In many ways, Bruton is a quintessential Somerset town with its babbling brooks, rolling hills, and sun-licked cottages—a true slice of the quiet life—but in others, it’s a bustling hotspot, the hottest location in the South West, once dubbed the ‘new Notting Hill’. The truth, like all things in life, lies somewhere in the middle.
Bruton is so old that it was referenced in the Domesday Book. But a walk around the small market town, caught between Yeovil and Frome, will unveil it as a thriving location that everyone wants to move to—boasting its own Michelin star restaurant, world-renowned art gallery and 5* hotel a stone’s throw away.
Why visit Bruton?
The ‘Notting Hill of the South West’ might be nothing more than an estate agent sales tag, but Bruton still has plenty to offer, whether it’s a day trip or a relocation—with its charming high street full of trendy boutiques selling everything form Morrocan rugs (Smouk Interiors) to American Vintage denim (Rose & Lyons)
The two biggest draws have to be the world-famous Hauser & Wirth art gallery (with locations also in London, New York, Hong Kong, among others) in a former farmstead, and the Michelin-starred, farm-to-table restaurant, Osip—located inside a 300-year-old country inn where you can stay the night, explore the gardens, and tour the kitchen.
Elsewhere, grab a coffee from the bookshop café, the Stripy Duck; keep an eye out for what’s happening at B&B-cum-photography studio-cum-events space, The Space at Caro; grab an elevated British lunch from the Briar; or spend a night of luxury at The Newt (which holds an incredible three Michelin Keys).
But, forget all this luxury hidden in the heart of Somerset. Just a stroll around the lovely surrounding countryside should be enough to convince you of the town’s worth. American author John Steinbeck, who lived in Bruton for 9 months in 1959, probably said it best:
I wish you could feel this place, just let it seep into you… there’s a goodness here… something that clears your eyes.
How do I get to Bruton from Bristol?
In just under an hour, you can drive to Bruton from Bristol via the A37, but it doesn’t take much longer to hop on a direct train from Bristol Temple Meads and ride it all the way to Bruton’s railway station.
