Serviced Apartments in Taunton

Discover the best activities and attractions Taunton has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Museum of Somerset (Taunton Castle)
The Museum of Somerset, housed within the historic Taunton Castle, preserves and interprets the county’s archaeology, social history and natural heritage—from prehistoric finds to local industry and the Civil War. It’s a major cultural asset that draws local school groups, regional visitors and history enthusiasts, supporting heritage tourism and creating jobs in curation, education and visitor services. The combination of a castle setting, hands-on displays and rotating exhibitions makes it a family-friendly destination and a focal point for community learning and events.

Vivary Park
Vivary Park is Taunton’s central Victorian park, famed for its floral displays, ornamental lake, bandstand and children’s play areas. It hosts seasonal events, community gatherings and fun activities that bring residents together, while attracting leisure visitors who boost nearby cafés, pubs and shops. As a green lung in the town centre, Vivary Park supports local wellbeing, provides space for festivals and sporting activities, and enhances property values and the attractiveness of Taunton as a place to live.

Hestercombe Gardens
Just outside Taunton, Hestercombe Gardens is a nationally important, beautifully restored historic garden complex (with notable early 20th‑century Lutyens/Jekyll‑influenced landscaping), formal terraces, water features and wider parkland. It’s popular with gardeners, photographers and wedding parties—generating tourism income, specialist horticultural employment and revenue for local hospitality businesses. The site’s conservation and education programmes help sustain regional botanical expertise and draw visitors who stay locally and explore Somerset’s wider attractions.

Somerset County Cricket Club (Taunton County Ground)
Home to Somerset County Cricket Club, the Taunton County Ground is a major sporting hub hosting county fixtures, one‑day games and occasional high-profile matches and events. Match days and associated hospitality drive significant local spending in hotels, pubs and restaurants, while the club provides community outreach, youth coaching and volunteer opportunities that strengthen local sport pathways. The ground’s lively match atmosphere and strong local support make it a key reason visitors come to Taunton.

Taunton Town Centre — Markets, Independent Shops, Dining & The Brewhouse Theatre
Taunton’s compact town centre combines traditional markets, a mix of high‑street and independent retailers, a lively dining scene of pubs and cafés, plus cultural programming at venues such as The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre. Regular markets and pop‑up events support small businesses and producers, keeping spend local and preserving the town’s character. Meanwhile, theatre shows, comedy nights and community arts activities enrich cultural life and attract evening footfall—together sustaining jobs in retail, hospitality and the creative sector and making Taunton a thriving regional centre.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Taunton, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Taunton railway station - Served by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry with regular direct services to London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids and other South West and national destinations; station offers ticketing facilities, a taxi rank and cycle parking and is the main rail hub for commuter and long‑distance travel.
- Local and regional buses - Bus services operate from Taunton Bus Station and key stops around the town, linking Taunton with nearby towns and villages (e.g., Wellington, Bridgwater, Minehead and Yeovil) and providing urban routes, school services and commuter links; services are run by a mix of major operators and independents.
- National and long‑distance coaches - National Express and other coach operators offer scheduled intercity connections via Taunton, providing longer‑distance travel options to London, the Midlands and other major cities, typically using the M5/A358 corridors.
- Park and ride / town car parks - Park‑and‑ride facilities and multiple town centre car parks provide options for commuters to leave cars on the outskirts and use buses into the centre, helping to reduce congestion and ease access to retail and rail hubs.
- Taxis and private‑hire / ride‑hailing - Licensed taxi services and private‑hire operators are available from ranks and by pre‑book; app‑based ride‑hailing operates with variable coverage in evenings and rural areas.
- Heritage and leisure rail connections - The nearby West Somerset Railway (Bishops Lydeard to Minehead) provides seasonal heritage services and is accessible by short road links from Taunton, supporting leisure and tourism travel.

Major Highways
- M5 - Primary north–south motorway providing fast connections to Bristol, the Midlands and the South West; main strategic route serving Taunton via nearby junctions.
- A358 - Key A‑road linking Taunton eastwards toward the A303/A30 corridor and serving as an important regional connector for traffic to/from the M5 and routes toward the south‑east.
- A38 - Major trunk route in the region offering an alternative to the M5 for some journeys and linking to coastal and regional destinations.
- A361 - Regional A‑road providing additional north–south and cross‑county connectivity for freight and local traffic around Taunton and neighbouring districts.
- A303 (via A358) - Principal east–west trunk route to the south of Taunton; accessed via the A358 for long‑distance travel toward London and the south‑west peninsula.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes and routes - A mix of on‑road cycle lanes and off‑road shared‑use paths (notably routes alongside the River Tone and links between residential areas, the town centre and the railway station), supported by cycle parking at key hubs; the local authority has been investing in improved cycle links, traffic‑calmed streets and secure parking to promote everyday cycling and leisure routes.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- A358 Taunton–Southfields upgrade - A planned dualling and junction improvement scheme to provide a faster, safer link from Taunton to the A303/A30, intended to improve access to the South West and reduce congestion on regional routes (design and delivery phases progressing under national/highways programmes).
- Rail station and service upgrades - Recent accessibility and platform works, improved passenger facilities and enhanced cycle parking at Taunton station, along with operator investments in rolling stock and timetable adjustments to boost capacity and reliability on key routes.
- Bus network modernisation and low‑emission fleet roll‑out - Operator and council initiatives introducing newer, lower‑emission buses on core routes, timetable realignments to serve new residential areas and improvements to bus stop facilities and shelters.
- Active travel and cycling investment - Ongoing and planned schemes funded by local and national active‑travel programmes to expand protected cycle lanes, upgrade pedestrian crossings and create safer school and commuter routes, improving modal choice for short trips.
- Town centre access and junction improvements - Town centre regeneration projects and targeted junction works aimed at improving pedestrian spaces, easing traffic pinch‑points, better integrating bus/rail interchange and updating wayfinding and parking strategies.
- Resilience and drainage works - Road maintenance, drainage upgrades and flood‑mitigation measures on key approaches to Taunton to protect the transport network from extreme weather impacts and maintain reliable commuting and freight movements.