How do I get to Somerset's county ground from Taunton station?

The Cooper Associates County Ground is a 10-minute walk from Taunton railway station. Exit the station, walk along Station Road toward the town centre, turn right and follow the signs to the cricket ground on St James Street. Taunton has direct trains from London Paddington in about 1 hour 45 minutes.

What are the best seats at Taunton cricket ground?

The Colin Atkinson Pavilion upper gallery offers the best all-round view — end-on, elevated and full of atmosphere. The Stragglers Bar Stand gives a square-on view with good elevation. The River Stand is pleasant and open. The ground is small enough that there are genuinely few bad seats — proximity to the action is one of Taunton's main attractions.

Is there parking at Somerset's county ground in Taunton?

There is some parking near the ground, including at the Taunton Deane Rugby Club and in the town centre car parks, which are within walking distance. The ground itself has very limited on-site parking. Walking from Taunton station (10 minutes) is the simplest option.

What is the Taunton cricket pitch like?

Taunton is one of the most reliably batting-friendly pitches in county cricket. The surface is typically flat and true with excellent carry, and the outfield is fast. High-scoring matches are the norm — county scores of 400+ in a first innings are not uncommon here. The ground's tendency to produce big totals has contributed to Somerset's reputation as a side that plays attractive, attacking cricket.

Cooper Associates County Ground Taunton Visitor Guide 2026

About the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Taunton is one of the smallest and most charming grounds in English cricket. The Cooper Associates County Ground sits in the heart of Somerset's county town, surrounded by the gentle landscape of the Vale of Taunton Deane, with the Quantock Hills visible beyond the boundaries on clear days. It is intimate — with a capacity of 8,000 — in a way that the larger Test grounds cannot be, and the proximity of the crowd to the action gives it a warmth that is hard to replicate at more architecturally imposing venues.

Somerset CCC have never won the County Championship, which in the context of their recent playing strength and the quality of cricketers they have produced makes them perhaps the most celebrated nearly-county in English cricket history. They have come agonisingly close — most recently in the 2010s, when they pushed Yorkshire and Middlesex to the final day of the final fixture on multiple occasions. The hope, desire and occasional heartbreak of following Somerset cricket is a very particular emotional experience shared by a very devoted following.

🏏 Botham and Viv — the greatest county partnership?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Somerset possessed two of the most extraordinary cricketers of their era playing county cricket together at this ground. Ian Botham — ferocious, instinctive, match-winning in the truest sense — and Viv Richards — the most commanding batter of the 20th century by common agreement — were Somerset teammates from 1974 to 1986. Their presence turned county cricket here into something closer to an event. The ground was packed for their appearances. Both were loved unreservedly. The combination of Botham's aggression and Richards's authority, played out on this small intimate ground in the Somerset countryside, represents one of English cricket's golden passages.

Best seats at Taunton — honest guide

Stand / Area	View	Verdict
Colin Atkinson Pavilion Upper gallery	End-on, elevated view looking down the pitch. The most atmospheric seat in the ground — full of character and close to the action.	Most atmospheric
Stragglers Bar Stand Upper rows	Square-on view from the east side of the ground. Good elevation and clean sightlines. The most practical option for general admission.	Best all-round
River Stand	Open stand on the western side. Pleasant and relaxed with views toward the town. Exposed in bad weather.	Good in sunshine
Old Pavilion / Priory Bridge End	End-on from the Priory Bridge End. Lower elevation but close to the wicket — the intimacy is part of the appeal at Taunton.	Close to the action

Getting to Taunton cricket ground

By train (recommended): Taunton station is a 10-minute walk from the ground along Station Road and into the town centre. It's an easy, flat walk and well-signed. Taunton has excellent national rail connections — direct Great Western Railway services from London Paddington take around 1 hour 45 minutes, from Bristol Temple Meads around 35 minutes, and from Exeter around 30 minutes. For visitors from outside Somerset, the train is by far the easiest option.

By car: Taunton is easily accessible from the M5 motorway (Junctions 25 or 26). The ground is in the town centre — see parking section below.

By bus: Taunton's bus station is in the town centre, a 10-minute walk from the ground. Local services connect surrounding villages and towns.

Parking near Taunton cricket ground

Taunton town centre has several public car parks within walking distance of the ground. The most convenient are the Firepool car park on Firepool Way (about 8 minutes' walk) and the Crescent car park on Canon Street (about 10 minutes). Both charge standard town centre rates. The Taunton Deane RFC (rugby club) on the edge of town occasionally opens match-day parking for larger fixtures — check the Somerset CCC website in advance.

