The City of Wells

The City of Wells


Wells may be England’s smallest city, but it’s bursting at the seams with history and culture

Please note: we advise that you check attraction websites before visiting to avoid disappointment due to lockdown closures.

The Bishop’s Palace

The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens has been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years and this stunning medieval palace is open for all to enjoy. A stone’s throw from Wells Cathedral, this medieval place and its tranquil moat form a medieval oasis in the middle of the city. For more information, please visit The Bishop’s Palace website.

Wells Museum

The city’s Museum is located on the Cathedral Green and neighbours Vicars Close. It also has an Information Centre inside. For more information, please click here.

St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells

A  magnificent medieval building with a host of colourful angels and hidden secrets, where God’s welcome is offered in the heart of the city. The church is open for visitors from 10.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. every day.

Wells Market days

If you plan your visit to Wells Cathedral on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can also walk through the hugely popular Wells Market in the Market Square. Local people sell a wide variety of Somerset crafts, locally sourced food and regional produce. For more information, please click here.

Wells Walking Tours

From the city’s ancient history to Wells’ place in popular culture, you can find a walking tour to suit your interest. Please contact the tour guides directly to pre-book a tour by phoning 01749 672438 or email them at guide@wellswalkingtours.co.uk.

Festivals

Wells hosts a range of internationally-acclaimed festivals throughout the year. To find out more about the Wells Food Festival, Wells Art Contemporary Festival, Wells Festival of Literature or the Wells Film Festival, please click here

For historians, Glastonbury Abbey and Glastonbury Tor is well worth a visit, as well as the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Shopaholics and garden enthusiasts will want to head over to Kilver Court, a designer village complete with gorgeous gardens in nearby Shepton Mallet.

A great place to start when choosing a place to stay are the websites: wellssomerset.com, visitwellssomerset.co.uk or stayinsomerset.co.uk all of which list a comprehensive choice of all standards of accommodation.

Local hotels also include:

The Jurassic Coast is also only a short drive away. Drive down to Weston super Mare, Lyme Regis or Brean and try your hand at finding dinosaur fossils on the beach – or, for those who aren’t beach bums, head over to one of the fossil museums or shops.

Other links

The City of Wells website is a great resource for planning your visit to our city and has a full programme of events, accommodation and restaurant recommendations. The Visit Somerset, Visit Bath and Visit Weston websites are also helpful for providing more information on events in our beautiful part of England.

Nearby attractions

If you enjoy scenic walks, the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels are all a short distance away. If you’re a thrill seeker, rock-climbing at Cheddar Gorge and trekking over the rope bridges in the Wookey Hole Caves are a must.

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