Wells City Tour from Bath: Private Half-Day with Cathedral

Cathedral clock, Europe's oldest street, market square, palace gardens—one afternoon, one guide, no planning.

A private half-day walking tour of Wells departing from Bath includes round-trip transfer, entry to Wells Cathedral and Bishops Palace gardens, and a local guide who points out the city's 13th-century architecture, one of the oldest working clocks in the world, and Vicars Close—Europe's oldest continuously lived-in residential street. Travel time is built into the 5-hour duration. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller; the tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private half-day Wells city tour

• Travel round-trip from Bath
• Private walking tour of Wells Cathedral
• Visit Vicars Close residential street
• Explore Wells Market Place
• Tour Bishops Palace gardens

The Experience

The guide picks you up from your Bath accommodation and drives you to Wells, England's smallest city. Once there, the walking tour begins at Wells Cathedral, where the guide shows you the building's architectural details and the clock—one of the oldest working mechanisms of its kind still in use. The cathedral's scale and the intricacy of its stonework are the anchor of the morning.

From the cathedral, you walk to Vicars Close, a street of terraced houses built in the 14th century and still occupied today, making it Europe's oldest continuously lived-in residential street. Then comes the Wells Market Place, which has hosted the city's market for centuries and may look familiar if you've seen the film Hot Fuzz—it was shot here. The market operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays. After the market square, you head to the Bishops Palace, where the guide gives you time to explore the gardens on your own. The palace grounds are known for their springs, which originally supplied the city's water, and the landscaping is the quietest part of the day.

The return journey to Bath is included, and the full 5 hours accounts for both the walking and the driving. You don't arrange transport, book separate tickets, or navigate between sites—the guide handles the sequence and the pacing.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer from Bath.
• Wells Cathedral entrance ticket.
• Bishops Palace and Gardens entrance ticket.
• private guide in English throughout the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bath Insider Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're staying in Bath without a car—the guide handles round-trip transport and timing, leaving you free to explore Wells on a structured half-day rather than piecing together your own route.

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Top questions

What is Wells Cathedral's clock, and why is it special?

Wells Cathedral's clock is one of the oldest working clocks in the world, and the guide will point out its features and mechanics during the walking tour of the cathedral.

Can I visit the Wells Market Place on any day, or does it only happen certain times?

The Wells Market Place operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays; the tour visits the square regardless of market day, but you'll see the market in action only if your tour falls on one of those days.

Is the Bishops Palace gardens visit included, or do I pay extra for entry?

Entry to the Bishops Palace gardens is included in the tour price, and you'll have time to explore them on your own after the guide introduces the grounds.

How much driving is involved, and does it count toward the 5-hour tour length?

Round-trip transfer from Bath to Wells is included, and the travel time is part of the total 5-hour duration, so the walking and driving are both accounted for in that span.

Is this tour suitable if I'm traveling with a baby or small child?

Yes; infants can ride in a pram or stroller during the walking portions, and infants must sit on an adult's lap during the transfer to and from Bath.