Bridgwater

Friday market days bring proper life to this Somerset market town, with traders setting up along the High Street just as they've done for centuries. Bridgwater sits at the heart of the Somerset Levels, where the River Parrett winds lazily toward the Bristol Channel, creating a landscape of drainage rhynes and vast open skies that feels almost Dutch in its flatness.

The town wears its maritime history well. Admiral Robert Blake, Cromwell's naval commander, was born here, and his legacy runs through the streets like the river itself. Down at Bridgwater Marina, narrow boats and pleasure craft bob alongside the quay where merchant vessels once loaded Somerset's famous cider and willow for London markets.

Bridgwater Arts Centre keeps the cultural flame burning with everything from touring theatre to local art exhibitions, while the Spirit of Carnival gallery celebrates the town's famous November carnival - second only to Rio, locals will tell you with genuine pride. The procession draws 150,000 spectators annually, transforming sleepy Somerset streets into a riot of illuminated floats and marching bands.

Venture beyond town and you'll find The Walled Gardens of Cannington, a peaceful haven for plant lovers, or make the short drive to Hestercombe Gardens, where formal Georgian terraces blend with Edwardian landscaping in 50 acres of horticultural heaven.

The M5 runs just east of town, making Bridgwater easily accessible from Bristol or Exeter. Holiday parks dot the surrounding levels, offering an ideal base for exploring both the Quantock Hills to the west and the Mendips to the east. From here, you're perfectly placed to discover Somerset's cider orchards, medieval churches, and those famously big skies that have inspired artists for generations.