Things to do in Shepton Mallet
A Day Trip to Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet is a historic industrial town found in the Mendip district of Somerset. To this day there are international producers making their products there. The Brothers Cider factory can be found in the town, plus the classic fashion house of Mulberry.
Shepton is a small town with lots to see, we couldn’t recommend it more highly for a day trip!
Attractions and Historic Buildings
Kilver Court Designer Village declares itself ‘the home of rural style’, with over 40 designer brands, some offering up to 75% off recommended retail price! The shops could not be more perfectly housed, set in a former Victorian textile mill, this really is one of Somerset’s top shopping destinations.
Whilst at Kilver Court you cannot miss their Gardens and Garden Nursery, the beautifully maintained gardens are set against the grand backdrop of the listed Charlton Viaduct. There are 3.5 acres of gardens to explore with many areas to relax and unwind. If you are suitably inspired by the beauty of the gardens you can also pick up a bargain for your garden at the Garden Nursery and Wiggly Shed!
Shepton Mallet Prison closed its doors to prisoners in 2013 and is now open as a tourist attraction. There are several tours available, including a very popular ghost tour!
Shopping
Alongside the aforementioned Kilver Court designer village, Shepton Mallet offers further excellent shopping opportunities.
The weekly Shepton Mallet market, dating back to 1318, currently runs on a Friday from 9am to 2pm. The market-place can be found at the end of the High Street in the town centre where you will find a fabulous array of independent shops.
In between the market place and the High Street shops can be found a wonderfully relaxed café which is a perfect pit-stop for refuelling on your day trip round Shepton Mallet! The Cheeky Bean is an independent vegetarian and vegan café offering some of the best coffee, cakes and brunch in the town. The building has been beautifully decorated and, on the walls, hang some really cool and quirky art work from local artists. The Cheeky Bean is well worth a visit.
Parks and Play Areas
As a family Collett Park has always been one of our favourites to visit. There are two separate enclosed play areas with provision for two different age groups, a duck pond, plenty of space for dog walking or relaxing with a picnic and very importantly a lovely café where you can grab a coffee, ice cream, slice of cake and more. The park is situated close to the Town Centre so could easily be incorporated into a shopping trip, it’s always good to keep a bargaining chip with kids in tow!
Shepton Mallet also boasts a big concrete skatepark which was constructed in 2017, this can be found on the opposite side of town from Collett Park next to the football club which has it’s own car park.
Countryside Walks
You can explore the local countryside at Beacon Hill Woods, you will find stunning scenery mixed with historical archeological features. The Bronze Age burial mounds and Roman Roads mixed with the woodland make Beacon Hill a great place to visit, explore and take a walk. Find out more about woodland walks.
In Shepton Mallet you are on the eastern side of the Mendip Hills and can pick up part of the East Mendip Way. From Shepton Mallet you can walk to Wells in one direction or onto Waterlip and then Frome in the other direction. Find out more about the East Mendip Way.
