Somerset

Local Authority District in England

Somerset, South West

§ This page gives an overview of the Somerset local authority district, bringing together key facts, maps, and data to help you quickly understand the area. One of 361 district profiles on Baseview.

Overview ⁞ Somerset is a large and varied county district known for its rolling hills, wetlands, and historic towns. It encompasses the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills, and Blackdown Hills, alongside the wide Somerset Levels, an expanse of wetlands rich in birdlife. Key towns include Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater, and Frome, while Glastonbury is famed for its Tor and Abbey, and Wells for its stunning cathedral. The coast along the Bristol Channel includes seaside resorts like Minehead and the dramatic cliffs of Exmoor. Ancient landmarks such as Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole add geological interest, while the patchwork farmland and historic villages define its rural character.

The administrative boundary of Somerset can be viewed on OpenStreetMap: District Boundary of Somerset.

Map of Somerset — Administrative Boundary of Somerset (Local Authority District)

Key Facts about Somerset

What region is Somerset in? Somerset is in the South West of England, a region within the UK.

What county is Somerset in? Somerset is in the county of Somerset.

Is Somerset a city? Yes, Somerset is a city. Somerset holds official city status as one of the 76 designated cities in the UK.

Who governs Somerset? The local government for this district is: Somerset Council (Unitary Authority).

▶ Official website of Somerset Council 🔗 somerset.gov.uk

Which police force covers Somerset? Policing in Somerset is provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary 🔗 avonandsomerset.police.uk, which serves 5 local authority districts: Bath and North East Somerset ⁞ Bristol, City of ⁞ North Somerset ⁞ Somerset ⁞ South Gloucestershire.

Somerset in International Geographies

In the International Territorial Levels (ITLs) hierarchy, Somerset is within one of ITLs Level 2 area, North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset, that contains the following 5 ITLs Level 3 areas:

(ITL 1) South West
(ITL 2) ⇒ West of England
(ITL 3) ⇒⇒ Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire

(ITL 1) South West
(ITL 2) ⇒ North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
(ITL 3) ⇒⇒ North Somerset ⁞ Somerset ⁞ Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ⁞ Dorset

The International Territorial Levels are used by OECD member countries for statistical purposes to classify administrative areas. We have this listable page for easy browsing of ITL names and codes: International Territorial Levels.

This district page, Somerset, is a sub-page of this county page: Somerset and this region page: South West. It zooms in to local authorities and parliamentary constituencies, and provides a list of wards in this district. We have this list page for easy browsing of all UK local authority districts: List of Local Authority Districts.

Constituencies in Somerset

A constituency is a specific geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies. We have this list page for easy browsing of all UK parliamentary constituencies: List of Constituencies.

Wards in Somerset

Somerset is divided into 55 wards, listed below in alphabetical order.

Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Blackdown & Neroche
Blackmoor Vale
Brent
Bridgwater East & Bawdrip
Bridgwater North & Central
Bridgwater South
Bridgwater West
Brympton
Burnham on Sea North
Cannington
Castle Cary
Chard North
Chard South
Cheddar
Coker
Comeytrowe & Trull
Crewkerne
Curry Rivel & Langport
Dulverton & Exmoor
Dunster
Frome East
Frome North
Frome West
Glastonbury
Highbridge & Burnham South
Huntspill
Ilminster
King Alfred
Lydeard
Martock
Mendip Central and East
Mendip Hills
Mendip South
Mendip West
Minehead
Monkton & North Curry
North Petherton
Rowbarton & Staplegrove
Shepton Mallet
Somerton
South Petherton & Islemoor
Street
Taunton East
Taunton North
Taunton South
Upper Tone
Watchet & Stogursey
Wellington
Wells
Wincanton & Bruton
Yeovil Central
Yeovil East
Yeovil South
Yeovil West

In the UK, a ward is a subdivision of a local authority area, used mainly for electoral and statistical purposes. Defined by the ONS, wards represent the primary unit for local elections, each returning one or more councillors to the local council. Wards are also used as a key geography for presenting population and census data.

Parishes in Somerset

Somerset is fully parished: 328 civil parishes, listed A-Z below.

