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And so to BathA tabloid journalist once asked writer Helen Fielding, creator of Bridget Jones, where her heroine would have most wanted to spend the mini break over which she obsessed for so much of her diary. ‘Bath – no question’, she replied unhesitatingly. It’s easy to see why. If ever a city and a character were made for each other it is Bridget and Bath. Bath is that most paradoxical and quixotic of cities – as eternal, unchanging and ravishingly beautiful as Rome, but able to reinvent itself for each new generation of visitors, citizens and observers. READ MORE »  OTHER ARTICLES
48 Hours in… Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare lounges along the sandy, south-western side of the Severn Estuary, like a quiet Sunday, indulging visitors in the seaside comforts of a traditional English seaside resort. Cod and chips, vanilla ice cream, chocolate flake, perm-pink candy floss, sea shells, donkey rides and a Victorian pier with amusements at the far end, where spellbound holidaymakers can offload their loose change. This August, why don’t you soak up some sun on a weekend in this delightful Victorian seaside town. READ MORE » 
48 Hours in… CliftonWhere else can you find a gorge crossed by a Brunel bridge, the world’s oldest provincial zoo, plants that grow in no other location, an observatory, outstanding Georgian architecture and the UK’s oldest shopping arcade all within the space of two square miles? Where else but Clifton. This June, experience village life in the heart of Bristol. Clifton is a honeycomb of grand and charming buildings that step down towards Bristol Docks in a series of uniform terraces that look a lot like rows of multi-coloured teeth. READ MORE » 
48 Hours in... BathBath is charged with romance. Healing waters, splendid architecture, retail heaven, even the tourist office recommends the best places to propose. With so much to stir the heart and only 48 hours to spend here, a whirlwind romance seems inevitable. So, fall in love with the city and, when you leave, don’t forget to make a date to return. The April issue gives a round-up of the ‘don’t miss’ places in the city and remember Bath is a holiday romance that will last. READ MORE » 
10 Good Reasons to Visit... BathFebruary is the month for romance, and what better place to take a weekend break than in the World Heritage City of Bath. Steeped in history and culture, the city is also the ideal family destination for a half-term treat, providing a memorable experience as well as great fun for everyone. READ MORE » 
Wishing You a Merry Somerset ChristmasChristmas is a bit like life – you get out what you put in! And the best Christmases – like the best things in life – need a careful combination of love, hard work, attention to detail… and plenty of goodwill and enthusiasm. Above all, it should be about joy and enjoyment. And this Christmas, Somerset’s city fathers, town centre managers, councillors, traders and Santa himself, have gone out of their way to ensure that whatever you are hoping to get out of the pre-Christmas run-up, you’ll find it somewhere in the county. So, why not combine your festive shopping experience with a visit to a hitherto unexplored Somerset community? READ MORE » 
Wells: Small City, Big CommunityWander round Wells this October and you’ll find a thriving and lively community against the backdrop of some truly ancient buildings. The sight of young people lying on the grass and playing ball games outside Wells Cathedral speaks volumes, as do the colourful market stalls forming neat rows in the square on Saturday mornings. Wells – England’s smallest city – has been a place where people congregate for more than a thousand years and in 2007 the community spirit is more alive than ever. READ MORE » 
| Ten reasons to move to... ClevedonThis July take a tip from the Victorians and enjoy the benefits of some sea air with a move to Clevedon on the Somerset coast. A GWR poster of 1939 advertised Clevedon as ‘The Gem of Sunny Somerset’ and few would dispute the billing today. From the Victorian seafront bandstand and much-treasured pier, to the stately clock tower and famous cinema, Clevedon retains a genteel elegance that the locals are keen to protect. And behind this charming exterior is a warm and friendly community that would welcome those looking to join Clevedon’s 23,000-strong population READ MORE » 
WellsSomerset prides itself on variety, albeit in miniature. A snippet of coastline here, a pinch of heathland there, and nowhere demonstrates this better perhaps than the pocket-sized city of Wells. Set against the southern slopes of the Mendips, the city has attracted two kinds of people over the centuries: miners in search of material wealth and pilgrims in search of spiritual plenitude. Spend a weekend taking in the charms of England’s smallest city this May. READ MORE » 
TauntonWant an exciting cultural and heritage experience? ‘Somerset Life’ discovers the delights of our county town. Be it Tantone in the Domesday Book or Toneborough in Thomas Hardy’s novels, modern-day Taunton owes its prominence to its position on the River Tone. As it enters the 21st century, the town is embarking on the biggest redevelopment in its history. Project Taunton envisages an international cricket venue, a cultural quarter, many more shops, offices and bijou riverside homes. READ MORE » 
48 Hours in... FromeFrome spreads across limestone foothills near the Wiltshire border, plugging a lowland gap between the Mendip Hills and Salisbury Plain, a gateway to Somerset for travellers approaching from the north-east. Though it’s the largest town in Mendip, Frome remains one of Somerset’s hidden treasures. After all, where else does one find a traditional sweetshop or a tobacconist these days? With the variety of shops, galleries and cafés, you could be forgiven for mistaking the place for a retail fairytale. READ MORE » 
Fireworks and Fancy DressCarts, not floats, process at Bridgwater Carnival, thought to be the biggest display of lamps (not lights) in the world. “Bridgwater Carnival has its own language which can be traced back to the beginning,” says Roger Evans, a senior judge at Bridgwater Carnival and author of several books on the subject. “Bridgwater is the home of carnival. Other towns have strong carnivals but Bridgwater sets the pace.” READ MORE » 
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Somerset Walks
Whether you choose a woodland trail, a stroll through Lorna Doone country, a walk centred around impressive geological features or on spectacular viewpoints, our wonderful selection of Somerset walks, which feature monthly in the magazine, will bring you chance encounters with Exmoor ponies, feral goats, rabbits, kestrels, buzzards, red deer and butterflies.
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Garden Visits
Inspirational visits to gardens across the county feature in Somerset Life every month and here we give you a taste of just six of them, most of which are open to the public and guaranteed to enlighten and enthral.
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Celebrity Interviews
Characters from the county talk to us every month about their lives and loves, and this selection captures the flavour and variety of six of these celebrity interviews. You can catch up with the latest interview in the current issue of Somerset Life.
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10 good reasons to visit...
In this popular series which features every month in Somerset Life, we take a deeper look at what there is to see and do in villages and towns across the county.
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