Somerset is a ceremonial county in the South West of England, on the Bristol Channel. It covers 1,610 square miles (4,171 km2) and had 982,904 residents at the 2021 census, counted across three unitary authorities.
Taunton is the county town. Bath is the largest settlement and the only city besides Wells, which has about 11,100 people and is the smallest city in England apart from the City of London.
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | South West England |
| Status | Ceremonial county; three unitary authorities |
| Area | 1,610 sq mi (4,171 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 982,904 |
| Somerset Council area (2021) | 573,100 |
| Bath and North East Somerset (2021) | 192,419 |
| North Somerset (2021) | 217,385 |
| County town | Taunton |
| Largest settlement | Bath (about 101,600) |
| Postcode areas | BA, TA and BS |
Towns and Villages in Somerset
The gazetteer records 1,183 named settlements in ceremonial Somerset, the highest count of any county in the South West. The largest 290 are listed below, grouped by unitary authority.
Somerset (unitary authority) (957)
- Abbas Combe
- Adsborough
- Adscombe
- Aisholt
- Aley
- Alford
- Alhampton
- Aller
- Allerford
- Allowenshay
- Alston Sutton
- Alstone
- Ammerham
- Andersea
- Angersleigh
- Appley
- Ash
- Ash Cross
- Ash Priors
- Ashbrittle
- Ashcott
- Ashcott Corner
- Ashill
- Ashington
- Ashton
- Ashwell
- Ashwick
- Asney
- Athelney
- Atherstone
- Axbridge
- Babcary
- Badbury
- Badger Street
- Badgworth
- Bagley
- Bagley Green
- Baltonsborough
- Barrington
- Barrow
- Barton Saint David
- Barwick
- Bason Bridge
- Batch
- Batcombe
- Bathealton
- Bathpool
- Bathway
- Battleborough
- Battleton
- Bawdrip
- Beckington
- Bedlam
- Beer
- Beercrocombe
- Beggearn Huish
- Benter
- Berhill
- Berkley
- Berrow
- Bickenhall
- Bicknoller
- Biddisham
- Bilbrook
- Bincombe
- Binegar
- Bishops Lydeard
- Bishopswood
- Blackford
- Blackmoor
- Blackwater
- Bladon
- Blagdon Hill
- Brent Knoll
- Bridgwater
- Brushford
- Bruton
- Buckland Dinham
- Burnham-on-Sea
- Butleigh
- Carhampton
- Castle Cary
- Chapel Allerton
- Chard
- Charterhouse
- Cheddar
- Chedzoy
- Chilcompton
- Chilthorne Domer
- Cocklake
- Compton Dundon
- Corton Denham
- Cossington
- Creech Saint Michael
- Crewkerne
- Cricket St Thomas
- Croscombe
- Cross
- Curry Mallet
- Curry Rivel
- Ditcheat
- Dowlish Wake
- Draycott
- Dulverton
- Dundon
- Dunster
- East Brent
- East Chinnock
- East Huntspill
- Edingworth
- Evercreech
- Fivehead
- Frome
- Glastonbury
- Haselbury Plucknett
- Hatch Beauchamp
- Henlade
- Henstridge
- Henton
- High Ham
- Highbridge
- Hinton St George
- Holcombe
- Huntspill
- Ilchester
- Ilminster
- Ilton
- Kingsbury Episcopi
- Kingsdon
- Kingston St Mary
- Langford Budville
- Langport
- Long Load
- Longbottom
- Lopenhead
- Lower Vagg
- Lower Weare
- Lympsham
- Mark
- Marston Magna
- Martock
- Mells
- Merriott
- Middlezoy
- Milborne Port
- Milverton
- Minehead
- Montacute
- Nether Stowey
- North Cadbury
- North Cheriton
- North Curry
- North Newton
- North Petherton
- Norton St Philip
- Nunney
- Oakhill
- Odcombe
- Othery
- Pawlett
- Pilton
- Porlock
- Puriton
- Queen Camel
- Redlynch
- Rode
- Rodney Stoke
- Rooks Bridge
- Rowberrow
- Rowberrow Bottom
- Seavington st. Mary
- Seavington st. Michael
- Shapwick
- Shepton Mallet
- Shipham
- South Petherton
- Sparkford
- Spaxton
- Star
- Stogumber
- Stogursey
- Stoke St Michael
- Stoke-sub-Hamdon
- Stoney Stratton
- Stratton-on-the-Fosse
- Street
- Taunton
- Templecombe
- Theale
- Tintinhull
- Tynings Farm
- Washford
- Watchet
- Wedmore
- Wells
- West Camel
- West Chinnock
- West Coker
- West Pennard
- West Quantoxhead
- Westbury-sub-Mendip
- Westonzoyland
- Williton
- Wincanton
- Winsham
- Wiveliscombe
- Wookey
- Woolavington
- Wootton Courtenay
- Yeovil
Bath and North East Somerset (113)
- Bath
- Bathampton
- Batheaston
- Bathford
- Belluton
- Bishop Sutton
- Blackrock
- Breach
- Burnett
- Cameley
- Camerton
- Carlingcott
- Charlcombe
- Chelwood
- Chew Magna
- Chew Stoke
- Chewton Keynsham
- Cholwell
- Claverton
- Clutton
- Clutton Hill
- Coley
- Combe Hay
- Compton Martin
- Corston
- East Harptree
- Farmborough
- Farrington Gurney
- Hallatrow
- Keynsham
- Midsomer Norton
- Paulton
- Peasedown Saint John
- Pensford
- Priston
- Radstock
- Saltford
- Timsbury
- Ubley
- Wellow
North Somerset (113)
- Abbots Leigh
- Aldwick
- Ashton Watering
- Backwell Common
- Backwell Green
- Banwell
- Banwell Castle
- Barrow Common
- Barrow Gurney
- Blackmoor
- Blagdon
- Bleadon
- Bourne
- Brockley
- Burrington
- Christon
- Churchill
- Clapton in Gordano
- Clevedon
- Congresbury
- Doleberrow
- Dundry
- Easton-in-Gordano
- Failand
- Felton
- Flax Bourton
- Kingston Seymour
- Locking
- Long Ashton
- Nailsea
- Portishead
- Redhill
- Sandford
- Tickenham
- Weston-super-Mare
- Winford
- Winscombe
- Winterhead
- Wrington
- Yatton
Geography
Somerset is built around its wetlands. The Somerset Levels and Moors, a drained peat and clay basin barely above sea level, spread inland from Bridgwater Bay and are crossed by the Parrett, Brue, Tone and Axe and by centuries of drainage rhynes.
