New Year Celebrations in Taunton

New Year Celebrations in Taunton
4 day holiday - Sunday 29th December 2024


Highlights...

Dunster Castle & Watermill

The Museum of Somerset

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner & Drinks Celebration  


Wondering how to celebrate this New Year? We’ve created a package full of seasonal charm, with everything taken care of to make the start of 2025 a memorable one in Taunton. We spend New Year’s Eve at The Castle Hotel, with a glass of champagne and a 4-course Black-Tie Gala Dinner. There will be live music right up to the midnight countdown, and the opportunity to socialise with fellow members of Cultural Breaks old and new!





Taunton really is the place for atmosphere over the festive season, located in the county of Somerset, it is one of the most popular market towns to visit in the South West of England. Ancient monuments and cosy pubs can be found alongside the cobbled streets, with its name deriving from 'Town on the River Tone' or Tone Town and a history spanning over one thousand years. Taunton has many interesting historical features, such as being home to the tallest church spire in Somerset of 50 metres at St Mary Magdalene Church, or the fact it was the first place in the UK to be permanently lit by electric street lighting. If the rolling hills of Somerset that surround Taunton weren't enough, there are many green spaces in the town with the most well-known being Vivary Park that was once a medieval fish farm. The Taunton Tramway was also in operation during the early 1900s, but due to the price of electricity it closed in 1921, with clues from its past remaining on Fore Street. Also close by is the Canal linking Taunton to Bridgewater. 



Alongside the New Year celebrations, our trip explores local points of interest. We step back in time with a tour of the Museum of Somerset, the perfect introduction to life dating back to prehistoric times in Somerset to the present day. Dunster Castle is also in our itinerary, a fortress on a hill with a working watermill from the Norman era. The blend of gothic architecture has made it the setting for many films and TV shows, most notably ‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Cornish Mystery’. The detailed family history at Dunster Castle also makes it a must-see location. Book with us this winter to discover the underrated gem of Taunton and celebrate the New Year in style! 


4* The Castle Hotel, Taunton


Located in the heart of the Taunton town centre, The Castle Hotel is a one-off 4-star hotel owned by three generations of the Chapman Family for over 70 years, with parts of the one-off Grade II listed landmark dating back to the 13th century. Each of the individually decorated bedrooms has a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, modern bathroom with shower, hairdryer and handy tea or coffee making facilities. We will start and finish each day with breakfast in the morning and a 3-course meal in the evening both at the hotel restaurant. Most recently The Castle Hotel was named as LuxLife’s ‘Historic Hotel & Restaurant of the Year 2024’ for the South West. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Sunday 29th December


The holiday begins with your door-to-door car transferring you to the Crowne Plaza, Gerrards Cross. On arrival, you will be greeted by your Tour Manager who will be with you throughout the trip. Refreshments will be available, then we will board the coach to sit back, relax and begin our journey. Our light lunch stop is located half-way, and from there we continue towards the South West for our stay at The Castle Hotel in Taunton. You will be fully assisted at the hotel check-in, including porterage for your luggage. There will be time to settle in and unpack before dining in the hotel restaurant for our 3-course evening meal. 


Day 2 – Monday 30th December  


Today we venture to Dunster Castle, a fortress that became a family home for the Luttrells, who lived there for several hundred years. Fine interior features from a 17th century carved staircase, rare leather wall handlings and ornate plaster ceilings are just some of the details inside. The Castle sits high on a hill called the Tor alongside the River Avill with breath-taking views over Exmoor and the Bristol Channel. We have a light lunch at The Tearoom followed by a look around the Watermill. Please note this location requires a leisurely walk through Dunster Village to the Castle. Later, you have free time before our evening meal. 

Day 3 – Tuesday 31st December


Opposite the hotel is the impressive Museum of Somerset and we take a short walk across the green to meet our guide for a tour. Located in the Great Hall of the Somerset Castle that dates back to the 12th century, we find out more about the county’s fascinating story from prehistoric times to the present day. Complete with contemporary themed gallery spaces, it houses the largest collection of Roman coins ever discovered in the UK. After our light lunch at the museum, we head back to the hotel for live classical music in the hotel’s charming Castle Bow function room for an hour with a refreshing beverage. Later that evening, we celebrate together at The Castle Hotel’s spectacular New Year’s Eve Black-Tie Gala Dinner. We enjoy canapés on arrival with a glass of Champagne, followed by a 4-course meal. There will be live musical entertainment later that evening and a count down into 2025 with great company!

Day 4 – Wednesday 1st January 


We have a gentle start to the day and after breakfast, the Tour Manager will assist you with check-out late-morning. Your luggage will be loaded onto the coach in time for departure to our half-way stop which includes a 2-course lunch. We then return to our original meeting point at the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross for refreshments, including tea and coffee before your door-to-door car collection. We hope you had a New Year to remember and would love to see you on another trip with us in 2025! 

Total Price of the Holiday:      £1,875 per person


Deposit:       £200                     National Trust Discount:       £17


Balance due:    3rd November 2023


Whats Included:

  • Door to door cars from your home to the meeting point and return
  • Coach travel throughout the holiday
  • Three nights at the 4-Star Castle Hotel
  • 3-course dinner with 2 glasses of wine every night
  • 4-course gala dinner for NYE with a glass of champagne
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Lunch with coffee or tea every day
  • 2-course lunch on the final day
  • Refreshments on the first and final day at the Crowne Plaza
  • All Admission/talks/tours at properties visited:
  • Dunster Castle & Watermill
  • The Museum of Somerset
  • Live music on NYE
  • The services of your Tour manager throughout your stay
  • Gratuities
  • V.A.T.     



For more information or to book please call 020 4568 3377


If you have any questions about our holidays, please contact us by filling out the form below and we will get in touch with you shortly. Alternatively, you can give us a call – we hope to hear from you soon!

Interested in this holiday ? Send Us a Message

Send Us a Message

Share by: