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Cathedral city in Somerset, England
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
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Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew
Wells Cathedral is the only cathedral in England that still has a Vicars Close and Bishop's Palace intact (so they claim). This makes it a must-see, as it rises above the town and is visible for miles! The most distinctive thing about this cathedral is the scissor arches in the transept. These modern-looking arches were built in the 1300s to stabilise the structure after a heightened tower was added, and they face north, south, and west.
2 knights strike bells with their axes every quarter hour.
The Bishop of Bath's residence. The majestic grade I palace offers tours.
A RHS-partner garden.
A 13th-century residential street still lived in.
It portrays the history of the city.
Wells was the main filming location for the fictional idyllic Gloucestershire village of Sandford in the 2007 Simon Pegg film Hot Fuzz.
Nicholas Angel's accommodation when he arrives in Sandford.
Sandford church
Scene of the village fête and the unfortunate accident that happened there.
Sandford's theatre
Theatre that Nicholas Angel goes to, to watch one of the worst productions of Romeo & Juliet.
A small convenience store that Nicholas Angel visits to buy a vanilla Cornetto ice cream (notable as Hot Fuzz was the second film in the "Cornetto trilogy").
Wells Carnival takes place every November and it's full of illuminated floats.
Indian restaurant with freshly cooked food and bring your own drink
Gastro pub
A cafe and a health-food supermarket. Freshly cooked meals with a daily menu. Portions are very substantial. Whole food supermarket offers big choice of products. Not far from city centre and Wells Cathedral (5–10 minute walk).
Pleasant country pub, dog-friendly, with rooms and quality meals.
The Olde City Jail
JD Wetherspoon
Pub that Nicholas Angel and his colleagues frequent after work.
The Rose and Crown has a pool table, so you can have a lovely game of pool whilst sampling some great local ales.
Bed and Breakfast adjacent to a working water-powered flour mill.
15th-century coaching inn with 50 bedrooms located opposite Wells Cathedral and a wood panelled dining room.
Luxurious B&B in a former coaching-house, 7 rooms. Children only allowed on block-bookings, no dogs.
Charming countryside pub-bistro with rooms.
A farmers market from local providers. 17 stalls offering local fruit, vegetables, cheeses, jams and chutneys and many other goods. Every Wednesday.
All types of flapjacks, a cake made from oats and golden syrup.
By car
From Bristol, take the A37 south until you reach the A371, then head west into Wells. From Bath, take the A39 west into the A37, and then on to the A371 west into Wells.
By train
These stations near Wells are reachable from Bristol and London Paddington:
By bus
There is an hourly bus service, number 376, from Bristol to Street. Get on at Bristol bus station or at Bristol Temple Meads rail station.
The city is so small that unless you have a medical condition you should have no trouble walking everywhere.
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