The appeal of the palace at Wells lies as much in its tranquil setting as its mellow buildings. Begun in the Middle Ages, it lies within a picturesque moat and peaceful walled gardens, entered though the gatehouse pictured here. The...

This old almshouse was founded beside St Cuthbert’s Church by Bishop Bubwith. The good bishop never saw it, since it was built after his death in 1424, from the endowment he had left. It had lodgings for 12 pensioners...

The parish church of Wells is one of the finest in Somerset. It was founded in the Saxon period, as the dedication to a Saxon saint suggests, but the present building is medieval. The place of worship for the Mayor...

Wells takes its name from the bountiful springs that bubbled up there. From the greatest of them, called the Bottomless Well, Bishop Bekynton (d. 1465) provided a supply of water to the townspeople. It was gravity-fed to a conduit in...

This impressive gateway was created as an act of mercy. Bishop Bekynton (1443-1465) had it built to give shelter to the beggars who clustered at the cathedral gate. There is a stone seat inside. Here they could plead for alms...

This peaceful enclave was built in the 14th century as the College of the Vicars Choral of Wells Cathedral. The terraces on either side contained simple lodgings with a living room on the ground floor and bedroom above. Almost all...

Wells Cathedral is the highlight of any visit to the small city of Wells. It has intricate Gothic carvings, one of the earliest mechanical clocks in the UK, a unique scissors vault, a marvellous chapter house and the splendid vicars’...

A fascinating day out awaits at Wells Reclamation Centre, situated on a 5-1/2 acre site between Glastonbury and Wells. This architectural salvage company is home to thousands of intriguing items, from garden statues, fountains and follies to original telephone boxes...

To celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887, Bishop Hervey gave Wells a park. He granted the town land alongside the Bishop’s Palace. So now children play in front of the medieval barn that once held produce from the bishop’s farm....

This imposing Neo-Classical edifice was built by public subscription in 1779. Or at least the core of of was. Some of the most striking features - the arcade, balcony and round windows - are later additions. As well as housing...

The museum was founded in 1893 by Herbert Balch, a man so driven by curiosity about our world that he became a pioneer caver, as well as a naturalist, geologist and archaeologist. He explored the caves of the Mendip hills...

Britain’s most spectacular caves and legendary home of the infamous Witch of Wookey. Wander through the prehistoric valley of the Dinosaurs featuring King Kong and relax in our magical fairy garden. The 19th Century Paper Mill houses a variety of...