanes make for pleasant, sheltered camping country rather than dramatic wilderness, and several working farms in the area have diversified into small campsites offering grass pitches for tents and campervans alongside glamping options such as yurts and bell tents. A cluster of sites sit within a few miles of the village, with more choice around Cheddar and the Mendips to the south, many combining easy access to Chew Valley Lake with the caves and gorges the wider area is known for. Spring through early autumn is the most comfortable stretch for camping here, when the ground is drier and the long evenings suit a fire pit and a view over the valley; the reservoir's birdlife is at its most active in autumn, which appeals to campers happy to wrap up for cooler nights. Given the Chew Valley's modest size, most sites are within a short drive of the lake itself, Stanton Drew's stone circles and the village pubs, so a tent here doubles as a comfortable base for walking, fishing and birdwatching rather than a remote retreat. For those who prefer a roof and a proper bed without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping has taken hold across the area, with yurts, pods and bell tents available on farms within a short drive of Chew Magna, including sites up on the Mendips themselves. These typically come with fire pits, and some offer on-site shops or cafes, making them a straightforward, low-effort way to enjoy the valley's scenery without full camping kit. [Nesta Valley Camping ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/camping/nesta-valley-camping) [Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park ⭐ 4.6 · from £33/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/bath-chew-valley-caravan-park) [Walnut Tree Farm ⭐ 4.9 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/camping/walnut-tree-farm) [Dagger Wood Campsite ⭐ 4.7 · from £10/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/camping/dagger-wood-campsite) [Butcombe New Wood from £486/night](https://staycation.co.uk/butcombe/camping/butcombe-new-wood) [Willow Farm ⭐ 4.5 · from £55/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/willow-farm) [Cam Bridge Camping ⭐ 5.0 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/midsomer-norton/camping/cam-bridge-camping) [Brook Lodge Farm Camping & Caravan Park ⭐ 4.7 · from £25/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/camping/brook-lodge-farm-camping-and-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Chew Magna [All cottages in Chew Magna →](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/cottages) [🏡Cottage Annex Chetnole 3 bed · sleeps 4 · from £568](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/annex-chetnole-syk1095961) [Boundary Barn 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £623](https://staycation.co.uk/north-somerset/cottages/boundary-barn-syk1014609) [Number 7 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £607](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/number-7-syk1169053) [Noflash Malpal 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £495](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/noflash-malpal-syk1178334) [Ninky Nonk 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £504](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/ninky-nonk-syk1105633) [The Old Parlour 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £292](https://staycation.co.uk/north-somerset/cottages/the-old-parlour-syk942607) [The Cowshed 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £442](https://staycation.co.uk/north-somerset/cottages/the-cowshed-syk1192183) [🏡Cottage Yew Tree Farm 3 bed · sleeps 5](https://staycation.co.uk/north-somerset/cottages/yew-tree-farm-uk39904) ## Common questions about Chew Magna Where can I stay in Chew Magna? We list 2 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Chew Magna. Where can I eat in Chew Magna? We list 2 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Chew Magna. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Chew Magna Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DChew%2BMagna%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Chew Magna - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/chew-magna/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in Somerset](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset) - [🧭 All of the South West](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/south-west) ## Staycation ideas for Chew Magna [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)