Somerset
in South West England

If the on site artisan bakery isn’t enough to tempt you to stay at this 18th century converted chapel, then we think the minimalist interiors will. Enjoy a tipple or two on the outdoor terrace before strolling the garden.

Nestled within the picturesque landscapes of Somerset, Babington House stands as a quintessential English countryside retreat. This elegant country house, set amidst sprawling grounds, exudes timeless charm and understated luxury. Originally built in the 18th century, Babington House has been meticulously restored to its former glory, offering discerning travelers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With its refined interiors, indulgent spa, and gourmet dining options, Babington House beckons guests to unwind and immerse themselves in the serenity of rural England.

At Briar, chef Sam Lomas brings a deeply seasonal, farm-to-fork approach to the table. Named after the wild bramble bushes of the English countryside, the restaurant reflects Lomas’ roots at River Cottage in Devon, where he first honed his ingredient-led philosophy under the influence of rural British cooking. Expect a daily changing menu of radishes and herb mayonnaise perhaps, pickled cucumber with wild herbs and smoked pork sausage with cider mustard, with Westcombe ricotta ice cream laden with damsons to finish. 

6 bedrooms await you at this idyllic countryside retreat. Located in the grounds of Hauser & Wirth you can bet that a stay here is similar to that of living in an art collectors heaven. Idle your days away tromping through the fields, relaxing by the open fire, and cooking using the freshly harvested farm shop goods. 

Spread across restored farm buildings and gardens designed by Piet Oudolf, the Hauser & Wirth in Somerset combines world-class contemporary exhibitions with a distinctly rural atmosphere. Set within the countryside just outside Bruton, this iconic gallery powerhouse is well worth checking out.

Stroll down this quaint little street with lovely independent shops. Pop in or simply window shop and people watch. 

Set on Bruton high street Number One is cosy, but still luxurious. Every detail – from the 1960s photographs on show in the sitting room to the local cider and cheese left in the bedrooms – is considered, and the service is extremely welcoming. And the hotel restaurant, Briar is always filled with locals as well as hotel guests.

A seriously smart restaurant with rooms in the sleepy Somerset town of South Brewham. The centrepiece is the glossy floor-to-ceiling kitchen stage looking onto a meadow garden and the Fresian dairy cows in the field beyond. The dinner menu by chef Merlin Labron-Johnson's centres around two fairly mini no-dig farm plots. There might be intense cold tomato water with a pearlescent drop of fig leaf oil floating on top, served with fermented potato brioche, labneh and tomato jelly. Or a light, crisp lobster tempura served with salted egg yolk and sorrel is an unsurprising highlight. There are just four bedrooms upstairs, done up in a milky palette with chunky bedside tables from trees felled nearby and stylish Maison Osip toiletries in brown bottles. Osip 2.0 may be a true slow burn of the slow food movement but it’s full of intention, and it’s only just getting started. 

Wander the allotments, flower beds and herb gardens before sitting down for some truly fresh, seasonal plates. Helming the veg-centric, organic dining scene; it doesn't get more farm-to-table than at the Riverford Kitchen.

It was in 2017 that as young parents Owen Postgate and his partner Amy opened the Rye Bakery in a converted 19th century church in artsy Frome, serving up towering pastries and loaves of sourdough made with local grains – plus some of the best coffee in town. Next came its bakery and pizzeria in a unit opposite the station a few years later, and then in 2024 the couple added its wine bar at the same spot with buzzy trestle tables filling outside to the soundtrack of live music and DJs.  

When the owners of Number One Bruton, husband and wife Claudia Waddams and Aled Rees, decided to buy the pub next door in 2023 they were set on keeping it as a place for locals to descend, somewhere that’s reassuringly noisy with a wood burner roaring. Chalked up on the blackboard is a list of local ciders and ales (quench your thirst with a Dowding’s Cider, made just three miles away); hearty pork pies and scotch eggs can be ordered; and there’s a packed line up of live folk music and pub quizzes.  

A traditional pub with beautiful rooms and an old-timey feeling you cannot get anywhere else. This wonderful hotel has a great bar with delicious ciders and local beers. Cozy up by the fireplace or take a walk in the countryside, you really cannot go wrong. 

The Newt in Somerset is part rural retreat, part horticultural fever dream, part cyder-soaked Somerset fantasia. You wander through apple mazes, deer parks, Victorian gardens and glossy farm shops while impeccably dressed staff glide about offering tastings, tours and spa serenity. The estate folds together Georgian grandeur, farm-to-fork dining, woodland rambles and near-militant devotion to apples. It’s wildly polished yet oddly earthy – like a country manor that discovered design magazines, fermentation science and extremely chic wellington boots all at once.

If Devon-raised chef Merlin Labron-Johnson’s Michelin-starred Osip, three miles out of town, is his showpiece, then The Old Pharmacy in a creaking 500-year-old building on Bruton high street is its laid-back sidekick. Raiding Somerset’s larder for ingredients is still Labron-Johnson’s priority here, but the menu is pared back, scribbled on a chalk board with deliciously straight-forward plates appearing from the open kitchen: squash agnolotti with brown butter and sage perhaps, and steamed pudding with plums. Take note of its Sunday Sessions, when guest chefs – from Shuko Oda of Japanese restaurant Koya to Nick Bramham from Quality Wines Farringdon – takeover the kitchen to offer a set menu.  

Head under the carriage arch into the cobbled courtyard at The Talbot Inn, for another of the Beckford group’s masterclasses in country pubs: corners dimly lit with candles, roaring fires, walls covered in antique maps, local ales on tap and dogs nestled at the bar. Sunday lunch could start with a Talbot fried partridge with pickled red cabbage, or beetroot with Blue Vinney and Mells apples perhaps, followed by a blowout roast with local meat and deliciously oversized Yorkshire puddings.  

If there's one thing British cuisine has perfected, it's their pub grub. And not many places do it as well as The Three Horseshoes. From hearty pies, to the more refined grilled fish this spot really has it all. Dare we even mention their Sunday lunch! Pop on by after a country amble, even if it is only for a pint of real ale.  

Traditional, unpasteurised cheddar has been made at Westcombe Dairy since 1890, and the current cheesemaker Tom Calver is the third generation of his family to take the helm here (don’t leave Somerset without a pot of their ricotta). On the farm Brickell’s ice cream is also made, alongside Landrace sourdough and also beer in the onsite Woodshedding Brewery. On the farm is the Woodshedding Beer Hall which comes alive at the weekend as tables fill with drinkers diving into slivers of Westcombe’s own charcuterie and hunks of sourdough or one of the hearty local food pop ups.  

Vines have been here for over 50 years, but it was in February 2021 that Lexa Hunt and David Bailey took on the vineyard, cleverly injecting a buzz with the glass fronted The View@Wraxall wine bar nestled amongst the vines. There are tempting small plates (salt baked beetroot with goat’s cheese perhaps or charred hispi cabbage) but your best bet is a sharing board stacked with Somerset cheese (grazing land for Barber’s Cheddarsurrounds the vineyard) to scoff as you work your way through Wraxall’s wine list.