Meet Philip Worth, our local expert covering Taunton and surrounding areas. Philip has lived and worked in the area for over 30 years, having been an estate agent for more than 11 years and previously an independent financial advisor for 20 years. With a keen interest in property, Philip owns a commercial property himself in a nearby village close to Wellington and has been heavily involved in many local sports clubs, including football, cricket and golf. As a local himself, we asked Philip to share some of his local insights and fantastic local knowledge with us.
Discover more about the area….
About Taunton
Located in South West England, Somerset's county town of Taunton takes its name from the River Tone which runs through the town. From the Anglo Saxons to the days of the Civil War, and taking the title as the first town in the country to be permanently lit by electric street lighting, Taunton's history dates back centuries. Today, Taunton is a thriving town famed for its strong links with the British cider industry, having more than 400 different varieties of cider apple grown in the area as well as its cricket connections, being home to Somerset County Cricket Club.
Local attractions & points of interest
In the heart of Taunton town, Taunton's historic castle is home to the museum of Somerset, where visitors can discover the county's fascinating past from prehistoric times all the way through to the present day. You can also take a tour of the 12th century castle where you’ll find nine themed gallery spaces, each with their own character to discover.
Train enthusiasts will already likely know that Taunton and the wider area is famed for the West Somerset Railway, offering 20 miles of heritage railway which run through the county’s countryside and coast. Study the railways heritage with a ride on one of the trains, or take part in one of the three walking or running challenges designed to encourage runners and walkers to follow the route of the West Somerset Railway from one end to the other.
The arts and cultural scene in Taunton offers its residents plenty to do. The Brewhouse Theatre is the largest theatre and arts centre in Taunton with a 350 seat auditorium, studio and exhibition space. Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre located in Monkton Heathfield is a multipurpose space offering a programme of theatre, dance and music, as well as a range of community classes for all to attend. The Creative Innovation Centre in Taunton also offers events and arts classes, including life drawing and print-making workshops. The creative in you will be spoilt for choice!
If you’re a keen sports fan, you won’t be short of sports teams to support in the local area, with Taunton Town FC, Taunton Rugby and Somerset County Cricket Club all on your doorstep. For a day out with friends, you can also head to Taunton Racecourse for a fun-filled day of horse racing.
Due to its location in the beautiful countryside of Somerset, surrounded by rolling hills and apple orchards, green spaces and nature spots are right on the doorstep of Taunton. Weekends spent out in the fresh air are easy to plan in the area, with Vivary Park in the town centre covering 7.5 hectares of Parkland, with plenty to do for all ages with its adventure play area for children, high ropes centre, mini golf and tennis courts. Located a short drive out of Taunton town, Willow & Wetlands offers walks, willow sculpture trails and workshops for keen nature and art & craft lovers.
Hop in the car and head South West of Taunton for approximately 20 minutes and you’ll arrive at the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There’s so much to discover here, including iron-age forts, second world war airfields, or simply take in and appreciate the nature that surrounds you. If you are feeling active, follow one of the many walking, cycling or rambling routes or visit the beautiful nature reserve and former Victorian estate, Otterhead Lakes. For a nature spot equally as beautiful, head approximately half an hour north of Taunton, to find the Quantocks Hills to enjoy panoramic views over the coast, heath and combe.
If you prefer the beach, Weston Super Mare offers a fun day out for all ages, less than an hour drive from Taunton, where you can enjoy everything the seaside has to offer including the fun rides and arcade games at the pier. Or head to the Dorset Jurassic coastline for a spot of fossil hunting at Lyme Regis, approximately 50 minutes from Taunton by car.
Shopping & dining
Shopping in Taunton and nearby Wellington have long been the choice for locals looking for a laid back, local shopping experience. Whilst Taunton doesn't have a big mall, the town benefits from independent shopping areas including Orchard Shopping Centre, Riverside Retail Park and Bath Place, a charming pedestrian shopping street home to some fantastic local independent businesses including gift, clothing and book shops.
Residents of Taunton also have plenty of options for shopping in neighbouring towns and cities, if you’re looking to make a day out of it. Within less than an hour commute by car, Clarks Village in Street is great for a day out outlet shopping, or venture slightly further afield to nearby cities Exeter or Bristol where you can enjoy the many malls, high street and independent shops both cities have to offer.
Taunton is not short of restaurants, bars or coffee shops, with a fantastic choice for all taste buds. Whether you fancy Indian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Spanish, Portuguese or a BBQ Smokehouse, you’ll have enough choice to eat out every day of the week if you wish!
It wouldn’t be fair to Somerset if we didn’t mention the region's favourite beverage - cider! Nestled between Taunton and Wellington in Bradford-on-Tone on the A38, Sheppys Cider Farm grow, harvest, press and bottle their own award-winning house cider, which you can sample in their on-site restaurant, or purchase in their on-site farm shop. If you’re a real cider fan, you can even hire out the venue for your own event!
Education
If you are looking to move to the area with a young family, there is an excellent choice of local state and private schools in Taunton and surrounding areas, that are rated either good or outstanding by Ofsted**.
Highly regarded Primary Schools in the area include North Curry CofE Primary School, Trull Church of England VA Primary School, Bishops Hull Primary School and North Town Academy.
For secondary education, The Castle School is highly regarded, alongside Bishop Fox’s School and Kingsmead Academy in nearby Wiveliscombe.
Taunton is also home to a good selection of sixth form schools and colleges, including Ofsted rated outstanding sixth form, Richard Huish College, specializing in A level studies, apprenticeships and adult learning.
Transport
Taunton has great transport links, being located just off of the M5 motorway with good access to Bridgewater and two of the South West’s major cities Exeter and Bristol, and their airports. The town is also served by other major roadways such as the A38 and A303 just 10 miles away.
Residents can also commute via rail, as Taunton railway sits on the Bristol to Exeter line and Cross Country route. From Taunton train station, direct mainline trains to London Paddington are also frequent, for business travel or weekend city breaks.
Postcodes to live
The cost of living in Taunton is generally lower compared to nearby towns like Exeter, Bristol and Bath.
Hotspots to live include Kington St Mary, Trull & Staplehay. Other villages on the outskirts of Taunton which are also popular due to their easy access into Taunton and their schooling include Corfe, Putmister, North Curry, Bradford-on-Tone.
Advice
Research exactly what your priorities are as Taunton has so much to offer. It genuinely caters for pretty much 'everyone' and has a diverse range of properties on the market, from homes perfect for first time buyers, to large country houses.
If Taunton is on your search list, check out the homes we have on the market right now.
If you’re thinking of selling your home this year and would like further advice from our local experts, get your virtual or in-home valuation booked now. Let’s get you sold shall we?
*Britain’s biggest estate agent brand claim based on independent research from Twenty-CI, see purplebricks.co.uk/terms for full details.
** Ofsted performance data 2021