Wells Cathedral welcomes thousands of visitors each year who join in with regular daily services and events or who come simply to enjoy the calm and hospitality of this wonderful and holy place.
Set in the medieval heart of England’s smallest city, and an easy drive from Bristol, Bath and Cardiff, Wells Cathedral is a significant heritage landmark in Somerset, has an international reputation and is TripAdvisor ranked number one for things to do in Wells.
Enjoy the wonderful display of 300 original medieval statues on the Cathedral’s West Front, the graceful scissor arches supporting the central tower; the humorous carvings on the stone pillars; and the deep colours of one of the largest collections of historic stained glass in the country. If you stay for Evensong you may hear the exhilarating voices of the world-famous Wells Cathedral Choir.
Vicars’ Close:
Adjoining the Cathedral is Vicars’ Close, believed to be the only complete medieval street left in England. Vicars’ Close was built to provide accommodation for the Vicars Choral, who sing at the daily Cathedral services. The medieval windows of the houses and the garden archways seem to have survived more or less intact until the early nineteenth century, and even now a few still exist.
Tours:
Free daily tours of the Cathedral are available for visitors all year except Sundays. No booking is required, simply join the tour of your choice in the Nave of the Cathedral. We also provide guided tours for group visits, which need to be pre-booked.
Cathedral café and Shops:
A warm welcome awaits you at our two Cathedral shops which stock a wide range of unique mementoes and gifts. Our café is also open daily for coffee, delicious home-made lunches and afternoon teas. All profits from the café and shops go to supporting the work of the Cathedral
Entry:
English Cathedrals receive no regular funding from the Government or the Church of England towards maintenance, restoration and development work. Here at Wells we do not charge an entrance fee however we do ask visitors to make a donation if they are able to do so, to help us with those costs.
Tel: 01749 674483
Web: www.wellscathedral.org.uk
Opening times
April - September, 7am - 7pm
October - March, 7am - 6pm