In the east, Frome and Bruton have become bywords for modern rural living. Once a quiet market town, Frome now buzzes with independent shops, artists’ studios, and an award-winning monthly market that attracts visitors from across the South West. Period townhouses line Catherine Hill and gentle hills roll out in every direction, offering country houses and farmsteads within a few miles of the centre. A short drive away, Bruton has evolved into one of Somerset’s most fashionable addresses, thanks to the arrival of the Hauser & Wirth gallery and a cluster of acclaimed restaurants such as Osip and At the Chapel. Buyers are drawn to its combination of understated elegance, strong cultural identity, and a community that blends London polish with West Country charm.
Close by, Castle Cary is a quintessential Somerset market town with handsome Georgian houses, an old-fashioned high street, and a direct train link to London Paddington. Its rural hinterland, including Hadspen, Alhampton, and Ansford, is dotted with converted barns, stone cottages, and discreet country homes. Further south, the villages around Ilminster — from Dowlish Wake to Donyatt — offer classic Somerset scenery of meadows, hedgerows, and winding lanes. Here, old farmhouses and thatched cottages sit comfortably in a landscape that has changed little in centuries, attracting those seeking privacy and traditional country life.
At the county’s heart lies Bath, whose golden terraces and crescents make it one of the most architecturally celebrated cities in Britain. Beyond its Georgian symmetry, Bath is also a hub for education, culture, and wellbeing, with leading schools, festivals, and spa traditions that date back to Roman times. It’s ideal for buyers who want the sophistication of city life balanced by immediate access to open countryside and the Mendip hills beyond.
Moving westward, Taunton, the county town, combines practicality and charm. With excellent schools, shopping, and rail connections, it serves as a gateway to some of Somerset’s most spectacular scenery. The nearby Quantock Hills — England’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — and the Blackdown Hills offer sweeping views, ancient woodland, and small farming communities that embody the rural spirit of the county. Properties here range from substantial country houses and equestrian estates to hidden cottages reached only by narrow lanes.
Further south, Crewkerne sits close to the Dorset border and provides access to the coast while retaining its Somerset warmth. The town and its outlying hamlets offer fine Georgian and Victorian houses as well as larger period homes with land. Glastonbury, meanwhile, remains one of the most distinctive towns in England — famous for its festival, of course, but also steeped in history and myth. Beneath the shadow of Glastonbury, the town’s medieval abbey and independent culture give it an atmosphere that’s both ancient and alternative.
To the north, the Mendip Hills rise in dramatic limestone ridges that overlook the Somerset Levels. Villages such as Cheddar, Priddy, and Westbury-sub-Mendip are among the most scenic in the county, known for their strong sense of community, traditional pubs, and far-reaching views. Here, substantial period houses and farm conversions are as sought after as smaller cottages that blend seamlessly into the landscape.
Somerset’s diversity is its greatest strength: a county where you can choose between creative market towns, Georgian city grandeur, or secluded hilltop retreats. Whether drawn to the artistic energy of Bruton and Frome, the heritage of Bath, or the natural splendour of the Quantocks and Mendips, the property market offers something for every kind of buyer — from weekend escape seekers to full-time country dwellers.
