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The real Wells lives beyond the tourist trail. In the neighborhoods where locals actually spend their time, you'll find places like The Bishop's Palace moat and St Cuthbert's Church that make a city worth knowing. Even around well-known spots like Wells Cathedral and Bishop's Palace, one street over the crowds disappear entirely.
England's smallest city, dominated by a magnificent Gothic cathedral with a medieval moated bishop's palace.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided off-the-beaten-path walking tour route in Wells. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Wells Cathedral — a Gothic cathedral with a West Front of over 300 medieval sculptures and dramatic scissor arches, Bishop's Palace — a moated medieval palace with gardens, where swans ring a bell for feeding, Vicars' Close — a 14th-century street of terraced houses for cathedral clergy, remarkably intact, plus hidden gems like The Bishop's Palace moat — swans have been trained to ring a bell at the gatehouse when they want to be fed and St Cuthbert's Church — the largest parish church in Somerset, with a fine painted wooden ceiling.
Use this page as a starting point for a Wells walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Wells. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Most visitors come to Wells for the well-known history and architecture attractions, but the most memorable moments happen off the main path. Side streets one block from Wells Cathedral, residential quarters, quiet courtyards — these are the parts of Wells that feel genuine. Places like The Bishop's Palace moat and St Cuthbert's Church are the kind of spots locals would actually recommend.
Wells is tiny — you can see the main sights in a half-day walk. The cathedral, bishop's palace, and Vicars' Close are all within a few minutes of each other.
April through October. Wells is a good base for exploring the Mendip Hills and Glastonbury.
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