'''Taunton''' is the County Town of Somerset, a County in the South-West of England.
Get in
By road, leave the M5 motorway at exit 25. Taunton has a railway station on the main line from London Paddington (typical journey time 2h 05) to Exeter (25 minutes), Plymouth (1h 30), and Penzance (3h 40). Bristol is 35 minutes away by rail. The nearest airports are at [http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/Default.asp?bhcp=1 Bristol], to the north-west and [http://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/site/ Exeter], to the south-west, both about 35 miles away.
Get around
Traffic in Taunton is awful. A park and ride service has been added recently (The Taunton Flyer), see [http://www.parkandride.net/taunton/taunton_frameset.shtml National Park and Ride Directory] providing transport between the town centre and a large car park at Silk Mills.
Arguably the best options are to walk or take a bus. However, the bus and railway stations are a good 15 minutes' walk apart!
By bus
Buses are frequent during the week, but evenings and Sundays are very limited. Buses operated by Firstbus - They are expensive - All day ticket for town travel purchased in peak time is __3.40 (correct at 01/05/06). Buses link to Wellington, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Exeter, and Chard.
By train
[http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/ First Great Western] operate direct trains to London Paddington and to Worcester and Great Malvern.
[http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/ Virgin Trains] operate services from Taunton to Birmingham, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Preston, and Glasgow.
Both companies run direct trains to Bristol and Cheltenham Spa, Exeter, Paignton, Plymouth, and Penzance.
For train times, see [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ National Rail Enquiries].
See
''' Somerset County Museum''', Castle Green. Tel: 01823 320200, mailto:county-museums@somerset.gov.uk, [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/museums/musweb3.htm]. Open: Tu-Sa and Bank Holiday M 10AM-5PM. Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27th Dec and 28th Dec, New Year's Day and Good Friday.
''' Brewhouse Theatre''' Coal Orchard. Profesional and Community Theatre. 01823 283244
Do
''' Racing at Taunton''', Orchard Portman. Tel: 01823 325035, mailto:info@tauntonracecourse.co.uk, [http://www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk/home.htm].
Buy
Eat
'''Castle Hotel''', tel +44 1823 272671, [http://www.the-castle-hotel.com]. Has a national reputation for cooking excellence, although the prices and formality reflect its notoriety.
All of the major fast food chains are represented, including two branches of both Subway and McDonalds. The town also boasts a range of coffee shops, including the major chains Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero.
Restaurants include:
Pizza Express
Brazz (separate restaurant attached to the Castle Hotel)
Jenny @ Tristrams (East Reach)
The Old Bear (Near Police Station)
Malt and Hops (Pub with good food - Tancred St)
Uddins (East Reach - Several Awards for its Currys)
Drink
Sleep
'''Castle Hotel''', Castle Green, [http://www.the-castle-hotel.com]. rooms from __115
'''Corner House Hotel''', 4 Wellington Rd, +44 1823 284683, [http://www.corner-house.co.uk]. rooms from __58.
'''Holiday Inn Taunton''', Deane Gate Avenue, +44 870 400 9080.
'''Crowcombe YHA''', 10 miles from Taunton. __10.60 adult, __7.20 under 18, http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/hostelpages/62.html
Get out
'''West Somerset Railway'''[http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/], run by volunteers. Recapture the age of steam.
Glastonbury, a place of pilgrimage, [http://www.glastonbury.co.uk/].
Cheddar Caves and Gorge, [http://www.cheddarcaves.co.uk/].