4 Top-Rated Inn Hotels In Somerset Worth Booking

Somerset is one of England's most varied rural counties, stretching from the Mendip Hills and the Somerset Levels to the edges of Exmoor National Park - making it a strong base for walkers, cyclists, and those exploring sites like Glastonbury, the Roman Baths in Bath, and Cheddar Gorge. Bristol Airport serves the county directly, sitting within around 14 km of some western Somerset towns, while Bath Spa Train Station connects the eastern edge to London Paddington in roughly 90 minutes. Crowds are noticeably heavier between June and September, particularly around Glastonbury Festival period and Bank Holidays, so travellers seeking quieter lanes and lower prices should target spring or autumn.

Pros:

• Excellent access to major attractions including Longleat, Cheddar Gorge, and the Somerset Levels without urban congestion
• Inn-style accommodation integrates naturally into village life, often with on-site pubs and local produce breakfasts
• Bristol Airport proximity makes fly-drive itineraries genuinely practical for international visitors

Cons:

• Public transport between Somerset's villages is limited - a car is essentially required for most itineraries
• Rural locations mean limited late-night dining or entertainment options outside the inn itself
• Demand spikes sharply during Glastonbury Festival week, pushing availability and prices up significantly across the county

Somerset's traditional inns occupy a distinct niche: they are embedded in local villages, typically offering a working pub or restaurant alongside accommodation - something that larger hotels in the region rarely replicate authentically. Prices at Somerset inns generally run lower than equivalent-rated hotels in Bath or Bristol, making them a smart value play for travellers who want characterful stays without city-centre price premiums. Room sizes tend to be modest but functional, with en-suite bathrooms and standard amenities like flat-screen TVs and tea-making facilities; what you trade in square footage, you gain in atmosphere and proximity to countryside access points. Around 90% of the inns in this selection include free private parking - a practical differentiator that urban hotels in Bath or Bristol simply cannot offer at the same price point.

Main advantages of inn hotels in Somerset:

• On-site restaurant and bar access means you're never reliant on driving after dinner - particularly valuable in rural areas
• Free private parking included as standard across most options, removing a significant cost and logistics burden
• Breakfast quality at Somerset inns consistently skews towards full English and locally sourced produce, well above budget hotel standards

Main trade-offs in this specific zone:

• Rooms are functional rather than spacious - travellers expecting boutique hotel styling may find décor traditional rather than design-led
• Pub noise on Friday and Saturday evenings can be a factor in rooms positioned above or adjacent to the bar
• Limited or no on-site leisure facilities such as pools, gyms, or spa access compared to larger rural hotels

The four inns in this guide are spread across distinct Somerset locations - Shepton Mallet, Compton Martin, Wells, and Taunton - each offering a different strategic base. Compton Martin is the closest point to Bristol Airport, at around 14 km, making it the practical choice for fly-drive arrivals. Wells, England's smallest city, positions you within easy reach of Glastonbury (around 10 km) and Cheddar Gorge, with the cathedral itself walkable from the town centre. Taunton serves as Somerset's county town and transport hub, with direct rail connections to London Paddington and Exeter, making it the most accessible base for car-free travellers. Shepton Mallet sits centrally between Bath and the Somerset Levels, well-placed for multi-day itineraries that combine cultural visits with walking routes. Book at least 6 weeks ahead if travelling between late May and early September, or during Glastonbury Festival week, when availability across all four locations tightens considerably.

Somerset's peak travel window runs from late June through August, driven by school holidays, Glastonbury Festival, and summer walking season on Exmoor and the Mendips - during this period, inn availability across Shepton Mallet, Wells, and Compton Martin drops sharply and rates can increase by around 35%. Late September to early November is arguably the strongest value window: the Quantock and Mendip Hills are at their most atmospheric, crowds have thinned significantly, and most inns maintain their full breakfast and bar service without the summer surcharge. For a well-rounded Somerset itinerary covering the Levels, the Hills, and the cathedral cities, three nights is the practical minimum - two nights rushes the pacing and typically means skipping either Glastonbury or Cheddar. Early booking - at least 8 weeks ahead for summer - is especially important for The Ring 'O' Bells and The City Arms, which have smaller room counts and fill faster than larger rural hotels.