The ground itself has very limited on-site parking and it is allocated to officials and officials only. Street parking near the ground is limited and residents' zones operate in parts of St James Street area on match days.

Food & drink at Taunton

Taunton cricket ground has a proper pub feel about its food and drink offering. The Stragglers Bar is the heart of the ground's social life — a genuine bar with real ales, a good atmosphere and standing room on the terrace overlooking the pitch. It fills quickly at lunch on busy match days so arrive at the interval rather than waiting for the break to develop.

The ground's food concessions are decent for a small county ground — pies, sausage rolls, hot drinks. Somerset cider is served at the ground in season, which feels entirely appropriate.

Outside the ground, Taunton town centre has a good range of cafes and pubs. The Perkin Warbeck on East Street (Wetherspoons, but large and close to the station) is a popular pre-match option for visiting supporters. The Hankridge Arms and the Coal Orchard on the riverside are better for a proper lunch. The town centre is a short walk from the ground in every direction.

The pitch — what to expect

Taunton is one of the most batting-friendly surfaces in county cricket. The pitch is typically flat and true with excellent, even carry — the ball comes on to the bat and strokeplay is consistently rewarded. The outfield is fast. This ground produces high-scoring matches as reliably as any county venue in England.

Somerset have historically batted well here and their sides have tended to reflect the surface — attractive, attacking batting is the Taunton way. A county first-innings score of 380–420 is not unusual; sides posting 500 are not rare. The pitch can offer some turn in the final two days as the surface dries out and wears, but this rarely manifests dramatically until the fourth or fifth day of a Championship match.

The relatively fast outfield combined with a true surface means that visiting bowlers who rely on seam movement or lateral movement in the air tend to find Taunton hard work. If you're coming to watch batting cricket, this is an excellent choice of ground.

Notable moments at Taunton

Ian Botham played his county cricket here from 1974 to 1986 — his most explosive batting and bowling for Somerset took place on this ground
Viv Richards, the greatest batter of his era, played for Somerset from 1974 to 1986 — his county innings here are part of Taunton folklore
Marcus Trescothick scored over 24,000 first-class runs for Somerset — the greatest run-scorer in the club's history, beloved by the Somerset crowd
Somerset have twice finished runners-up in the County Championship in recent years, most painfully in 2010 when they were overtaken by Nottinghamshire on the final day of the season
The ground hosted England women's international cricket and remains a regular venue for women's cricket in the south-west
Joel Garner, the towering West Indian fast bowler, played county cricket here alongside Richards and Botham — three Test legends in one county side

Practical tips from fans

Take the train — 1 hour 45 minutes from London Paddington makes this very manageable as a day trip from the capital
The Stragglers Bar is the social heart of the ground — arrive at the lunch interval before the queue builds
Taunton is a small, friendly town — explore it before or after the cricket, the town centre is very walkable
Somerset cider at a Somerset cricket ground is non-negotiable. Budget accordingly
The ground is small enough that you're close to the action from almost any seat — don't overthink ticket selection, just come
Somerset supporters are among the warmest cricket crowds in England — visiting supporters are welcomed rather than tolerated

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Taunton cricket ground from the station?

A 10-minute flat walk along Station Road into the town centre, following signs to the cricket ground. Taunton station has direct services from London Paddington (1h 45m), Bristol (35 min) and Exeter (30 min).

Why has Somerset never won the County Championship?

Somerset have come agonisingly close several times — most painfully in 2010, 2016 and 2019 — but the title has always slipped away at the final stage. It's one of cricket's most enduring near-miss stories. The club has produced Test cricketers of the highest calibre and has consistently been a Division One contender in recent decades. The Championship remains the one thing that has eluded them.

Is Taunton worth visiting for county cricket?

Very much so — it's one of the most enjoyable county cricket experiences in England. The ground is intimate, the crowd is warm, the cricket tends to be attractive (good batting surface), the town is pleasant, and the train from London takes under 2 hours. Somerset supporters are among the friendliest in county cricket.

Did Ian Botham really play his county cricket at Taunton?

Yes — Botham played for Somerset from 1974 to 1986, making his first-class debut on this ground. His most devastating county performances — including some extraordinary hitting and bowling displays — happened here. He was a Somerset man at heart, whatever subsequent county moves suggested, and the ground still celebrates his connection to the club.