🇬🇧 Taunton, United Kingdom
The Apple Press
📍 Sweethay Lane, Trull, TA3 7PB
Photo: official website
Your stay — The Apple Press
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Taunton.
The Property — The Apple Press
Stepping into The Apple Press feels like walking into a working cider barn that someone turned into a hotel. There's a big stone fireplace, exposed beams, and the reception desk is an old press table. It's a genuine 3-star — no frills but solid, with a small bar and restaurant that does proper West Country food. This place suits couples or solo travellers passing through Somerset who want something characterful, not corporate.
Chronicles of Taunton
Taunton began as a Saxon settlement and grew around its Augustinian priory, founded in the 1100s. The cloth trade made it prosperous in the 16th and 17th centuries, leaving a legacy of Georgian townhouses in the centre. Later, the Victorians added ornate civic buildings like the Market House and the railway station. Today Taunton is the administrative capital of Somerset, with a lively food market and a growing reputation as a gateway to Exmoor and the Quantocks.
Best Time to Visit
Full Taunton guide →Best months
June and September give you long, fairly dry days and the Somerset sun at its best, without the school-holiday crush of August. Crowds are manageable and the countryside is lush green.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak season in Taunton because schools are out and the town's own Taunton Flower Show (late July) draws big crowds. Hotel prices can jump 30-40% around that weekend. The Somerset County Cricket Ground also hosts matches, adding to demand.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are the sweet spots for deals. May is mild and green with fewer tourists; October can be damp but the autumn colours are stunning, and room rates often drop by 20% or more.
Weather & packing
Somerset gets a lot of rain, even in summer — expect at least one downpour during a 2-day stay. Pack a waterproof jacket and walking shoes, not just sandals.
Live City Briefing — Taunton
- Taunton railway station is midway through a major accessibility upgrade, with platform works until late 2026 — check for temporary access routes and possible service disruptions.
- The new 'Taunton Garden Town' development has opened a public park on the former cattle market site, just east of the town centre, with green spaces and a new café.
- The Somerset Levels are under a 'low risk' flood warning for early July, wet weather having raised groundwater levels — check local Environment Agency updates for affected walking trails.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Apple Press, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (one flight up) facing the rear garden or car park side. These are quietest as there's no foot traffic from reception or the breakfast room below.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the front entrance or adjacent to the breakfast room can pick up chairs scraping and early-morning chatter from 7am. Also avoid rooms with a 'terrace' or 'patio' facing the car park — guests and cars come and go from 7am.
Best views
Rooms at the rear overlook the garden and fields beyond — ask for 'rear garden view'. Front rooms look onto the small car park and the lane, which is less interesting.
Quietest floors
First floor (above ground level) — only two floors in this country-house conversion, so first floor is the quietest. Second floor (top) can be slightly warmer in summer.
🔊 Noise notes
Sweethay Lane is a quiet country lane but gets farm traffic from 6am. The breakfast room/kitchen is on the ground floor at the front; extraction fans hum from 6:30am. No bar noise — the pub is a separate building 100m away.
Insider tips
1. Park in the main car park (free), not the overflow gravel — it's closer to the entrance and less muddy in rain. 2. If you need a quiet afternoon, request a first-floor rear room and ask reception to hold breakfast until 9am — they're flexible if you ask the night before.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Apple Press
Free, good speed (approx 50 Mbps download). No login required; password on room key card.
No lift; guest rooms are on first and second floors accessed by stairs only. Ground-floor lounge and dining area are step-free.
No digital newsstand. Print copies of The Times and The Guardian available in the lounge on request.
Standard check-in 15:00–21:00; early bag-drop available from 09:00; late check-out until 11:00 costs £25. Weekend check-out can extend to 12:00 if available.
Free, at reception during reception hours (09:00–21:00).
Limited: step-free access to ground-floor public areas only. No adapted rooms or wheelchair-accessible guest bedrooms. Stairs to all rooms.
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park: Taunton Station Long Stay (1.5 miles), £6 per day. No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; £50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: All Saints (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use ATM cash withdrawals for best rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchange desks which have poor rates and fees.
Cards (Visa/Mastercard) and contactless are widely accepted; most places take mobile pay. Keep some cash for small shops and markets.
Not expected, but 10% for good table service; round up taxi fare; no tip for hotel porters unless extra service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a café or chain costs around £2.50–£3.00.
A sandwich or jacket potato from a café or pub lunch menu: £6–£9.
Pub main course or curry house basic dish: £12–£15.
Not a strong street-food scene; cheaper eat-in options cluster around town centre pubs and Chinese/Indian takeaways.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi – all with branches in or near Taunton town centre.
High street chains in town centre (Primark, M&S, Next); charity shops for bargains.
Bus day pass £5–£6; walking is cheapest and flat city centre. Airport: National Express coach from airports (Heathrow/Gatwick) cheapest at £20–£30 one-way.
1) Eat at pub lunchtime menus for lower prices. 2) Use railcards (e.g. Two Together) for train discounts. 3) Shop at Aldi/Lidl for groceries instead of Tesco/Sainsbury's.
Good to know — Taunton
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
TauntonFor non-emergency police matters in Taunton and Somerset, dial 101. Text relay is available on 18001 999 for deaf/speech users. The local police station is on Belvedere Road (call 101 to speak to them). NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. For power cuts: 105.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Taunton, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Apple Press
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Bristol Temple Meads → Taunton Railway Station
💡 Buy an off-peak day return for £20. At Taunton station, use the bus stop outside to catch the 28 or 29 – it's a 7-min ride to Parsons Drive, then a 5-min walk to Yallands.
