How to Spend a Day in Wells, Somerset, Wells, England

A medieval city with a moated palace. The oldest residential street in Europe. And swans that have been trained to ring a bell… This is Wells in Somerset, an ancient town close to the cities of Bath and Bristol but peacefully situated in the Mendip Hills. So what should you see and do when you spend a day in Wells?

Wells is often called the “smallest city in England”. In fact the City of London is slightly smaller, but Wells is certainly very compact, making it easy to explore in a day. Yet it manages to pack an enormous amount into a small space.

You’ll find a medieval centre, the impressive Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, a large cathedral and a street that’s barely changed since the Middle Ages. There is a twice-weekly market, historic pubs, and peaceful waterside walks.

The first written record of the city dates back to the 12th century, but it is likely that there was an earlier settlement (we do know that a church was built here around 700). Wells was at one time the largest town in Somerset, and a prosperous centre for the cloth-manufacturing and woollen industries.

That so much of the medieval city remains must be largely due to the fact that it is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells: the city is dominated by the cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral School. The layout of the city centre, with its small roads and alleys leading from the main street, remains mostly intact, and you’ll find ancient buildings cheek by jowl with more modern ones. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).