Cheddar - Cheddar visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Cheddar' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Somerset.

The large village of Cheddar is situated just west of the entrance to Cheddar Gorge in Somerset on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The area around Cheddar has been occupied from Neolithic times, and the oldest human skeleton, dating to 9,000 years and called 'Cheddar Man', was found in the area.

Cheddar was important during the Saxon era, and ruins of a Saxon palace as well as a 14th century chapel are found on the grounds of The Kings of Wessex School. Cheddar has long been a source of cheese making, with Cheddar cheese maturing in the natural caves. The region was also important for quarrying limestone and a couple of quarries are still active today. As well as Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar is surrounded by several other Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Tourism to Cheddar began in 1869 with the opening of the Cheddar Valley Railway (now closed).

Cheddar - Tourist Attractions

• Market Cross - dating from the 15th century and rebuilt in 1834, the market cross was extensively repaired after a traffic accident in 2000.
• Hannah More's Cottage - Grade II listed building set up by Hannah More in the 18th century for the children of local miners.
• Church of St Andrew - Grade I listed 14th century church containing 15th century stained glass and 30m bell tower.
• Toy Museum and Model Railway - museum with a large collection of toys from the past.
• Cheddar Sweet Kitchen - selling a vast variety of sweets made on site with the opportunity to watch the manufacturing process.
• Cheddar Gorge - one of the natural wonders of Britain, and the longest gorge, with show caves, Cheddar Man museum, walking and stunning views, bus tours, climbing and other things, the main tourist attraction around Cheddar.
• Cheddar Reservoir - fed by Cheddar Yeo, which rises in Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge, the reservoir is an SSSI with a large population of of wintering waterfowl.
• Cheddar Complex - covering 441.3 hectares (1,090.5 acres) this SSSI includes Cheddar gorge itself as well as the surrounding hills and caves.
• Cheddar Wood - important combination of woodlands and grasslands on which are found various rare animals and insects.

Cheddar Tourist Information Centre
The Gorge,
Cheddar,
Somerset BS27 3QE
Phone: +44 (0)1934 744071

Car: Cheddar is about a mile west of Cheddar Gorge on the B3135. It is 19 miles south of Bristol, 12 miles east of Weston-super-Mare and 26 miles west of Bath.
Train: Weston-super-Mare Rail Station
Flight: Bristol International Airport