Wells is the smallest city in England. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for with things to do, stunning surrounding landscapes and so much history and fascinating architecture to explore. This makes it easy to find things to do in Wells and a must-visit city to add to your South England itinerary.
Wells is located to the south of the Mendip Hills which is a gorgeous Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its location makes it a great opportunity to add Wells and the Mendips to your trip if you’re looking for things to do in Somerset. Alternatively, being just 45 minutes from Bath, a Wells day trip is a great option too.
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Wells: Things to do
The Wells Cathedral
The 13th century gothic Cathedral is what makes Wells a city, despite its small size. The stunning cathedral dominates the city’s skyline and is incredibly impressive both inside and out and has a large gassy area at the front to enjoy.
The cathedral is believed to be the first one built in England. Its large west facing front is covered in hundreds of intricate carvings from the medieval era.
The Cathedral is open daily and free to visit, although it relies heavily on donations to keep running. There are also tours available to other restricted areas of the cathedral including the High Parts and the Chained Library. Tickets can be booked on their website.
Bishop’s Palace and Gardens
An absolutely stunning example of medieval history and architecture, the Bishop’s Palace and Bishop’s House have been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 8000 years.
The unique Palace is surrounded by a moat which you can cross via a drawbridge and through the Bishop’s Eye gatehouse. You can also explore the palace walls and take in the peaceful views, the wildlife along the moat and the beautiful Palace architecture.
You can go into the Palace and explore the stunning stone vaulted ceilings, the chapel, the artwork and the marks left by centuries of Bishops. Don’t miss the impressive ruins of the old Great Hall too.
There are also 14 acres of gardens which are especially beautiful to explore in the spring and summer months.
It’s free to visit the front lawn area of the Bishop’s Palace but to enter the palace, gardens and ruins you will need to buy a ticket.
Adult tickets cost £15 and children cost £7.50.
Walk around the Wells Moat
The moat that you’ll see running around the Bishop’s Palace and Gardens also runs along the Cathedral too. There’s a lovely walk to follow here so you can take in the sights and things to see in Wells.
The walk only takes around 30 minutes so it’s a great way to see some of the main Wells attractions.
Wells and Mendips Museum
Located in Wells in the Wells and Mendips Museum located across Cathedral Green.
This is a great archaeological museum to learn more about the local history in the area. The history is particularly fascinating if you know the story of Cheddar Gorge and the local caves in the Mendips. Cheddar Gorge is where the oldest intact human skeleton was discovered in one of the caves. The ‘Cheddar Man’ skeleton dates from the Mesolithic era in approximately 7100 BC.
The museum is well worth visiting particularly if you’re in Wells and need something to do if it’s raining!
Vicars’ Close
Located behind the Cathedral, this unique street is characterised by picturesque terrace houses with tall stone chimneys.
Vicars’ Close is the oldest continuously occupied street in Europe and is still occupied by the Vicar’s successors who originally moved in 650 years ago.
The symmetrical street is not only incredibly photogenic but also very satisfying to see too!
Wells Market
Wells holds markets twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so hopefully you should have a good chance to visit one when you visit Wells.
The market stalls range from fresh produce to local clothes, jewellery and craft stalls.
The market is held in the town’s traditional marketplace where it’s surrounded by beautiful buildings and in front of the entrance to Bishop’s Palace.
Independent Shopping
Wells really does pride itself on independent businesses and there’s a range of cool and quirky shops, boutiques and eateries.
Check out Burns the Bread bakery, Poppy’s Green Home for interiors and vintage or Brand and Bloom Florists.
The Crown Pub
Also located in the Market Place is the Crown Pub, a traditional English pub with low ceilings and stone floors plus a nice beer garden area at the back.
You might recognise it as the pub used in the film Hot Fuzz with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Read more about the Hot Fuzz filming locations in the next section.
Hot Fuzz sights
If you’re a fan of Hot Fuzz or the Cornetto Trilogy as a whole with Simon Pegg ad Nick Frost, then you might already be aware that Wells is the filming location for most of the Hot Fuzz movie which is set in the fictional town of Sandford.
