This Quaint Harbor Town In England Is A Lesser-Visited Gem With Seaside Charm

Despite its notoriously wet and changeable weather, England is famous for its seaside towns. There's a certain quaint, faded charm to the traditional piers and seafront promenades that make up the traditional coastal towns in England, from the historic, car-free Cornish fishing port of Clovelly to elegant Georgian tourist destinations like Brighton. Whether it's eating fish and chips on pebble beaches or relaxing with an ice-cold beer after a long day of surfing, the variety and beauty of English coastal communities is impressive, and it's no surprise they are some of the most visited spots in the country.

While the glory days of many seaside towns may be a distant memory, there are plenty of destinations that remain famous and popular, particularly over summer. It can be hard to find a place to sit on the world-renowned beaches at Botany Bay in Kent, Walberswick in Suffolk, or the gorgeous Woolacombe Beach in Devon, and even the smallest towns and villages like Whitstable, Southwold, and St. Ives are often packed with tourists. Luckily, there's usually somewhere beautiful, picturesque, and undiscovered just around the corner. If you follow the coast around to the next cove, or go a little further off the beaten track, chances are you'll find a hidden gem like Watchet waiting for you.

Watchet is a picture-perfect harbor town hidden away in northwest Somerset, overlooking the Bristol Channel. It's about 18 miles from Taunton, the county town of Somerset, about 40 miles from Exeter, and about 55 miles from Bristol, the nearest city. Bristol Airport is the nearest international airport, just over 45 miles away, and takes around one-hour-and-twenty-minutes to reach by car. You can also arrive by train on the West Somerset Railway, a steam railway that runs from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.

Watchet is a town rich in history, traditions, and folklore, and you'll feel the historic atmosphere as soon as you arrive. From the narrow streets that wind their way up from the seafront to the crumbling watchtower that looks out over the channel, you get a sense that you are walking in the footsteps of history. There's been a settlement here for over 1,000 years, and its location overlooking the Bristol Channel has always meant that shipping and seafaring have played a huge role in its development. The town also has the peculiar and unusual honor of being the only place where a sea battle was won with a successful cavalry charge, when Roundhead troops on horseback captured a Royalist ship at low tide.

It's worth diving a little deeper into the history of Watchet with a visit to the Watchet Market House Museum, filled with an array of fascinating displays exploring the heritage of the area. Don't miss the surprisingly intact fossils and dinosaur skeletons, the Roman coins, and the exhibitions of Watchet's maritime heritage. The Boat Museum is also worth a look, housed in a small Victorian building with, among other things, an excellent collection of traditional flat-bottomed boats. Both these museums are volunteer-run and absolutely free to visit.

Beyond its rich history, Watchet is a gorgeous place to just explore on-foot. Stroll up Anchor Street to discover Packhorse Bridge and three precious 17th-century thatched cottages. East Quay on the marina is a vibrant, buzzy arts center overlooking the boats, with an excellent lunchtime restaurant. And while Watchet Beach isn't a sun-drenched stretch of golden sand, it's a delightful spot to enjoy the sunset over the Bristol Channel.

If you do want a traditional day by the sea, there are plenty of spots just a stone's throw from Watchet to enjoy beautiful, wide-open beaches when the sun shines. Blue Anchor Beach is a combination of golden sand and stony shingle, and chances are you'll have it to yourself. Minehead Beach is sandier but busier, with the added bonus of the charming town of Minehead at its back. And the amazing, unusual rock formations of Kilve Beach are a visual treat, as well as an excellent spot to hunt for fossils.

Watchet lies between the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the wild landscapes of Exmoor National Park, right on the route of the West Somerset Coast Path, so it's a fantastic place for outdoor adventurers. There are some fantastic walks and hikes to be found, along the West Somerset Coastal Path, along the South West Coastal Path from Minehead, and exploring the Quantocks, while Exmoor offers some of the most insane cliff camping in the world.

Watchet also has some excellent drinking and dining options, with great local restaurants and traditional English pubs to enjoy. The Pebbles Tavern is a great place to start, a quirky, whimsical, bohemian place that showcases the character of the South West of England perfectly. Crispy's Fish and Chip Shop is an excellent option for a traditional fish supper, while the Star Inn is a historic pub dating back to the 1700s with a wonderful ambiance.