Hills ring the Levels: the Mendips to the north-east, limestone and riddled with caves at Cheddar and Wookey; the Quantocks and Brendon Hills to the west; the Blackdown Hills on the Devon border; and Exmoor in the far west, which reaches 519 metres at Dunkery Beacon, the highest point in the county.
Somerset borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south and Devon to the south-west. Its northern coast faces Wales across the Bristol Channel.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 573,100 people in the area now run by Somerset Council, 217,385 in North Somerset and 192,419 in Bath and North East Somerset.
Bath’s built-up area holds about 101,600 people, Weston-super-Mare about 82,900, Taunton about 64,600, Yeovil about 50,200, Bridgwater about 41,300, Frome about 26,200, Portishead about 26,400, Burnham-on-Sea about 23,300, Clevedon about 21,000, Nailsea about 20,500 and Keynsham about 19,600.
The northern belt around Bath, Keynsham, Portishead and Nailsea functions largely as a commuter zone for Bristol. Rural western Somerset and the Levels have older populations and thin public transport.
Economy and Local Life
Somerset trades on dairy and cider. Cheddar cheese takes its name from the village where it was matured in the gorge caves, and cider makers at Sandford, Bradford-on-Tone and Shepton Mallet still press local orchard fruit at scale.
The biggest single project is Hinkley Point C on the coast near Bridgwater, a nuclear power station under construction since 2017 that has employed many thousands on site. Yeovil builds helicopters at the Leonardo works, Bridgwater has food processing and engineering, and Taunton runs on public administration, insurance and its hospital.
Bath lives on heritage tourism, its two universities and professional services; the Roman Baths and Georgian terraces make the whole city a World Heritage Site. Glastonbury Festival, held at Worthy Farm in Pilton most summers, brings around 200,000 people to a single Somerset parish.
History
Cheddar Gorge produced Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, dated to about 9,000 years ago. The Romans built the baths and temple at Aquae Sulis, now Bath, around the only hot springs in Britain.
Alfred the Great sheltered in the marshes at Athelney in 878 before defeating the Danes at Edington. Glastonbury Abbey was one of the wealthiest houses in medieval England until its dissolution in 1539, and its Tor carries an enduring set of Arthurian legends.
The Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion ended at the Battle of Sedgemoor near Westonzoyland in 1685, the last pitched battle fought on English soil, and Judge Jeffreys tried the survivors at the Bloody Assizes in Taunton. Local government changed again on 1 April 2023, when Somerset Council replaced the county council and its four districts.
Getting There
The M5 runs down the county from Bristol past Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Taunton. The A303 crosses the south towards Devon and London, and the A38, A39, A37 and A361 link the market towns and the Levels.
Great Western trains serve Bath Spa, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater, Taunton, Castle Cary and Yeovil, with London Paddington around 90 minutes from Bath and two hours from Taunton. The West Somerset Railway runs heritage steam trains from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.
Bristol Airport sits inside the county at Lulsgate Bottom in North Somerset, about eight miles south-west of Bristol city centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Somerset?
982,904 at the 2021 census across the ceremonial county: 573,100 in the Somerset Council area, 217,385 in North Somerset and 192,419 in Bath and North East Somerset.
What is the largest town in Somerset?
Bath, with about 101,600 people, is the largest settlement. Weston-super-Mare is next at about 82,900, then Taunton, the county town, at about 64,600.
How many towns and villages are there in Somerset?
The gazetteer lists 1,183 named settlements across the three unitary authorities.
Which councils cover Somerset?
Three unitary authorities: Somerset Council, which replaced the county council and four districts on 1 April 2023; Bath and North East Somerset; and North Somerset. The last two have been unitary since 1996.
Is Bath in Somerset?
Yes. Bath is in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, which lies within the ceremonial county of Somerset. It has not been part of Avon since that county was abolished in 1996.
Where is Somerset?
In south-west England on the Bristol Channel, between Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south and Devon to the south-west.