Great things to do in Somerset in Summer with kids

Spend a Day at the Beach

Somerset has a beautiful coastline with plenty of beaches to choose from. Minehead is a popular family-friendly beach with a wide sandy shore, shallow waters, and a variety of shops arcades and restaurants. Another great beach option is Weston-super-Mare with its Grand Pier which has a wide variety of attrations including go-karting, axe throwing and lots of seaside favourites, including Dodgems, House of Horrors and Helter Skelter . Minehead and Weston-super-Mare are both 45 minutes from White Post Holiday Cottages.

Dunster Castle and Watermill

Set in the beautiful surroundings of West Somerset with its thatched cottages, cobbled streets and sea views – the ancient Dunster Castle is an impressive sight and fantasic day out.

A former motte and bailey castle, it’s now a country home under the care of the National Trust. Visitors can explore the castle, gardens, crypt and ghost exhibition, working watermill and access numerous walks from the grounds.

Dunster itself offers gastro pubs, tea rooms and lots of little shops so is well worth an explore as is the quiet stone beach with steam trains running alongside. Dunster and the castle are 45 minutes from White Post Holiday Cottages.

Puxton Park

Surrounded by 40 acres of rolling Somerset countryside, this adventure park is jam-packed with fun stuff for kids. There are tractor rides, a bouncing pillow, trampolines, a miniature train, crazy golf, playgrounds, bumper boats, a pedal kart track, diggers, a boating lake and water activities, dodgems-style cars, a high ropes course and all kinds of animals to meet.

Its great for rainy days too as inside as inside you'll find soft play, animals to pet in the discovery barn, a couple of restaurants and a farm shop. Puxton Park is 45 minutes from White Post Holiday Cottages.

Go on a Steam Train Adventure

All aboard! The West Somerset Railway is a heritage railway that runs through some of the most beautiful countryside in Somerset. You can take a steam train journey through picturesque villages and past stunning scenery. There are also opportunities to visit historic stations and museums along the way. The line starts at Bishops Lydeard which is just a 30 minute drive from White Post Holiday Cottages and ends at MInehead - although there are lots of places to stop along the way.

Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton

Located just outside Taunton, Hestercombe Gardens is a beautiful 18th-century landscape garden. Kids will love exploring the winding paths, playing in the water features, hiding in the little houses and huts within the garden and spotting wildlife. The gardens are also home to a stunning collection of plants and trees.

Hestercombe puts on some great seasonal events and kids activities in the holiday so check out there website for Santa visits, Halloween trails, a Christmas lights trail and there’s a fantastic cafe, restaurant and gift/plant shop to boot. Hestercombe is 25 minutes from White Post Holiday Cottages.

Futher afield - if you don't mind a longer journey - these great days out are an hour away

Discover Glastonbury Tor

For a bit of adventure, climb Glastonbury Tor, a historic hilltop with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The climb may be challenging for younger children, but the reward is worth it. At the top, you'll find the ruins of a medieval church and breathtaking panoramic views. Nearby there is also the Somerset Rural Life Museum where you can explore rural trades, food and farming, and rural crafts.

Explore Cheddar Gorge

No trip to Somerset is complete without a visit to Cheddar Gorge. This dramatic limestone gorge is a natural wonder, and there's plenty to keep the kids entertained. You can take a cable car to the top of the gorge, explore the caves, and even go on a fossil hunt. Cheddar itself has ample tearooms offering cream teas galore and shops stocking the world famous Cheddar cheese!

Visit Wookey Hole Caves

On the edge of the Mendip hills near Wells, Wookey Hole is the largest cave system in the UK and one of the spookiest places to visit in Somerset thanks to its infamous resident, the Witch of Wookey, who – as legend has it – lived in the caves during the Dark Ages. This fascinating cave system is home to a variety of underground features, including stalactites, stalagmites, and a subterranean river.

While the caves are the main attraction, there’s lots to keep the kids entertained for a full day out above ground too; from animatronic dinosaurs, 4D cinema screenings, circus shows, and gigantic soft play to a Victorian-style arcade and a fairy garden.

Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford

From Somerset trains, to planes to automobiles…discover the fascinating stories behind motoring history at Haynes International Motor museum. If your little one is into cars, add this to your must-see places to visit in Somerset.

From vintage classics to modern supercars, the museum boasts an impressive array of vehicles. Kids will love exploring the interactive exhibits, learning about the history of cars and how they work. There are dedicated play areas where children can burn off energy and have fun.

Keep an eye out for special events and exhibitions throughout the year.