Cheddar’s the perfect place to visit all year round with plenty of activities the whole family can enjoy. Our award-winning Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa is the ideal destination for families, with an abundance of activities on-site to keep you busy such as Archery, Raft Building and Snorkeling, whatever your activity need our dedicated Go Active team are on hand to help. But for those days where you fancy going out and exploring a bit more of what beautiful Somerset has to offer, we’ve put together a handy list of the must visit attractions!
Cheddar Gorge
One of Britain’s most spectacular natural landmarks and less than a 10 minute walk from Cheddar Woods. Get to the top and enjoy the outstanding views around you and explore the fascinating caves below all hosting secrets about our prehistoric ancestors. Delve into the Gough’s Cave with chambers over 500,000 years olds including the ancient elders’ meeting chamber and secret cavum’s throughout. This is a must-see visiting Cheddar as it’s one of the most historically significant attractions in the UK.
Noah’s Ark Farm Zoo
A not-for-profit zoo that welcomes over 200,000 visitors a year, located just outside Bristol and situated in 100 acres of beautiful countryside. The Zoo is also a working farm, with an abundance and variety of animals from rabbits and guinea pigs to African Elephants range of Big Cats and cute wallabies. The Zoo also houses adventure and play areas throughout the grounds from outside areas like the elephant play zone, sand pit, welly splash zone, wallaby Hill and the mega monster and mini maze to explore! And if the weather isn’t on your side you can discover the indoor play areas, from the jungle den, beehive maze, the fabulous straw den or even milk a cow! Enjoy a fab family fun day at this must visit attraction in Cheddar.
Wookey Hole
Don’t be deceived this is not the same as the Cheddar caves… The Wookey Hole Caves are a group of limestone caves and tourist attraction only a short distance away from Cheddar Woods. Wookey Hole is about more than just caves though, there are over 20 fabulous attractions all at Wookey Hole! Including a 4D cinema, explore the valley of the Dinosaurs and the secret fairy gardens as well as the mirror maze, clown town, Witch of Wookey Hole, Pirate Zap Zone, and even a fabulous circus show! Definitely one of the best things to do in Cheddar for families.
Brean Theme Park
Brean Theme Park offers the ultimate family fun day out with over 40 attractions and rides to enjoy! The Brean Play offers a soft play area for children to get wild and enjoy, or visit the fabulous Brean Splash Waterpark during the warmer months and make the most of the sunshine! Brean Theme Park hosts everything from thrill seeking roller coasters to mini coasters and boat rides for the little ones (and anyone who isn’t a thrill seeker!). Admission to Brean Theme Park is free and you can purchase ‘Ride Tokens’ to pay as you play, or purchase ‘wristbands’ for unlimited rides! Brean Theme Park is perfect fun for the whole family.
Glastonbury town
Glastonbury is so much more than the famous music festival (as amazing as that is!) the town can date its history back to Neolithic times. Strolling around the colourful high street you can marvel at all the New Age Therapists, stores and market stalls, there really is no place quite like Glastonbury. (It’s my favourite place in the UK can you tell?) Glastonbury Abbey is steeped in history of the country, even being recorded in 1086 as the richest monastery in the UK in the famous Doomsday Book. The abbey is must see attraction in Glastonbury, along with the world famous Glastonbury Tor which has an accident history and overlooks the town. A site of religious significance for over 1000 years, the Tor draws thousands of visitors a year. The Tor even has connections to the legend of King Arthur, with the King and his knight’s visiting the Tor in 1191.
Puxton Park
An all-weather family fun day out is to be had at Puxton Park! Have a blast at the Adventure Area on the Pedal Kart Track in the Crazy Golf or the huge bouncing pillow. When the weather isn’t on your side venture to the indoor soft play area for the little ones, with a 6 lane rainbow slide, ball pit and so much more! Water pursuits offer fun with a boating lake, bumper boats and water walkers! Visit the Tractor Tracks where the little ones can ride around on motor powered tractors get messy with a JCB in the huge sand pit and enjoy the tractor rides. There is so much more to do at Puxton Park just waiting to be explored.
the garden at Dunster Castle
Visit Dunster Castle, the spectacular country home and amazing gardens that hosts 4 microclimates! The imposing medieval gatehouse and ruined tower of the castle are a reminder of the long and turbulent history. In the 19th century the Luttrell family was converted into a lavish country home and was occupied by this family for 600 years. The breath-taking gardens are the result of hundreds of years of planning restoration and clever planting taking you on a trip around the world. The South Terrace has kept the layout since the Victorian era with the plants representing that time period, the River Garden is a wild and wooded area with the Yew Bank being commissioned by Dorothy Luttrell in 1720. The Keep is the highest point in the whole Dunster landscape, hosting the Octagon Tower which was created as a shelter and dining area for bowls players in 1721, now houses and historical exhibition about the castle.
the Bishop’s Palace
The Bishop’s Palace has been at the heart of wells for over 800 years, with 14 acres of stunning grounds to explore and relax in an oasis of tranquility and peace. The Palace has been home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells for hundreds of years and is steeped in history, you can explore this beautiful medieval palace at your leisure. The Bishop’s Table serves mouth-watering dishes and delicious afternoon tea and don’t forget to visit the bell-ringing swans who ask for food by ringing the bell out of the kitchen window.
South West Karting
Have fun at Somerset’s number one karting experience. With 2 equally challenging and exciting tracks! When the weather isn’t on your side venture to the indoor track in Cheddar, only a few minutes away from Cheddar Woods. And on the sunnier days travel a little further to their outdoor track at Haynes International Motor Museum. Both tracks offer exhilarating fun for all the family catering to complete beginners and ultimate pros alike.
Book a stay with us at Cheddar Woods today and put these must visit attractions on your bucket list? You might fall in love with the beautiful county of Somerset and not want to leave! If that is the case don’t worry, our Cheddar Woods site offers holiday home ownership so feel free to call our friendly team on 01745 858010 to find out more.
If you’ve visited any of the attractions on this list then let us know what you thought…
For those that yet to enjoy the wonders of Cheddar, Happy Exploring!