ancient ruins
Roman Baths, Bath
Remarkably preserved Roman bathing complex fed by Britain's only natural hot springs, surrounded by elegant Georgian architecture.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Keynsham
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Keynsham
Keynsham works well as a base: 10 minutes from Compton Dando, 23km from Cheddar Gorge.
Keynsham is in England, United Kingdom, with about 20,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Compton Dando, about 4 km away.
Keynsham ( KAYN-shəm) is a town and civil parish in the Bath and North East Somerset district of Somerset, England. It lies close to the south-eastern outskirts of the city of Bristol, on the A4 road that links Bristol and Bath. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 19,596 and the built-up area had aRead more
population of 19,255. It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham (as it is pronounced), which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne.
The site of the town has been occupied since prehistoric times, and may have been the site of the Roman settlement of Trajectus. The remains of at least two Roman villas have been excavated, and an additional 15 Roman buildings have been detected beneath the Keynsham Hams. Keynsham developed into a medieval market town after Keynsham Abbey was founded around 1170. It is situated at the confluence of the River Chew and River Avon and was subject to serious flooding before the creation of Chew Valley Lake and river level controls at Keynsham Lock in 1727. The Chew Stoke flood of 1968 inundated large parts of the town. It was home to the Cadbury's chocolate factory, Somerdale, which opened in 1935 as a major employer in the town.
It is home to Memorial Park, which is used for the annual town festival and several nature reserves. The park is also the centre of the annual chicken race, held every October. The town is served by Keynsham railway station on the London-Bristol and Bristol-Southampton trunk routes and is close to the A4 road which bypassed the town in 1964. There are schools, religious, sporting, and cultural clubs and venues.
Where to Stay in Keynsham
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Keynsham?
Within an hour or so of Keynsham: Roman Baths, Bath (10 km), Clifton Suspension Bridge (10 km), Castle Combe Circuit (21 km), Castle Combe (21 km).
Are there any good drives near Keynsham?
The nearest famous roads are Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135), A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth) and Gospel Pass.
Where is Keynsham?
Keynsham is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Compton Dando.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 19,603
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.4139, -2.4978
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 Keynsham
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
bridge
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's iconic 1864 suspension bridge soaring 75m above the Avon Gorge at Bristol, still carrying traffic and glowing with lights after dark.
10 km · about 20 min drive
racetrack
Castle Combe Circuit
A charming Wiltshire circuit in a picturesque Cotswolds village, one of England's oldest operational racing venues.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Castle Combe
A film-set medieval village of honey cottages with no visible modern intrusions, often called England's prettiest village.
21 km · about 25 min drive
film location
Castle Combe (Doctor Dolittle, War Horse, Stardust)
Often called England's prettiest village; it was the seaside town of Puddleby in the 1967 Doctor Dolittle and appears in War Horse and Stardust.
21 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Cheddar Gorge
Britain's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, ancient caves containing the oldest complete human skeleton found in Britain.
23 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Cheddar Gorge Viewpoint
England's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views from several pull-off points along the winding road.
23 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Cheddar 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.
23 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Keynsham
- Right hereClifton Suspension BridgeIsambard Kingdom Brunel's iconic 1864 suspension bridge soaring 75m above the Avon Gorge at Bristol, still carrying traffic and glowing with lights after dark.
- 23 kmCheddar Gorge ViewpointEngland's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views from several pull-off points along the winding road.
- 23 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.
- 33 kmDevil's PulpitA narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
- 34 kmA466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
- 49 kmSymonds Yat RockA famous viewpoint 504 feet above the River Wye, where peregrine falcons nest and the river performs a dramatic horseshoe bend.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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