Somerset

Forget all those local yokel jokes; Somerset’s getting cooler every year. Glastonbury, of course, kicked it all off, but nowadays market towns Bruton and Frome are insanely creative hubs, too; home to brilliant independents, a Hauser & Wirth gallery and a bougie crowd. The foodie scene has exploded too, drawing upon the fabulous local produce from all those farrrrms. The opening of the iconic Newt hotel and gardens was the very best endorsement of it all.

Whilst handily close to Bristol, Somerset’s unashamedly rural, with miles of countryside, winding lanes topped by tree tunnels, pretty villages and a lovely, slower pace. Come for the gentle Mendip hills, incredible starling murmurations over the Levels, magical Stourhead and Cheddar Gorge, and, of course, some world-class cider. You can even visit the infamous Glasto Cider Bus from our Craftsman’s Cabin! See our top Kip tips for the region, below.

Our hideaways here are as cool and quirky as the characters you’ll come across here: from a romantic houseboat on a wild swimming lake and a converted coach house with forest-bathing, woodland sauna and yoga (both part of an amazing nature retreat) to handcrafted cabins and romantic roundhouses with hot tubs. All are inspiring, restorative and soulful places to stay in Somerset.