Abbas and Templecombe
Alford
Aller
Ansford
Ash
Ash Priors
Ashbrittle
Ashcott
Ashill
Ashwick
Axbridge
Babcary
Badgworth
Baltonsborough
Barrington
Barton St. David
Barwick and Stoford
Batcombe
Bathealton
Bawdrip
Beckington
Beercrocombe
Berkley
Berrow
Bickenhall
Bicknoller
Binegar
Bishop's Hull
Bishop's Lydeard
Bradford-on-Tone
Bratton Seymour
Brean
Brent Knoll
Brewham
Bridgwater
Bridgwater Without
Broadway
Brompton Ralph
Brompton Regis
Broomfield
Brushford
Bruton
Brympton
Buckland Dinham
Buckland St Mary
Burnham Without
Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge
Burrowbridge
Burtle
Butleigh
Cannington
Carhampton
Castle Cary
Catcott
Chaffcombe
Chapel Allerton
Chard Town
Charlton Horethorne
Charlton Musgrove
Cheddar
Cheddon Fitzpaine
Chedzoy
Chewton Mendip
Chilcompton
Chillington
Chilthorne Domer
Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Polden
Chilton Trinity
Chipstable
Chiselborough
Churchstanton
Clatworthy
Closworth
Coleford
Combe Florey
Combe St Nicholas
Compton Bishop
Compton Dundon
Compton Pauncefoot
Corfe
Corton Denham
Cossington
Cotford St Luke
Cothelstone
Cranmore
Creech St. Michael
Crewkerne
Cricket St. Thomas
Croscombe
Crowcombe
Cucklington
Cudworth
Curland
Curry Mallet
Curry Rivel
Cutcombe
Dinnington
Ditcheat
Donyatt
Doulting
Dowlish Wake
Downhead
Drayton
Dulverton
Dunster
Durleigh
Durston
East Brent
East Chinnock
East Coker
East Huntspill
East Pennard
East Quantoxhead
Edington
Elworthy
Emborough
Enmore
Evercreech
Exford
Exmoor
Exton
Fiddington
Fitzhead
Fivehead
Frome
Glastonbury
Goathurst
Godney
Great Elm
Greinton
Halse
Hambridge and Westport
Hardington Mandeville
Haselbury Plucknett
Hatch Beauchamp
Hemington
Henstridge
High Ham
Hinton St. George
Holcombe
Holford
Holton
Horsington
Horton
Huish Champflower
Huish Episcopi
Ilchester
Ilminster
Ilton
Isle Abbotts
Isle Brewers
Keinton Mandeville
Kilmersdon
Kilve
Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsdon
Kingston St. Mary
Kingstone
Kingweston
Knowle St. Giles
Lamyatt
Langford Budville
Langport
Leigh-on-Mendip
Litton
Long Load
Long Sutton
Lopen
Lovington
Luccombe
Lullington
Luxborough
Lydeard St. Lawrence
Lydford-on-Fosse
Lympsham
Lyng
Maperton
Mark
Marston Magna
Martock
Meare
Mells
Merriott
Middlezoy
Milborne Port
Milton Clevedon
Milverton
Minehead
Minehead Without
Misterton
Monksilver
Montacute
Moorlinch
Muchelney
Mudford
Nether Stowey
Nettlecombe
North Barrow
North Cadbury
North Cheriton
North Curry
North Perrott
North Petherton
North Wootton
Norton Fitzwarren
Norton St Philip
Norton sub Hamdon
Nunney
Nynehead
Oake
Oare
Odcombe
Old Cleeve
Orchard Portman
Othery
Otterford
Otterhampton
Over Stowey
Pawlett
Pen Selwood
Pilton
Pitcombe
Pitminster
Pitney
Porlock
Priddy
Puckington
Puriton
Pylle
Queen Camel
Rimpton
Rode
Rodney Stoke
Ruishton
Sampford Arundel
Sampford Brett
Seavington St Mary
Seavington St Michael
Selwood
Selworthy
Shapwick
Sharpham
Shepton Beauchamp
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Montague
Shipham
Skilgate
Somerton
South Barrow
South Cadbury and Sutton Montis
South Petherton
Sparkford
Spaxton
St Cuthbert Out
Staple Fitzpaine
Stawell
Stawley
Stockland Bristol
Stocklinch
Stogumber
Stogursey
Stoke St Michael
Stoke St. Gregory
Stoke St. Mary
Stoke sub Hamdon
Stoke Trister
Ston Easton
Stratton on the Fosse
Street
Stringston
Tatworth and Forton
Taunton
Tellisford
The Charltons
Thornfalcon
Thurloxton
Timberscombe
Tintinhull
Tolland
Treborough
Trudoxhill
Trull
Upton
Upton Noble
Walton
Wambrook
Wanstrow
Watchet
Wayford
Weare
Wedmore
Wellington
Wellington Without
Wells
Wembdon
West and Middle Chinnock
West Bagborough
West Bradley
West Buckland
West Camel
West Coker
West Crewkerne
West Hatch
West Huntspill
West Monkton
West Pennard
West Quantoxhead
Westbury
Westonzoyland
Whatley
Whitelackington
Whitestaunton
Williton
Wincanton
Winsford
Winsham
Witham Friary
Withycombe
Withypool and Hawkridge
Wiveliscombe
Wookey
Woolavington
Wootton Courtenay
Yarlington
Yeovil
Yeovil Without
Yeovilton and District

A civil parish is the lowest tier of local government in England, used for villages, small towns, and suburbs. They have their own local authority, either a parish council or a parish meeting, which provides local services like managing parks, allotments, and streetlights, and represents the community's views to larger councils.