If you’re a fan of the movie, don’t miss the film locations:
- The Crown Pub – the pub location in the film
- The Swan Hotel – the hotel that Nicholas Angel stays in while he’s in Sandford
- St Cuthbert’s Church – is the church in the film where Tim Messenger is killed by a falling part of the church roof
- Bishop’s Palace Ruins – the creepy location where the Neighbourhood Watch Association meets in the film
- The Newsagents on the High Street – where Danny gets his ice creams and only one school child at a time is allowed
Just Ales
For something a little off the beaten track in Somerset, this micropub or taproom in Wells is a great quirky alternative to a traditional pub.
The interior is a classic alternative craft beer scene with mismatched furniture and beer mats and stickers on the wall. If you’re a craft beer or real ales fan, you’ll want to add this stop to your places to visit in Wells!
The micropub stocks beers and ciders from local breweries and suppliers, so you’re guaranteed to find something new, different and local to Somerset to try!
If you’re venturing into Somerset, also check out The Yonder Brewery Tap in the Mendip Hills just 10 minutes from Wells.
Experience Wells Festivals
What really does pack a punch for the Wells arts scene is the numerous successful festivals held in the city throughout the year.
Look out for the Film Festival usually held in April and the Comedy Festival in May. The English Country Garden Festival happens in June in the Bishop’s Palace.
The Wells Food Festival and the Festival of Literature both happen in October and are huge festivals that draw big crowds and are very popular.
The end of the year sees the Somerset Carnival passing through the city. They’re the largest illuminated procession in the world and can be seen in the county each November.
Things to do near Wells
Being located in Somerset and surrounded by so much stunning countryside, there is of course plenty to do and places to visit near Wells.
Cheddar Gorge day trip walk
The famous Cheddar Gorge is the deepest gorge in the UK and is located in the Mendip Hills, around 30 minutes north of Wells.
The gorge is an incredible driving route to experience as you navigate through the towering limestone cliff faces. You can also follow walking trails through the gorge and along the top of the gorge too.
There are plenty of parking spots throughout the gorge to pull over and take photos or admire the incredible cliffs rising 122m.
The Cheddar Caves were also the sight of the Cheddar Man skeleton discovery, the oldest discovered complete skeleton in the UK.
You can also visit the Cheddar Gorge Caves, see the huge caverns and stalactites as well as the famous Gough’s Cave where the Cheddar Man was found in 1903. Here you can also see the largest underground river network in Britain.
Visit Wookey Hole Caves
Another fascinating cave network to visit is Wookey Hole, which is just a short 15 minute drive from Wells.
This option is highly recommended for families with small children as the attractions, events and experiences here cater much more to young children.
With a day ticket, you can visit the caves, museums, gardens, miniature golf, penny arcade, circus show, mirror maze and more!
Adult tickets cost £19.95 and children cost £15.95 at the time of writing. Check their website for current prices and opening times.
Explore Ebbor Gorge
A beautiful yet underrated location just 15 minutes from Wells, Ebbor Gorge is a National Nature Reserve packed with cycling and walking trails, plus woodland and grassland to enjoy.
The area is significant for Stone and Bronze Age discoveries also and you can climb the gorge here. It’s a little steep but doable, with either a rocky scramble or steps for access which takes around 40 minutes.
It’s a lovely day out in nature from Wells or anywhere else in Somerset.
Take a drive to the Cotswolds
Surprisingly, the southern area of the Cotswolds are less than an hour from Wells and a beautiful option if you’d like to experience more of the quintessential English countryside in the southwest of England, they’re the perfect option for a Cotswolds day trip.
The beautiful village of Castle Combe has often been voted the prettiest village in England and while it’s popular with visitors, Bradford upon Avon is also beautiful to visit as is Lacock.
Wells Somerset: Things to do
Despite its size, this medieval city has so much to offer for locals and visitors alike! Whether you’re looking for history, architecture, food and drink or outdoor activities this is a great stop to add to your Somerset itinerary.
Pin this for later to help you plan your future trip!
Wells looks like a fantastic city to visit. Adding to my “must visit” list.
I enjoyed this post as I spent several years living near Wells in Glastonbury. I have some lovely memories of the Wells Cathedral at Christmas. One of my favourite things to do nearby is to climb Glastonbury Tor & to visit the lovely Chalice Wells gardens. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely post! Thank you for sharing.
Looks like a beautiful place! And so much cool nature around it too 🙂