Things to do in Yeovil
Literally meaning 'town on the river', Yeovil has been an important part of south England's heritage from the Roman period onwards, becoming an important market town that's grown through the ages. The Somerset town is deceptively big and engaging – it might only have a population of just over 40,000 but the town is still home to professional football club Yeovil Town, boasts several impressive theatres and cinemas and has a compact town centre packed with cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs. Perhaps surprisingly, the town can boast some of the finest museums in England – the Montacute Museum is a hot-bed of TV and radio nostalgia, while the Haynes International Motor Museum and Fleet Air Arm Museum have some of the biggest collection of cars and planes in Europe. And our Yeovil hotels are well-placed to take in all the action, either a short walk or drive from the main attractions.
If you like museums, you'll love Yeovil's incredible selection spanning modern day pop culture, over 400 cars and bikes and one of the largest aviation collections in Europe. Plus, with historic castles, country parks and steam engines to explore, there's something for everyone.
Our roundup of the best entertainment in Yeovil includes several outstanding theatres, a modern cinema complex, the giant-killing action of Yeovil FC and the two-day agricultural and entertainment showpiece, The YeovilUna Show.
We've hand-picked the best cafés, coffee shops, bistros, eateries and restaurants in Yeovil, covering everything from your early-morning caffeine hit via late-night munchies, fine dining and more!
Whether you're looking for a classic pie and a pint, a heady night of cocktails or dancing the night away, you'll find all that and more in Yeovil's nightlife scene.
In the heart of Yeovil town centre, the Quedam Shopping Centre covers nearly all retail bases, with dozens of stores covering everything from fashion and food to fitness, technology and travel agents. Big-name stores include Topshop and Topman, New Look and Marks & Spencer, while there are a range of cafés and restaurants in the centre including The Grape Tree and the Boswell Cafe. The centre is open daily until 5.30pm (4pm on Sundays) with 650 on-site car park spaces, while it's just a short stroll from our Yeovil Town Centre hotel.
The nearest airport to Yeovil is Bristol Airport, with the 40-mile journey taking around an hour by car or around three hours via a train to Bristol and then the connecting bus service to the airport. The airport handles over eight million passengers each year and is serviced by a wide range of airlines including EasyJet, Flybmi, Ryanair and TUI Airways flying across the UK and Europe. Alternatively, make your journey even simpler by staying the night before you travel at one of our hotels near Bristol Airport.
There are several train stations in Yeovil, with Yeovil Junction the busier of the two. Located several miles south of the town centre, the two-platform station runs direct services to London Waterloo, Salisbury and Exeter, as well as connections to Devon and Cornwall. The station has relatively limited facilities including toilets, covered seating, a ticket office and ticket machines.
Shopping in Yeovil