Wanderyn
Wells
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · GB

Wells

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Wells is small and entirely walkable, with the cathedral, Bishop's Palace, and the compact medieval centre all within a few minutes of each other. There's no train station — the nearest is at Castle Cary or Bristol, with a bus needed for the final leg — so a car is the practical way to arrive, and it's an easy pairing with nearby Glastonbury or Cheddar Gorge by car.
Hours: Wells Cathedral holds regular services and choral evensong that take priority over general visiting during those times; the Bishop's Palace and its gardens keep seasonal hours with shorter winter access, and the famous swans that ring a bell for food at the Palace moat gate are a genuine, if slightly gimmicky, live attraction dependent on the swans' cooperation.

Wells is technically England's smallest city, a status it holds purely because of its cathedral (city status in England traditionally attached to having a cathedral, regardless of population) rather than any urban scale — the town itself feels more like a large, well-preserved market town than a "city" in the conventional sense. Wells Cathedral, begun in the late 12th century, is one of the most architecturally significant Gothic cathedrals in England, notable for its distinctive scissor arches (added later to shore up the crossing tower) and an elaborate west front covered in medieval statuary, one of the largest such collections in Europe.

The Bishop's Palace next door, still the residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, is surrounded by a moat — an unusual defensive feature for an ecclesiastical building — and its gate has swans trained (historically, at least) to ring a bell for food, a small, well-known local quirk.

Wells pairs naturally with Glastonbury (a short drive away) or Cheddar Gorge, and is easily covered in a few hours to a day, making it a good half-day addition to a wider Somerset itinerary rather than a standalone multi-day destination.

Wells FAQs

Why is Wells called a city if it's so small?

English city status has traditionally been tied to having a cathedral rather than population size, and Wells' cathedral qualifies it, making it technically England's smallest city despite feeling like a small market town.

How do you get to Wells without a car?

There's no train station in Wells; the nearest are Castle Cary or Bristol, requiring a bus for the final leg, so a car is the more practical option, especially if combining with Glastonbury or Cheddar Gorge.

Is Wells Cathedral worth visiting?

Yes — it's one of England's most architecturally significant Gothic cathedrals, known for its distinctive scissor arches and an elaborate, extensively carved medieval west front.

Can you combine Wells and Glastonbury in one day?

Yes, easily — they're a short drive apart, and both can be comfortably covered together in a single day by car.

Do the Bishop's Palace swans really ring a bell for food?

Historically yes, trained swans at the moat gate would pull a bell rope to request feeding, though this behaviour isn't always reliably demonstrated today and depends on the current swans' habits.

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