Mendip Living Apr - May 2024

B E S T
PLACES
TO LIVE
IN AND
AROUND
MENDIP
ADVERTISING FEATURE
If you are thinking of moving and need to find out the best
towns in Somerset, this is the article for you.
f you are thinking of moving and need to find out the best towns in Somerset, this is
Somerset is a fantastic place to live.
But,
the
with so
article
many excellent
for you.
towns to
choose from, it is maybe a daunting
task to begin your house search.
Regardless of what you need from
your new home, one of these towns
in Somerset is sure to tick all of the
boxes.
FROME
Full of charm, Frome was built on high
ground at the eastern end of the Mendip
Hills and is one of those towns you cannot
help but fall in love with.
Winding cobbled medieval streets make for
a delightful place to wander. Dotted with
plenty of little independents lining the main
high street shopping in Frome provides
plenty of opportunities to purchase a
special one-off gift.
The town sits just outside the two
busy locations of Bristol and Bath. It
has excellent connections so when its
necessary to travel into the city you can be
there in no time at all.
Frome’s thriving and popular Wednesday
and Saturday market showcases quality
handmade products from independent
businesses. It also offers delicious locally
produced produce!
There is no surprise that the town’s been
named one of the best places to live in
Britain by The Sunday Times! Frome is
also considered one of Time Out’s best
making the move.
weekend breaks from London and ‘the
most Stylish town in the UK’.
You may be surprised to learn that despite
Frome’s positive reputation the current
average property value is only £335,578.
GLASTONBURY
The first thing that springs to mind is the
Glastonbury Festival, undeniably one of the
most famous festivals in the UK. However,
there is so much more to Glastonbury than
mud, tents and music.
Somerset is a fantastic place to live.
A busy place, the town became a centre for
commerce in the early to mid-1800’s.
This led to the construction of the
market cross, Glastonbury Canal and the
Glastonbury and Street Railway Station.
A popular year-round tourist destination
thanks to its healing waters, the imposing
Glastonbury Tor and its fascinating Abbey.
Glastonbury is also well known for its
foodie scene, exciting nightlife, surrounding
countryside and historical sites. Plus pretty
much an institution, the weekly market is a
busy affair!
Nicely placed for exploring the region,
Bristol is just 27 miles away, the coastal
town of Weston Super Mare is 22 miles and
Bath is 25 miles. Bristol Airport sits 20 miles
north and offers flights across the UK and
Europe wide.
There is more to Glastonbury than meets
the eye. A great community spirit, plenty of
culture and several “outstanding” schools.
Property prices are very reasonable with an
average value of £324,963
SHEPTON MALLET
The ancient market town of Shepton Mallet
is very nicely positioned in the Mendip
district of Somerset. There are 218 listed
buildings in the town. This includes the
market cross that dates back to the 1500s
and a 10th-century church.
Shepton is the old English for sheep. The
town was heavily involved in the wool
trade. During the 18th century, the wool
industry mostly disappeared and made way
for other economic activities, in particular
brewing cider.
The town offers the rugged beauty of
the Mendip Hills, luxury outlet shopping,
internationally recognised country shows
and one of the oldest prisons in the UK,
which is now open to the public.
Shepton Mallet sits 18 miles from Bath, 20
miles from Bristol and less than an hour
from the UK’s popular western coastline.
Clearly, getting around to other popular
areas in the region is conveniently easy.
Shepton Mallet is the ideal place to
experience life in a semi-rural but wellconnected
location.
Home to some excellent towns, buyers are gradually deciding that the towns in
Somerset are among the best places to live.
Much less pricey than many other parts of
Somerset, buying here costs an average of
£281,829.
CASTLE CARY
Referred to simply as Cary, a peaceful and
quaint market town. Castle Cary is located 5
miles north-west of Wincanton and 8 miles
south of Shepton Mallet, on the River Cary.
As homes in cities and towns across the UK becoming more expensive, the potential
of living in one of the towns in Somerset offers the allure of an exceptional location
that may be more affordable than elsewhere.
One of the most attractive towns in the
region, set in the glorious South Somerset
countryside. As the name suggests, a
castle once stood in the town but no longer.
The rural areas that are accessible in Dorset offer more breathing space as well as
the choice to commute.
The renowned illuminated carnival
takes place in October and is a mustsee!
Nearby 4 miles away is Haynes
International Motor Museum. 13 miles away
is Glastonbury Abbey, the legendary burial
place of King Arthur.
With the range of great towns in Somerset, buyers are ensured a choice of great
schools, exciting activities and some stunning countryside!
The area is a delight and contains some
unusual shops many of which still retain
their fine nineteenth-century shopfronts.
Whilst the old buildings such as the
impressive Market House and the popular
George Hotel, a 15th-century inn are still in
use today.
It is clear that the county offers a variety of reasons that buyers would consider
There has been some expansion to
the north of Cary with new housing
developments to make way for the
increasing interest in the region, but for
the most part, the area is comfortingly
untouched its major asset.
Cary Castle has an average property price
of £313,935. Higher than Somerset as a
whole (£289,012), it is well worth the extra
in order to live in such a lovely place.
16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk