Wells Highlights and Heritage: An Audio Tour

Wells is England's smallest city, but it packs in more than a millennium of history, intrigue, and quirky traditions. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll pass all the city’s main sights and hear the most colourful stories attached to each. The tour starts at the Wells Tourist Office on the Market Place, where stallholders have been trading since the 12th century. You’ll see the Bishop's Palace and meet the swans who live on the moat and are trained to ring a bell when they want food. You'll then pass picturesque spots linked to Wells Cathedral, such as Penniless Porch and Cathedral Green, stopping outside the magnificent West Front to hear its story. Finally, you’ll make your way back to the Market Place, hearing tales of three periods in the history of Wells, from the drama of the Civil War and the bloody Monmouth Rebellion to the over-zealous May-day merrymaking in the 1600s.

1. 1

   The Bishop's Palace And Gardens

   Pass by

   Marvel at one of England's oldest inhabited houses, its medieval walls rising above a glittering moat right in the heart of the city. Watch for the swans who live here year-round, trained to ring a bell on the gatehouse wall when they want to be fed.

2. 2

   Wells Cathedral

   Pass by

   Stand before one of England's finest Gothic facades, its West Front crowded with hundreds of medieval carved figures that once blazed with colour. Look up at the 1392 clock inside and watch the jousting knights ride out to strike the hour every quarter past.

3. 3

   Vicars' Close

   Pass by

   Stroll down what is believed to be the oldest complete medieval street in Europe, built in the 14th century to house the cathedral's choirmen and keep them well away from worldly temptations. Walk its full length and feel how little has changed in 700 years.

4. 4

   Wells and Mendip Museum

   Pass by

   Explore this compact local museum tucked beside the cathedral, where the story of Wells and the surrounding Mendip Hills comes to life through fascinating artefacts and displays. Discover how the region's history stretches from prehistoric cave dwellers to famous modern residents.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Pass one of Wells' charming medieval almshouses, a row of modest dwellings built to shelter the city's poor that has stood quietly on its street for centuries. These modest buildings are a reminder that Wells has always cared for its community, long before the age of the welfare state.

6. 6

   St Cuthbert's parish Church

   Pass by

   Step inside the largest parish church in Somerset and look up at a magnificent painted wooden ceiling so grand that visitors regularly mistake the building for the cathedral itself. Enjoy the peaceful interior and take a moment to admire the craftsmanship that has left generations of visitors speechless.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Visit one of Wells' most characterful pubs, housed in a building with a distinctly unusual past — its ladies' toilet was once a jail cell. Raise a glass in a place where history lingers in every corner, from its thick stone walls to the stories locked inside them.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.