Diane Scully visits our illustrious county town and reveals it is equally appealing for sports lovers and shoppers as a great place to reside

Taunton is a thriving forward-looking town where modern life moves swiftly alongside the remnants of the past. Saxon King Ine liked the lie of the land and in the 8th century he founded a settlement here, which grew by Norman times to boast a massive castle. The remnants are an impressive Taunton landmark, as is the 163ft-high tower of St Mary Magdalene Church. They are backdrops to a lively town – the retail capital of the county – with top names for shopping, eating and drinking, excellent schools and access to stunning countryside. All in all – a great place to live.

1 Vivary Park

People have been enjoying this beautiful green space in the town since its creation in 1895, when it opened its decorative, cast-iron gates to local people to give them the opportunity to experience a healthier lifestyle and to provide the working class with a place for sports. The magnificent gates are still there and the Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain has recently been fully restored. The layout is almost the same as when it was opened, and children still enjoy the long-held tradition of feeding the ducks on the lake or flying kites on the lawns. There are free tennis courts, a bowling club, a child’s play area, pitch and putt, a golf club, and concerts and events are held in the park during the year.

Christine Bowditch, Bowditch Fish Shop: “I love living and working in the town – our customers have become our friends over the years.”

2 Home of Somerset County Cricket

There have been many memorable matches played out in the shadow of the soaring St Mary Magdalene church tower since Somerset County Cricket club came into being in 1875. The club has been a first-class county cricket club ever since but their golden years started in 1979 when the team, which included cricketing legends Sir Ian Botham, Sir Viv Richards and Joel Garner, won five trophies in four seasons. A recent win they are proud of, and one which they hope to replicate, was the 2006 Twenty 20 trophy. The club attracts notable overseas players such as Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriva and Justin Langer, and in 2007 the club invited the Women’s Cricket team to make Somerset their home pitch. The club also has a fascinating museum.

3 Bath Place – fantastic independent shopping

Bath Place is a little street with a big reputation, full of highly individual shops and cottages. It has bags of charm, where you can eat al fresco, buy unusual gifts, individual contemporary crafts, fresh food and trendy clothes. Some businesses have been here for over 30 years, such as Phil Bowditch, the fishmonger. Phil and Christine head down to the Brixham boats several times a week to stock up on the best fish and shellfish available and they also supply local restaurants and hotels. A newer face on the street is Catherine Esbester, who opened Ginger Fig in 2007. Her shop is full of unusual and eye-catching treats for yourself as well as the perfect gift. Upstairs is a gallery where local craftspeople exhibit their work.

4 The Castle Hotel

You can’t find atmosphere and charm such as this just anywhere – it has to mellow over centuries – and The Castle Hotel has had time to do just that. Parts of The Castle have been a hotel for the past 300 years and much of the interior is medieval. The romance and atmosphere has been retained by the Chapman family who have been at the helm for more than 60 years. Not only is it a fine place to stay but it has cultivated a reputation for fine dining, with past chefs Gary Rhodes and Phil Vickery going on to become household names. The kitchen is currently headed by Richard Guest, who celebrates British cooking using the finest local ingredients.

“I come to Taunton nearly every day from Bridgwater because I like the atmosphere here. I come for the bookshops, the pubs and, of course, the cricket.”

5 Taunton Racecourse

Racing has a long history in Taunton, with meetings being staged at several different sites, until finally, in 1927, a new racecourse was created just two miles from the town centre in view of the beautiful Blackdown Hills. The tradition from the early days of side-shows, sword swallowers, tumblers and thieves has gone but there’s still an air of excitement in spending a day at the races. With Taunton on the doorstep for many of the sport’s top trainers, the course is perfect for them to try out their promising horses and give them racecourse experience. At Taunton a day’s racing will be a mix of hurdles and steeplechases which are run over various distances. You may get lucky and back a future champion!

6 The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre

Right in the town is the Brewhouse Theatre where a young actor by the name of David Jason starred in the theatre’s first professional performance – Alan Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquest. That was in 1977 but prior to that there were no performance venues in town. The purpose-built theatre has gone from strength to strength and fulfils its mission to promote culture and to enrich and enhance people’s lives. The main theatre space seats 350, and in addition there’s The Studio, which is an adaptable space for film and small-scale performance as well as a gallery, a caf� and a bar. A glance at the programme for the coming months highlights the range of shows and things to do – comedy, music, dance and drama.

“I love the fact that I live 20 minutes walk away from the town centre, yet I look out on green fields... I like Taunton as it’s where the countryside meets the town.”

7 The Quantock Hills

Running for about 15 miles from the Vale of Taunton Deane, north-west to the Bristol Channel, are the lovely Quantocks which local people wisely keep to themselves! Although the highest point, Will’s Neck, is just 1,261 feet, on a clear day you can see across to Wales and to the Brendon Hills and Exmoor in the south. The Quantocks were the first place in England to be designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, and beautiful they are. For such a small area there’s an immense variety of landscapes and an easily attained feeling of solitude and wildness. The hills change dramatically with the seasons; there are wild ponies, deer and an abundance of wildlife. Walking, riding and mountain-biking are all good ways to explore.