iKnow Somerset
Clevedon Accommodation
Clevedon Pier stretches out into the sea from the town
The beach at Salthouse Bay
One of the wind-pruned trees on the seafront
Clevedon Marine Lake and Wain's Hill - the start of the Poets Walk
Steps leading up from the Marine Lake on Poets Walk
Swimming and watersports are popular on the Marine Lake
Clevedon with all it's Victorian buidings - a great coastal base in Somerset
Clevedon's Curzon Cinema - the oldest continuously running picture houseClevedon Tourist Information B&B in Clevedon North Somerset
Clevedon retains its Victorian elegance with its stunning pier stretching out into the sea and the many Victorian buildings that stem from its heyday as a seaside resort. You can still take a stroll along the pier or take the Poets Walk as poets such as Coleridge and Tennyson are thought to have for inspiration from the views out over the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel.
Clevedon is a pleasant, friendly place to while away some time along the prom or shop in the town itself. There are lots of cafes, restaurants and shops to keep you entertained as well as a good range of recreational spaces down near the seafront. Clevedon is also home to the oldest continuously running cinema in the country - the community run Curzon Cinema that shows up-to-date film releases as well as art house films and special events.
Clevedon Tourist Guide
Clevedon is a more genteel coastal town than some of the more family oriented resorts along the Somerset Coast. It lies just 13 miles west of Bristol overlooking the Severn Estuary. Like many of the seaside towns along the Bristol Channel coast, Clevedon only took off as a seaside resort when the Victorian demand for bracing sea air made a visit to the coast en vogue. Before that Clevedon was a small rural village on the edges of the Somerset Levels. Many of the town's older buildings date from this time with the exception of Clevedon Court, one of the oldest manor houses in England.
Today Clevedon has grown into a busy town that has a relaxing feel to it with its promenades and sea views. Bordering the whole of Clevedon along the sea edge is a promenade giving views of the Clevedon Pier and the Severn Estuary. There are gardens, children's play areas, tennis courts, skatepark, bowling green and a marine lake at the southern end. The Poets Walk also starts down here beyond the Marine Lake which is popular for watersports. As you walk up the prom bordering Salthouse Bay you'll find cafes and refreshment kiosks along with older features such as the bandstand and the wind-pruned tree. Clevedon Sailing Club members can often be seen sailing the seas around Clevedon Pier.
The Triangle is the centre of the town and where you'll find the main shopping area along with Queen's Square where high street named shops and bars are found. Queen's Square is also the focal point for the town's festivals and a General Market is held here every Thursday with a Farmers' Market on the last Saturday of each month. Hill Road is the focal point for independent specialist shops and restaurants.
Clevedon Visitor Information Centre is in the library at 37 Old Church Road, Clevedon BS21 6NN. Tel: 01275 873 498. Fax: 01275 343 630 Email: clevedon.library@n-somerset.gov.uk.
Clevedon Court Eltonware
Clevedon Court is one of the oldest manor houses in England dating from the 14th century. It was built by Sir John de Clevedon incorporating parts of a 13th century tower and great hall. It has has been the seat of the Elton family since 1709. The family played an important role in developing Clevedon providing sites for the hospital, schools and churches. They also campaigned for improvement to sanitation and drainage.
Sir Edmund, one of the nephews of the family, is famous for creating Eltonware Pottery, examples of which can be seen at Clevedon Court and on the Clock Tower in The Triangle in Clevedon itself. You can also see a collection of Nailsea Glass. The nineteenth century satirist, William Makepeace Thackeray, is reputed as having been a regular guest here where he sketched and wrote.
The Elton family still live here but you can visit Clevedon Court between April-September between 2-5pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays and weekends. There is a car park and tea room. Check the National Trust webiste, link right, for information.
Clevedon Court, Tickenham Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 6QU. Tel: 01275 872257. Fax: 0871 433 9294. Email: clevedoncourt@nationaltrust.org.uk. Tyntesfield, a Victorian country house in grounds, is another National Trust property open to visitors not far from Clevedon. Check the weblink right for more information.
Clevedon Pier Boat Trips from Clevedon
Clevedon Pier was built in the Victorian heydey to receive paddle steamer passengers from Devon and Wales. Like the other piers around Britain's coast it sums up that Victorian elegance combined with structural engineering prowess. It was completed in 1869 and was made using surplus rails from Brunel's South Wales railway. It was hugely popular right up until its collapse in 1970. The Pier Preservation Trust and Piers Supporters raised funds to restore it to its former glory and it reopened in 1989. It is now a Grade 1 listed building.
Today it is a focal point for events in Clevedon and once again you can board boat trips aboard the Balmoral steamer and Waverley paddle ship. Fishing is also popular from the Pier where some handsome Bristol Channel catches have been landed. You can even hire the Pier for weddings, parties or ash scattering services and you can also purchase a brass memorial plaque. Clevedon Pier has also been used in several adverts and television programmes including Silent Witness and Eastenders. Check the Clevedon Pier website for more information, link right.
Visiting the Pier is a must if you're visiting Clevedon. It's a fantastic stroll with some great views over the Bristol Channel and Clevedon itself. The Old Toll House, the grand castellated building on the shore side, is now a gift shop with an art gallery above. It also has information on local events and attractions and sailing times for boat trips from Clevedon.
Clevedon Pier is open every day of the year except Christmas day. A small admission is charged to help with the upkeep of the pier.
Poets Clevedon Coleridge Tennyson Thackeray
Clevedon has long been associated with the poets and writers that have visited the town over the year. Thackeray was a regular visitor to the Elton family at Clevedon Court. St Andrew's Church features in Lord Tennyson's poem "In Memoriam AHH" as the burial place of his friend and poet Arthur Hallam.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge is said to have visited Clevedon on his honeymoon. Certainly he, and his wife Sarah Fricker, are known to have stayed in a cottage near Old Church Road which is marked by a blue heritage plaque.
The Poets Walk coastal walk is a popular coastal route that starts near the Marine Lake and goes up into woodland before stretching out on the coast above with excellent sea views. The walk with its views of the Bristol Channel and Wales is said to have inspired poets visiting the town.
Clevedon Civic Society produce a leaflet with ten walks around Clevedon that help show you the town's heritage and social history as well as some of the surrounding countryside.
Curzon Cinema Clevedon
Clevedon is also home to one of the oldest, continuously running cinemas in the country. The Curzon Cinema's claim to fame is as the "oldest purpose-built, continuously operated cinema in the world"! Thanks to community support it was saved from closure in 1996 and is now run and owned by the Clevedon community.
It is still a popular venue for new film releases as well as special events showing Silent Movies or Golden Oldies organised by its Film Club. Tuesday matinees are a very civilised affair with tea and biscuits!
The cinema also houses the Curzon Collection, a collection of projection equipment spanning decades. You can see the collection for yourself by visiting the cinema on Mondays between 11am and 5pm. A tour of the cinema will be included. Check the weblink right for more information or ring the cinema to check before heading out.
It's a fantastic place to watch films taking you back in time. All proceeds go towards helping keep the cinema open and towards restoration works that are proposed for the future.
Click Search
