Orchard Shopping Centre — Local services in Great Britain

Taunton: The Beige Heart of Somerset

Taunton is the sort of town you pass through on the way to somewhere more interesting, then immediately forget — like an unwanted layover in the middle of a conversation. It’s the kind of place that feels like it’s permanently sighing. If towns had personalities, Taunton would be a middle-aged man in a fleece jacket saying, “Well, it’s not much, but it’s home,” while stirring instant coffee in a chipped “World’s Best Dad” mug.

To be fair, Taunton tries very hard. It has a castle (sort of), a cricket ground (which people are weirdly passionate about), and a shopping centre that bravely insists on existing despite all available evidence suggesting it shouldn’t. The town is best described as “adequate”. It’s not bad. It’s not good. It’s just there — like a filler episode in a TV series no one asked for.

Let’s begin in the town centre, where the architecture swings wildly between medieval remnants, post-war concrete slabs, and a few panicked attempts at modernisation that look like someone let an AI redesign a Wickes catalogue. There’s a pedestrianised high street that looks like it gave up halfway through its own regeneration project. You’ll find all the usual suspects: Greggs, Boots, a suspicious number of vape shops, and at least three charity shops per square foot. It’s the Bermuda Triangle of middling retail.

Cricket, of course, is Taunton’s big claim to fame. The County Ground is the town’s pride and joy, and on match days the place hums with the sound of gentle applause and overpriced cider. It’s the kind of sporting event where someone in chinos will discuss spin bowling with the intensity of a hostage negotiator. Whether or not you care about cricket is irrelevant — in Taunton, it’s a lifestyle choice, like owning a Labradoodle or developing an opinion on compost.

There’s also the castle, now a museum, where you can marvel at ancient relics, medieval weaponry, and wax figures that look like they’re plotting to murder you in your sleep. It’s oddly charming in a low-budget historical drama sort of way. Outside, you’ll find a quaint little garden and a gift shop that sells jam and anxiety in equal measure.

Taunton markets itself as the gateway to Exmoor, which is a bit like being the porch of a very nice house. Yes, it leads to beautiful countryside and windswept moors, but that doesn’t mean you want to hang out on the doormat. You use Taunton as a launchpad, not a destination. It’s Somerset’s departure lounge.

Culturally, it’s… well, it exists. There’s an arts centre somewhere, occasionally showing plays written entirely in metaphor and performed to audiences of seven. The library is solid, if you enjoy the smell of beige carpet and the low murmur of pensioners Googling ailments. There are some lovely parks, too — Vivary Park, for example, where you can watch toddlers chase pigeons while teenagers vape ominously in the bushes.

And the nightlife? Picture three Wetherspoons, a suspiciously sticky nightclub, and a kebab van called something like “Wrap Me Tender”. It’s not so much a scene as it is a situation. Friday night in Taunton feels like everyone in town simultaneously decided to drink through the pain of their postcode.

Still, there’s something endearingly inoffensive about Taunton. It’s the hometown equivalent of a supermarket lasagne: serviceable, familiar, and occasionally a bit soggy around the edges. People are friendly, the countryside’s close, and you can usually get a seat on the train. It’s a fine place to raise children, or slowly become one of those people who owns an allotment and says “ooh, that’s come up nice” about courgettes.

So, if you find yourself in Taunton — lost, possibly, or being punished by fate — don’t despair. Buy a sausage roll, nod politely at some cricket, and try not to make eye contact with the seagulls. You won’t remember much about your visit, but you won’t be traumatised either. And in Taunton, that’s about as...

If you can avoid being sold Sky TV by a man who would probably sell a treadmill to his one-legged 90 year old grandma, then you can bask in the delights of a 1970s shopping precinct that peaked about 20 years ago.

Small and, when it's been raining outside, slippery, this is your average English town "Shopping Experience".

There is two holiday businesses next to each other, to create the ultimate sales challenge.

New Look probably headline the stores here as a half decent store.

HMV the once powerful and omnipresent store. Fallen on hard times these days, but still commands the respect it earnt in days gone by, so we'll move on...

Some place that sells dry bits of plants and fruit and apparently it's all edible. Nothing looks edible.

Claires accessories. The quintessential destination for all glamour models under 15.

Two gaming shops, one called Game. Its well known despite having spent £1 on choosing the name. The other you won't have heard of is a private company and don't have the buying power of Game but thought setting up opposite them would somehow be a great idea.

There is a really cool shop that sells paraphernalia from TV shows and films.

The back entrance to Hatchers is here. Hatchers for those of you who have not graced their floors before, it's a rather old and independent department store. Largely unchanged since the breakout of WW2 you can browse a huge variety of overpriced things. There's even a cafe upstairs which takes me back to my childhood. They used to give you a metal washer to go to the toilet but they've done away with the washers now, probably because people were melting them down.

Warren's bakery is a lovely bakery. The oldest in the country according to them. No complaints. The food is delicious.

My personal favourite, Greggs is also present. Home of the best sausage rolls in the world. I have the t-shirt.

Despite their being two bakerys and an outdoor eating area here, they took away all the bins. Then they charge you a fine for littering. I can't begin to explain the stupidity of it, so just put the bin...

The Orchard Shopping Centre in Taunton has some fantastic collectible shops that are a real treat for enthusiasts! I love browsing through the unique items, and the prices are generally decent. It's a great place to find something special.

However, I did find HMV a bit overpriced, which was a disappointment. Additionally, be cautious of Sky telesales—my experience with them was not great, as I was mis-sold a service, which led to several problems.

Overall, the shopping centre offers a lovely mix of shops and a pleasant atmosphere, making it...