Taunton
Taunton is Somerset's county town and has all the shopping, dining and leisure facilities you would expect from a busy urban centre. That's not to say that Taunton has forgotten its sense of heritage and history; take a wander away from the high street and you'll find narrow lanes lined with wonderful old buildings, Victorian fountains and pretty parks entered through elaborate wrought iron gates. The castle is the highlight, though – a beautifully restored Saxon example, it now houses the Somerset County Museum.