Built-up Areas in Somerset

Somerset covers 207 built-up areas, listed below in alphabetical order.

Ash (South Somerset)
Ashcott
Axbridge
Baltonsborough
Barrington (South Somerset)
Barton St David
Barwick and Stoford *
Batcombe (Mendip)
Bathpool
Bawdrip
Beckington
Berrow and Brean
Bicknoller
Bishops Lydeard
Bishopswood *
Blackford (Sedgemoor)
Blagdon Hill
Bleadon *
Blue Anchor
Bourton (Dorset) *
Bradford-on-Tone
Brent Knoll
Bridgwater
Brushford
Bruton
Buckland Dinham
Burnham-on-Sea
Burton (South Somerset)
Butleigh
Cannington
Carhampton
Castle Cary
Catcott and Edington
Chapmanslade *
Chard
Charlton Adam
Charlton Horethorne
Charlton Mackrell
Cheddar
Chedzoy
Chelston
Chilcompton
Chilthorne Domer
Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Polden
Cocklake
Coleford (Mendip)
Combe St Nicholas
Combwich
Compass
Compton Dundon
Cossington (Sedgemoor)
Cotford St Luke
Coxley (Mendip)
Creech St Michael
Crewkerne
Croscombe
Cross
Crowcombe
Curry Rivel
Ditcheat
Draycott
Drayton (South Somerset)
Dulverton
Dunball
Dunster
East Brent
East Chinnock
East Huntspill
Easton (Mendip)
Edgarley
Edithmead
Evercreech
Exford
Farrington Gurney *
Fivehead
Frome
Galhampton
Glastonbury
Gurney Slade
Halse
Hardington Mandeville
Haselbury Plucknett
Hatch Beauchamp
Henstridge
Henstridge Marsh *
Henton
High Ham
Highbridge
Hillcommon
Hinton St George
Holcombe (Mendip)
Horton and Broadway
Huntspill
Ilchester
Ilminster
Ilton
Keinton Mandeville
Kilve
Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsdon
Kingston St Mary
Langford Budville
Langport
Long Load
Long Sutton (South Somerset)
Lower Weare
Lye's Green *
Lympsham
Mark
Mark Causeway
Marston Magna
Martock
Meare
Meare Green
Mells
Merriott
Middlezoy
Midsomer Norton *
Milborne Port
Milverton
Minehead
Misterton (South Somerset)
Monkton Heathfield
Montacute
Moorland
Nether Stowey
North Cadbury
North Curry
North Newton
North Perrott
North Petherton
Norton Fitzwarren
Norton St Philip
Norton sub Hamdon
Nunney
Oakhill
Odcombe
Othery
Over Stratton
Pawlett
Pecking Mill
Pilton
Pitney
Porlock
Puriton
Queen Camel
Radstock *
Rockwell Green
Rode
Rooks Bridge
Ruishton
Seavington St Michael
Shapwick
Shepton Beauchamp
Shepton Mallet
Shipham
Shurton
Somerton
South Horrington
South Petherton
Sparkford
Spaxton
Staplegrove
Stogumber
Stogursey
Stoke St Mary
Stoke St Michael
Stoke sub Hamdon
Stoney Stratton
Stratton-on-the-Fosse
Street
Tatworth *
Taunton
Templecombe
Theale (Sedgemoor)
Tintinhull
Trull
Upper Coxley and Coxley Wick
Wadeford
Walton (Mendip)
Washford
Watchet
Weare
Wedmore
Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
Wells
Wembdon
West Camel
West Chinnock
West Coker
West Monkton
West Pennard
West Quantoxhead
Westbury-sub-Mendip
Westonzoyland
Williton
Wincanton
Winscombe and Sandford *
Winsham
Wiveliscombe
Wookey
Wookey Hole
Woolavington
Wootton Courtenay
Yeovil *
Yeovilton

In the UK, a Built-up Area (BUA) is a continuous urban area of at least 20 hectares (0.2 km²), defined by the ONS as land where buildings are generally no more than 200 metres apart, such as towns, cities, or large villages. (Note: A BUA name marked with an asterisk (*) indicates that the area is situated partly in the district of Somerset.)

Somerset compared with other districts in the UK

This section shows how Somerset compares with other local authority districts in the UK, using a variety of measures and rankings.

Somerset has 55 electoral wards.

Somerset compared with other districts — ▮ Smaller: 348 ▮ Similar: 1 ▮ Larger: 12 (compared with 361 districts)

Somerset has a population of 588,328 (2024 mid-year estimate by ONS)

Population of Somerset compared with other districts — Population of Somerset, compared with other districts in England and Wales

More local statistics and data for Somerset can be found on the ONS statistics for Somerset.