Somerset is one of England's most varied counties for budget travellers - from the mystical atmosphere of Glastonbury to the wild moorland of Exmoor, staying here doesn't have to cost a fortune. These 10 cheap hotels in Somerset cover everything from motorway-convenient stopovers to countryside inns with breakfast included, helping you decide where to stay based on where you're actually going.
What It's Like Staying in Somerset
Somerset rewards those who choose to base themselves here rather than day-trip from Bristol or Bath. The county spans from the flat Somerset Levels to the steep combes of Exmoor, meaning your choice of town genuinely changes your experience - Taunton gives motorway access and a market town feel, while Wincanton or Chard put you deep in rural South Somerset. Public transport is limited outside of Taunton, so a car is practically essential for visiting Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, or Glastonbury Tor efficiently. Crowds concentrate around Glastonbury during festival season in late June, and around Wells and Cheddar in the summer school holidays, but most budget accommodation outside those hotspots stays uncrowded even in August.
Pros:
- Wide geographic spread means budget hotels are available near every major attraction without premium location pricing
- Most budget properties in Somerset include free parking, eliminating a cost that quickly adds up in urban stays
- Rural pace means quieter nights and less street noise compared to city-centre budget stays
Cons:
- Limited rail connectivity means travellers without a car will find many budget options impractical to reach
- Dining options after 9pm are sparse outside Taunton and Bridgwater, even at hotels with on-site restaurants
- Mobile signal and internet reliability can be inconsistent in the more rural parts of the county
Why Choose Budget Hotels in Somerset
Budget hotels in Somerset consistently outperform their urban equivalents on space - en suite rooms with parking and breakfast at a country inn here often come in at under £80 per night, a figure that would typically get you a cramped city-centre room in Bristol with no extras. Many Somerset budget properties are converted pubs or inns, which means on-site bars and restaurants are genuinely part of the experience, not an afterthought. The trade-off is that standardisation varies: a roadside inn near the M5 will feel very different to a market-town pub stay, so reading the specific property details matters more here than in branded city-centre chains. Around half the budget options listed here include breakfast, which further compresses the true daily cost of a Somerset stay.
Pros:
- En suite rooms with free parking and breakfast are regularly available at prices far below comparable Bristol or Bath stays
- Inn and pub-style budget hotels offer genuine local atmosphere and on-site evening dining
- Proximity to major Somerset landmarks - Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, Exmoor - without paying rural boutique premiums
Cons:
- Room quality and decor consistency varies significantly between independent inns and branded budget chains
- Some budget properties are located on A-roads or near junctions, which can affect noise levels at night
- Wi-Fi reliability in older rural buildings is not always consistent despite being advertised as free
Practical Booking & Area Strategy in Somerset
For travellers using Somerset as a base to visit multiple attractions, Taunton and Bridgwater are the two strongest hub towns - both sit on the M5 corridor and have rail connections, making them the most flexible choices for car-free or mixed-transport travellers. Bridgwater puts you within around 15 miles of Glastonbury and gives easy access toward Exmoor to the west. For those focused on the cave systems and Mendip Hills - Wookey Hole, Cheddar Gorge, and Wells - a base in the northern part of the county near Wells or the A39 corridor is more efficient and avoids daily backtracking. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for stays during Glastonbury Festival weekend (late June), as even budget rooms within a 20-mile radius of Pilton sell out entirely. Outside festival season, last-minute availability is common at most rural inns. The key attractions drawing visitors to Somerset include Glastonbury Tor and Abbey, the caves at Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge, Wells Cathedral, Exmoor National Park, Longleat Safari Park just over the Wiltshire border, and the Haynes Motor Museum near Wincanton - so your ideal base depends directly on which of these sits highest on your itinerary.
Best Value Budget Stays in Somerset
These properties offer the strongest balance of price, location, and included amenities for budget travellers exploring Somerset's main attraction corridors.
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1. Wookey Hole Hotel
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 58
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2. Hunters Lodge Inn
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 68
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3. The Dolphin Hotel
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 105
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4. Admiral'S Table, Bridgwater By Marston'S Inns
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 92
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5. Holiday Inn Express Bridgwater M5, Jct24 By Ihg
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 75
Best Budget Stays in Quieter Somerset Locations
These properties sit away from the main tourist corridors - better suited to travellers seeking rural immersion, Exmoor access, or a quieter night near the county's southern and western fringes.
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1. The Lordleaze Hotel And Restaurant
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 95
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2. The Corner House Hotel
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 78
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3. Simonsbath House
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 77
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4. Beambridge Inn
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 139
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10. Accommodation Bristol Airport
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 100
Smart Timing & Booking Advice for Somerset Budget Hotels
The peak period for Somerset accommodation runs from late June through August, driven by the Glastonbury Festival, school summer holidays, and the concentration of visitors at Cheddar Gorge and Wells. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for any stay in late June - even budget properties 20 miles from Glastonbury sell out entirely during festival weekend. July and August at the Mendip Hills and Wookey Hole area see around 40% higher nightly rates compared to the shoulder months of April, May, and September. September is arguably the best month for value-conscious travellers: summer crowds have thinned, most attractions remain fully open, and prices at rural inns drop back to base rates. Winter stays from November to February are the cheapest and the quietest - Exmoor and the Somerset Levels are atmospheric in this period, but Glastonbury's attraction season is reduced. Midweek stays are consistently cheaper than weekends across most Somerset budget properties, particularly at pub-style inns where Friday and Saturday night bar trade pushes rates up. For Wincanton Racecourse weekends, the same early booking advice applies as for Glastonbury - local accommodation fills fast on race days regardless of season.
