4 Resort Hotels in Somerset Worth Booking Now

Somerset sits at the crossroads of the Mendip Hills, Exmoor National Park, and the Somerset Levels, making it one of the most geographically varied counties in southern England. Transport here is car-dependent - the A39 and A358 are the main arteries, and while Bath and Bristol are reachable within an hour, most rural properties require your own vehicle. Visitor patterns peak sharply between June and September, particularly around Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge, and the Exmoor Heritage Coast, but outside those months the county offers genuine tranquility.

Somerset suits walkers, foodies, and travellers seeking a slower pace of rural England. Those expecting urban nightlife or frequent public transport connections will find the pace frustrating, but for resort-style stays centred on nature, food, and wellness, few English counties match Somerset's variety within such a compact area.

Pros:

• Exceptional variety of natural landscapes - Exmoor, Mendips, and the Levels all within around 60 km of each other
• Strong food culture with locally sourced produce widely available at hotel restaurants
• Lower visitor density than the Cotswolds, offering a more relaxed experience at most sites

Cons:

• Almost no useful public transport between rural hotels and key attractions
• Somerset towns close early - evening dining and entertainment options are limited outside Bath
• Accommodation books out quickly during Glastonbury Festival season and summer school holidays

Resort-style hotels in Somerset tend to occupy former country houses, historic inns, or large rural estates, giving them genuine space advantages over city-centre properties. Free parking is standard at virtually every resort hotel in the county, which immediately offsets the cost compared to Bristol or Bath city hotels where parking can add around £20 per night. Room sizes are typically larger than urban equivalents, and most properties include on-site dining, leisure facilities, and direct access to walking or cycling routes.

The trade-off is distance - Somerset's best resort hotels are not within walking distance of major attractions. You'll need a car to visit Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge, or the Roman Baths, and some properties are on single-track lanes that feel genuinely remote after dark. That said, for travellers whose priority is unwinding rather than sightseeing, Somerset resort hotels offer among the best value in southern England for the space, facilities, and setting they deliver.

Pros:

• Free parking, larger rooms, and on-site leisure facilities standard at most properties
• On-site restaurants frequently use local Somerset produce - trout, game, dairy, and cider
• Strong value relative to Cotswolds or Lake District resorts with comparable facilities

Cons:

• Car essential - no resort hotel in Somerset is walkable to a major town or attraction
• Fewer spa and wellness options than destination resorts in Devon or the Cotswolds
• Rural settings mean limited options if on-site dining closes or is unavailable

Somerset's resort hotels cluster into three broad zones: the northeast corridor between Bath and Wells (best for heritage tourism and day trips to Bristol), the Exmoor National Park belt around Exford and Dulverton (best for hiking and wilderness immersion), and the southern corridor near Chard and the Jurassic Coast fringe (best for quieter countryside stays). The Bath-Wells corridor fills first during summer, so booking at least 8 weeks ahead is advisable for July and August stays. Exmoor properties, by contrast, are popular with walkers from April through October but rarely sell out as rapidly.

For first-time visitors, positioning near Shepton Mallet or Midsomer Norton gives the most flexibility - you're within 30 minutes of Bath, Wells, Glastonbury, and Cheddar Gorge simultaneously. The Quantock Hills and Exmoor are better choices for a dedicated walking or cycling trip, while the Chard area suits those combining Somerset with a Dorset coastal extension. Cheddar Gorge and the Glastonbury Tor are the two most visited landmarks in the county, and both are accessible within a short drive from most resort properties featured in this guide.

Somerset has two distinct peak periods: late July through August, when families and domestic tourists fill the county's rural hotels, and the Glastonbury Festival fortnight in late June, when accommodation within 30 km of the festival site sells out months in advance. Book at least 8 weeks ahead for any summer stay, particularly for properties near Bath, Wells, or Glastonbury. Outside these windows, September and early October are the strongest value months - the weather remains reliable, Exmoor turns to autumn colour, and occupancy drops noticeably.

For Exmoor-based properties like the White Horse Inn, the spring walking season from April to May offers excellent conditions with lighter crowds. Winter stays at countryside inns with wood-burners and whisky bars have their own appeal, though some smaller Somerset properties reduce restaurant hours from November through February. A minimum stay of 2 nights is the practical floor for any resort property in Somerset - the driving distances between sites make a single night feel rushed, and most properties price weekend stays at a modest premium over midweek rates.