Taunton Bus Station → Parsons Drive (near Yallands Farmhouse)
💡 Board at stand C. The last bus back is 19:30 – taxis are scarce after that. A day rider on the app is £4.50, cheaper than buying singles.
Taunton Castle Way → Staplegrove Road (near B&B)
💡 Alight at the 'Staplegrove Turn' stop, then walk 2 mins. The bus is slow in traffic—skip it if you have heavy luggage and take a taxi instead.
Bristol Airport Bus Stop → Taunton Station (then walk 20 min to B&B)
💡 Change for the 22/22A bus at the station to cut the walk to 5 mins. The Falcon is coach-like, with luggage racks and power points.
Bristol Airport (BRS) → Yallands Farmhouse
💡 Book a day in advance for the best rates – last-minute can add £10. The farmhouse is off a quiet lane, so drivers appreciate postcode TA1 4JX.
Bristol Airport → Halcon Lodge B&B, Taunton
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer online to avoid surge pricing at the rank. The driver will drop you at the B&B's Staplegrove Road entrance, not the main car park.
Taunton Railway Station → Yallands Farmhouse
💡 The rank is just outside the station entrance. For Sunday arrivals, call 01823 333 333 – the app-only cars are often cheaper than the rank taxis.
London Paddington → Taunton Station (then taxi/bus to B&B)
💡 Advance singles can drop to £35 if booked 12 weeks out. From the station, a taxi to the B&B is £6-8—no bus runs directly to Staplegrove Road.
Taunton Railway Station bus stop → Royal Ashton Hotel (station stop: Taunton, Market House)
💡 The bus journey is short but the stop outside the hotel is only on routes 1 and 2. Tap contactless — it's the same as the national single fare.
Bristol Airport Airside → Taunton Bus Station
💡 This is the only coach from BRS. Buy a return ticket online – it's cheaper. From Taunton Bus Station, The Lighthouse is a 5-min walk east.
Bristol Airport Bus Stop → Taunton Bus Station
💡 Coach is slow but cheap—alight at Taunton Bus Station, then it's a 12-minute walk to Bridge House. Reserve a seat online.
Bristol Airport → Taunton (Castle Way stop, 5min walk to Royal Ashton)
💡 Buy tickets on the app to get the cheapest fare. The bus drops you near the top of Fore Street — walk east for 5 minutes.
About Taunton
Wikipedia ↗
Taunton ( TAWN-tən) is the county town of Somerset, England. It is a market town and has a minster church. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, owned by the Bishops of Winchester, which was rebuilt as Taunton Castle by the Normans in the 12th century. Parts of the i...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Apple Press?
Request a room on the first floor (one flight up) facing the rear garden or car park side. These are quietest as there's no foot traffic from reception or the breakfast room below.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Apple Press?
Ground-floor rooms near the front entrance or adjacent to the breakfast room can pick up chairs scraping and early-morning chatter from 7am. Also avoid rooms with a 'terrace' or 'patio' facing the car park — guests and cars come and go from 7am.
Is The Apple Press noisy?
Sweethay Lane is a quiet country lane but gets farm traffic from 6am. The breakfast room/kitchen is on the ground floor at the front; extraction fans hum from 6:30am. No bar noise — the pub is a separate building 100m away.
Which rooms have the best views at The Apple Press?
Rooms at the rear overlook the garden and fields beyond — ask for 'rear garden view'. Front rooms look onto the small car park and the lane, which is less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at The Apple Press?
1. Park in the main car park (free), not the overflow gravel — it's closer to the entrance and less muddy in rain. 2. If you need a quiet afternoon, request a first-floor rear room and ask reception to hold breakfast until 9am — they're flexible if you ask the night before.
What time is check-in at The Apple Press?
Check-in at The Apple Press is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Apple Press have Wi-Fi?
Free, good speed (approx 50 Mbps download). No login required; password on room key card.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Apple Press?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Apple Press?
A sandwich or jacket potato from a café or pub lunch menu: £6–£9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Apple Press?
Bus day pass £5–£6; walking is cheapest and flat city centre. Airport: National Express coach from airports (Heathrow/Gatwick) cheapest at £20–£30 one-way.
When is the best time to visit Taunton?
June and September give you long, fairly dry days and the Somerset sun at its best, without the school-holiday crush of August. Crowds are manageable and the countryside is lush green.
Top Attractions in Taunton
💡 Go mid-afternoon on a weekday when the light hits the stained glass above the chancel. The church often has free leaflets detailing the 16th-century monuments — ask at the welcome desk.
💡 Go on Saturday for the biggest selection—the fish van from Brixham has excellent crab. Prices drop around 1pm as stallholders pack up.
💡 Climb the tower on summer Saturdays for a clear view of the Quantock Hills — costs a voluntary donation of £3.
💡 Entry is free, but special exhibitions sometimes cost a few pounds. Check the 'What's On' page online before visiting, as they sometimes host free craft workshops on weekends.
💡 The castle’s south side has the best preserved Norman stonework. Come on a Saturday morning to catch the small outdoor market in the castle courtyard.
💡 Check the noticeboard by the door for free lunchtime concerts held occasionally in the summer.
💡 Head to the top floor for the best view of the castle's Great Hall and the surrounding park. The cafe serves decent tea at reasonable prices.
💡 Pick up a free trail sheet from the desk — keeps children occupied without costing a penny. The castle café garden is a solid spot for lunch if you have your own sandwiches.