Why visit Burnham-on-Sea?
The Parrett Estuary and Bridgwater Bay
Bridgewater Bay and the Parrett Estuary are part of a truly awe-inspiring landscape. Home to the second-highest tidal range in the world, here you can watch the briny waters of the Bristol Channel sweep over huge swathes of sand and – as the coast faces due west – take in some of the most spectacular sunsets around.
These quirks of geography mean that the area around Burnham-on-Sea is surrounded by wide sandy beaches, from the dune-fringed shores of nearby Berrow beach to the comfort and convenience of Burnham’s lifeguarded areas, toilets and public showers.
There are bucketloads of fun outdoor activities to get up to by the water in this part of the world – beachcombing, building sandcastles and paddling are just a few of the popular free options that can be enjoyed all year round. Once you’ve got a permit, you can also launch boats, jetskis and over craft from Burnham-on-Sea beach.
Brilliant views from Brean Down and Brent Knoll
For sweeping views over all that seaside scenery, head to Brean Down, a rocky outcrop that juts out into the sea six and a half miles north of Burnham-on-Sea town centre. Here you can also admire the bright lights of Weston-super-Mare to the north or look straight out to sea to watch remote islands being buffeted by the Bristol Channel. A 19th-century Palmerston Fort and Roman remains in the area further add to its interest.
As well as these views and historical connections, the whole Brean promontory is a wildlife haven that’s bursting with plants that cling to the rocks and birds that swoop and soar over the skies above.
For a view over green Somerset farmland, head inland and climb Brent Knoll, a spectacular hill roughly two miles from Burnham-on-Sea.
Top sports and outdoor activities
Want to prioritise spending time in the open air? A camping or caravanning break in Burnham-on-Sea could be just the ticket, as this sporty resort is a base for activities as varied as BMXing, swimming, high ropes, kite-flying, miniature golf and sailing.
Donkey rides along the beach are also often available – an old-fashioned option that even 21st-century kids will be keen to try out.
Easy access to all of Somerset
Where exactly is Burnham-on-Sea? This Somerset seaside town is just five minutes’ drive from the M5 motorway, making it a quick and easy destination to reach from cities such as Bristol (45 minutes), Cardiff (an hour and 15 minutes) or Birmingham (two hours). You can also get here via Highbridge & Burnham station, a convenient rail link just two miles from the seafront.
Burnham-on-Sea is surrounded by the rural willow-growing area known as the Somerset Levels and is a quarter of an hour’s drive from the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, thirty minutes from the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and roughly an hour from Exmoor National Park.
Burnham-on-Sea’s best attractions
In town
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Burnham Pier – said to be the shortest pier in all of Britain, this elegant Edwardian structure is nevertheless worth visiting for ice creams, snacks and traditional seafront amusements.
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Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park – a large and peaceful park in a former quarry with miniature boat racing, a BMX track, a skate park, an outdoor gym and a café.
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The Ritz Cinema – a vintage community-run picture house showcasing both mainstream releases and old classics.
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Burnham and Berrow Golf Club – a seaside links with two courses that run along the coast on the northern edge of town.
Within half an hour’s drive of Burnham-on-Sea
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Animal Farm Country Park (10 minutes’ drive) – a family-friendly adventure park near the village of Berrow with ace animal attractions and a zipwire.
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Brean Theme Park (10 minutes) – home to log flumes, dodgems, rollercoasters and lots of other high-adrenaline rides.
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Cheddar Gorge (20 minutes) – one of the geological highlights of Somerset, with caves, rock climbing and a scenic clifftop walk.
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Weston-super-Mare (20 minutes) – just the other side of Brean Down, Weston-super-Mare has classic seaside attractions plus go-karting, a helicopter museum, a waterpark and a renowned annual sand sculpture festival.
Delve deeper
Steart Wetlands and Stert Island
Burnham-on-Sea is roughly half an hour’s drive from the Steart Wetlands, a scenic birdlife habitat on the edge of Bridgwater Bay.
Confusingly, just off the shore of Burnham-on-Sea there is also an uninhabited islet called Stert Island, which is cast into the spotlight once a year when a bevy of wetsuit-clad athletes brace the cold to swim over to the island and back, a round trip of just over three miles.
The three beacons of Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea is home to three lighthouses. The first and most famous one is the iconic Low Lighthouse, a wood-clad beacon on stilts that sits in the middle of the beach and still serves as a useful aid to nearby navigators.
Inland, you may also come across the Round Tower Lighthouse and the more conventional-looking High Lighthouse, both of which have been inactive for many years.
Somerset cider
Burnham-on-Sea is right in the middle of Somerset’s cider country. Whether you like it flat or fizzy, come and sample local drinks at one of half a dozen small-scale producers within 20 minutes’ drive of the town centre, or drive 25 minutes north to Sandford, home of the well-known brand Thatchers.
Here's how
Ready to find a campsite, static caravan park or glampsite near Burnham-on-Sea and get stuck in? Use the tick-box filters on this page to narrow down your selection by facilities, themes and nearby leisure options, or keep reading to browse some of our most popular options below:
Other South West England locations have a lot going for them too – check out Weston-super-Mare or Minehead for seaside resorts with a similar vibe, or widen your search to the whole of Somerset for further West Country holiday inspiration.
