Bridgwater Travel Guide

Admiral Blake is 'Bridgwater's most famous son' although few people (locals or visitors) seem sure who he was! This small but appealing museum, located in his birthplace, is the place to find out.
However, it has a lot more to offer too. Find out about the town's past as a busy port, its former tile and brick industry, and the last battle on English soil.

The big cultural event of the year in Bridgwater is the carnival. Very different from Rio or Notting Hill! It's an evening event, with over 80 floats (pulled by tractors, and with music, dancers etc) lit by hundreds of light bulbs which travel on a route through the town.
Previously on the Thursday nearest November 5th, it has now - controversially - been changed to the Friday evening nearest that date.

Bridgwater is a small, traditional town with traditional opening hours. This means that town centre shops tend to close at 5.30pm and on Sundays (supermarkets on the edge of town are open Sundays and evenings).

After many years of neglect, the canal has been restored and is now open for navigation. It begins right in the centre of town, at Bridgwater docks, although most of the route is through countryside. In less than 15 miles it reaches Taunton. If you don't have a boat, the towpath is great for walking or cycling!

Fondest memory: Well my fondest memory of Bridgewater is more of a mistake rather than a positive thing. While on holiday in Weston Super Mare I persuaded my parents to take me to Bridgewater. At the time I was studying canals at school and as Bridgewater was so near I fancied a visit to the Bridgewater canal. it wasn`t until we got there and couldn`t find it that I realised that the canal was actually the Duke of Bridgewaters` Canal and therefore nowhere near where we were. Luckily my parents were ok about, I did feel a bit stupid though.