Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral is located in the centre of Wells, Somerset. It was built around 1175 as a Roman Catholic cathedral and it became an Anglican cathedral when King Henry VIII split from Rome, with later work up to 1490.

What is there to do at Wells Cathedral?

It is moderately sized for an English cathedral and it has been labelled as one of the most beautiful cathedrals. It is more gothic in its features than other cathedrals in England. It has unique features that separate it from other English cathedrals including its iconic West Front and beautiful scissor arches that support the central tower.

The cathedral also has one of the largest collections of historic stained glass in the country. It is also home to the famous Wells clock which is considered to be the second oldest clock mechanism in the UK. There are free, daily tours of the cathedral all year round except on Sundays. You will be able to discover hidden spaces and chambers and explore the south transept roof space. Tours can be prebooked online.

During the school holidays, there are often workshops for children and they also provide free, family trails with leaflets that are available free of charge. Adjoining the cathedral is Vicar’s close which is believed to be the only complete medieval street left in England. It originally provided accommodation for the Vicars Choral who sing the daily services and this is still the case today.