scenic viewpoint
Golden Cap
The highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
22 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Ilminster
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Ilminster
Ilminster works well as a base: 15 minutes from Chard, 24km from Jurassic Coast.
Ilminster is in England, United Kingdom, with about 5,800 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Chard, about 7 km away.
Ilminster is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies just east of the junction of the A303 (London to Exeter) and the A358 (Taunton to Chard and Axminster). The parish includes the hamlet of Sea. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 5,964.
Where to Stay in Ilminster
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Ilminster.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Ilminster.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ilminster?
Within an hour or so of Ilminster: Golden Cap (22 km), The Cobb, Lyme Regis (23 km), Jurassic Coast (24 km), Glastonbury Tor (28 km).
Are there any good drives near Ilminster?
The nearest famous roads are Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135), Porlock Hill and Countisbury Hill.
Where is Ilminster?
Ilminster is in England, United Kingdom, about 7 km from Chard.
Road trip
Drive to Ilminster
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Ilminster. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 5,808
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.9268, -2.9101
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Ilminster
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The Cobb, Lyme Regis
The curving stone harbour wall at Lyme Regis, made famous by Jane Austen's Persuasion and The French Lieutenant's Woman.
23 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Jurassic Coast
UNESCO World Heritage coastline stretching 95 miles from Devon to Dorset, exposing 185 million years of geological history in its dramatic cliffs.
24 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Glastonbury Tor
Mystical terraced hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, steeped in Arthurian and early Christian legends with panoramic Somerset views.
28 km · about 35 min drive
museum
Haynes International Motor Museum
The UK's largest collection of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, with over 400 vehicles on display.
28 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
Glastonbury Abbey
The ruins of one of England's wealthiest monasteries, linked by legend to Joseph of Arimathea and the graves of Arthur and Guinevere.
28 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Cerne Abbas Giant
A 55 m chalk hill figure of a club-wielding naked man above a Dorset village, now dated to the late Saxon period.
33 km · about 40 min drive
cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Exquisite Early English Gothic cathedral with a magnificent sculpted west front displaying nearly 300 medieval figures.
37 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Ilminster
- 22 kmGolden CapThe highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
- 41 kmCheddar Gorge ViewpointEngland's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views from several pull-off points along the winding road.
- 41 kmCheddar Gorge Road (B3135)The B3135 threads the floor of England's largest gorge beneath 137m limestone cliffs, tight and dramatic but often busy with visitors and goats.
- 52 kmTarr StepsA 17-span prehistoric-style clapper bridge across the River Barle on Exmoor, repeatedly rebuilt after floods.
- 54 kmDunkery BeaconThe highest point on Exmoor and in Somerset at 519 m, with views to the Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor on clear days.
- 56 kmPortland BillThe southern tip of the Isle of Portland, marked by a red-and-white lighthouse above a fierce tidal race.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Ilminster.
Plan a trip around Ilminster
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Ilminster.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.