Attractions and parking

Cheddar is often used as an overnight stop by people on their way to a holiday in Cornwall and Devon, but the whole Somerset area is a great holiday destination in its own right and too often overlooked when zipping through on the M5. For most people in the UK, driving all the way down to Devon and Cornwall resorts takes two or three hours longer each way than just going to Somerset.

The “slice of Cheddar” random slide at the top of each page, gives you a flavour of some of the places, views, activities and events that can be found in and around Cheddar.

In Cheddar itself:

The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company 01934 742810.
Visit the dairy to see how Cheddar Cheese is made the traditional way, plus try and buy different varieties from the shop. The Cheese Company has been featured in recent TV programmes “Jedward’s Big Adventure” and “Rory Bremner’s Great British Views”.

Foursquare Check -in data for Cheddar Cheese Company

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  • Mayor: Kevin M.

Plus many other smaller attractions such as:

Find Foursquare venue information for many more local places here.

On the north side of the village:

Cheddar Gorge and Caves 01934 742343.
Gough’s Cave, Cox’s Cave, the Crystal Quest, Jacob’s Ladder, the Clifftop Walk, “Cheddar Man and the Cannibals” exhibition and the open-top bus ride through the gorge. Everything on the right (south side) as you walk up the Gorge is part of the Longleat Estate, along with Gorge car parks, the Cox’s Mill and “Cannibals” buildings. The land in the gorge on the north side is National Trust.

 

Foursquare Check -in data for Cheddar Gorge

  • People here now: 0
  • Total check-ins: 850
  • Mayor: Kevin M.

Foursquare Check -in data for Cheddar Caves

  • People here now: 0
  • Total check-ins: 850
  • Mayor: Kevin M.

PARKING in or near Gorge/Caves

Parking in Cheddar is operated either by Sedgemoor District council or by Cheddar Caves and Gorge (Longleat). The main car parks are shown on the map. The Longleat-owned ones in the lower Gorge are intended for Caves visitors and can be expensive for a short stay but the upper Gorge is not warden-controlled. Most main streets in the village are yellow-lined (double yellow in many cases), enforced by Somerset County Council wardens, with fines of £50 or more for illegal parking on yellow lines or in loading bays. Parking for pre-booked coaches is near the entrance to the caves.

View Cheddar – car parking in a larger map
PARKING in the village
There is a cheaper short-stay council car park by Budgens (Church Street) and if you don’t mind a walk, some side streets away from the main centres are free of yellow lines (zoom to Streetview from the “larger map” link on the lower image). Some local properties also let out private parking spaces on the Parkatmyhouse site for advance booking, so worth checking on there. Cheddar has fewer on-street parking restrictions in the winter season 1 Oct – 19 Mar.

View Cheddar – car parking in a larger map

Parking charges:  Click here for council-owned parking charges (PDF). In-season Longleat-owned parking spaces are currently one price £5 all day. Parking charges are a regular bugbear of both visitors and residents and if you would like to make your views known, please contact the Caves & Gorge or Sedgemoor DC directly.

If you are visiting Cheddar for up to 4 hours to go shopping or walking and not intending to go to the caves, your best bet may be to use the Church Street car park. Most shops in the village will refund some of your parking fee from that car park if you shop with them. There are places to eat or get a coffee, in the village centre. If you just want to see the Gorge and not the showcaves, consider parking at Black Rock.

To the west:

AxbridgeSquareThe historic town of Axbridge lies a couple of miles to the west, dating back to the 1200s. The medieval market square, the timbered King John’s Hunting Lodge (pictured), and its narrow streets are worthy of a visit. Between Cheddar and Axbridge lies the two-mile-circumferenced Cheddar Reservoir which is a popular destination for watersports fans, birdwatchers, walkers and cyclists. Cyclists can also begin the Strawberry Line cycle ride in Cheddar heading north west towards the main line at Yatton.

 

Around Cheddar

You can also use Cheddar as a base for touring the local area. Here are six ideas for great days out, offering something for everyone for a week’s holiday – and this excludes a day spent in Cheddar!



Other places of interest nearby include:

Banwell Caves and Tower | Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm | Puxton Park | Court Farm Country Park | Tyntesfield House and Gardens | Ebbor Gorge | Burcott Mill | Ashton Windmill

And for more ideas around Somerset heritage trails, visit Somerset Routes (@somersetroutes).