Discover Wells: Culture, History and Hotels

If you’re looking for a hotel in Wells, the historic buildings, walks and local events can shape your travel plans. The city offers a range of ways to explore it: from the cathedral’s architecture and the gardens at Bishop’s Palace to self-guided routes and a market held on two days each week. Before booking, you can consider which interests and timeframe matter most for your stay.

Cathedral, Close and Bishop’s Palace

Wells Cathedral was built between 1175 and 1490. Its scissor arches were added in 1338 after the weight of a new tower spire threatened to cause the tower to collapse. The Wells Clock in the cathedral is considered the second-oldest clock mechanism in Great Britain. Its building history, the technical solution to a structural problem and its clock mechanism make the cathedral a particularly multifaceted destination for culture enthusiasts.

Vicars’ Close offers another glimpse into medieval building history. All the buildings on the street are listed as Grade I, and it is considered the only fully preserved medieval street in England. These two details emphasise different things: the listing applies to the individual buildings, while the noted distinction describes the surviving street as a whole.

Bishop’s Palace was the home of the Bishops of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The estate includes 14 acres of gardens associated with an RHS partner. The partnership information and visitor details may be updated; check both before your visit. Tours of the grounds are included in the admission price, but availability may vary.

Museum and notable collection items

Wells & Mendip Museum displays geological and archaeological exhibits, as well as objects relating to social history. The Balch Room features finds from excavations at Wookey Hole Caves, including child burials, Stone Age tools and the bones of the Witch of Wookey Hole. The exhibition may change. If a particular item is especially important to you, check the latest visitor information in advance.

Choose walks by distance and duration

Wells Walking Tours offers four self-guided walks around Wells. The routes are between 1.8 and 4 miles long, with approximate walking times ranging from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours. This lets you choose a tour to suit the time available, without assuming that all routes take the same amount of time. Downloadable tour materials may be revised; check the current version when planning your visit.

Another option with a set time is a Heritage Walk in Wells, offered at 11 am on Wednesdays from Easter to mid-October and lasting about 1.5 hours. It falls within the duration range given for the self-guided walks, but should be planned as a separate seasonal event. Check the current schedule before travelling.

A three-mile circular route in the shape of a figure eight passes through the cathedral precinct and High Street, then continues to the almshouses and St Cuthbert’s Church. Another route connects Wells with Dulcote: over two miles, it alternates between ancient woodland and spectacular hillside views of the cathedral. Check trail conditions and accessibility before setting out on this route.

Markets, events and the surrounding area

Wells Market is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with local produce and goods on offer. It takes place twice a week; market times are weather-dependent, so it’s worth checking before travelling. The Wells Food Festival programme includes stalls, tastings and demonstrations, as well as family activities. Dates and programmes may vary, so check the latest information if you’re planning your trip around the festival.

November also brings a recurring event: Wells is part of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Association’s route, known as the “Magnificent Seven”. Confirm the route and date for the relevant year before planning your trip around it.

The Mendip Hills offer a separate regional landscape to complement the routes in Wells. They are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and extend from east of Wells almost to the Bristol Channel. The Mendip Hills have walking, cycling and horse-riding routes, as well as impressive views. This information refers to the Mendip Hills as a region, not to individual walks in the city.

Regular local buses run between Wells and Bristol, Bath, Weston-Super-Mare, Shepton Mallet and Glastonbury. Routes and timetables may change, so check with the operators before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Martock, Brompton Regis, Burrow Bridge, Somerton, Laverton, Stogumber, Fitzhead, Wincanton.

For the broader travel overview: Somerset.