Guided Tours for Group Visits

These can add greatly to your visit and experience with us. Groups are advised that the best times to visit are Monday-Saturday between 10.00am-4.00pm. No Guided Tours available on Sundays.

You may wish to walk around the Cathedral and discover it for yourselves but we do recommend a tour by one of our highly trained guides. These need to be pre-booked (at least two weeks in advance) and are free of charge. Tours last approximately 1 hour and can add significantly to your enjoyment and appreciation of the Cathedral.

Guides and Guided Tours

Wells Cathedral guides are renowned both locally and nationally as some of the best in the country. The Cathedral offers the services of these highly trained volunteer guides at no extra cost. Groups may wish to book a general guided tour, or one that incorporates special interest areas such as the embroideries, stained glass windows, high parts or library (see below).

It may also be possible to have a guided tour in a language other than English. To request this, please contact visits@wellscathedral.uk.net or fill in the appropriate section on the booking form. On the other hand your group may prefer a brief introductory talk and then use the free-flow system and complimentary leaflet which allows you to move around at your on pace, exploring aspects of particular interest to you.

Special interest tours

Library – Wells Cathedral has one of the few chained libraries in Britain and has many books published in the 1500s and 1600s. The collection reflects the various interests of the canons over the centuries and includes subjects as diverse as anatomy, herbology, architecture and mapping.

Embroideries – Wells Cathedral Quire contains over a hundred beautiful embroideries from the mid 20th century relating to the Bishops, local history, saints and legends, as well as the magnificent Millennium set of altar frontals and vestments for every season of the church year.

Stained Glass - Wells Cathedral has one of the most substantial collections of medieval stained glass in England. Bring binoculars to enjoy the tour.

High Parts (max. 12 people and no under 10s) Climb to the top of Wells Cathedral and catch a great view of Glastonbury Tor and for miles across the Somerset Levels. The north transept is also home to an astronomical clock (1390) with jousting knights that charge each other every quarter-hour.