Hotels in Wells

Wells makes a good base for exploring the wider Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels, with a range of accommodation packed into a small, walkable centre. Right by the cathedral, historic coaching inns such as The Crown on the Market Place and The Swan opposite the west front offer characterful rooms with the cathedral quarter on the doorstep, ideal if you want to step outside into six centuries of history first thing in the morning. The city also has a good choice of B&Bs and guesthouses in Georgian and Victorian townhouses within a few minutes' walk of the Market Place, generally better value than city-centre hotels and often run by locals happy to point you towards lesser-known corners of the cathedral or good walks nearby.

Further out, the countryside around Wells towards Wookey Hole, Cheddar and the Mendip Hills has farmhouse B&Bs and small country hotels, useful if your visit is built around walking, caving or exploring the wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty rather than staying purely in the city. Glastonbury, with its own choice of independent hotels and guesthouses, is only around 20 minutes away and pairs naturally with a Wells trip. Wherever you stay, book ahead for weekends from spring to autumn and around the cathedral's December carol services, when the city's limited room count fills quickly; out of season, availability is far more relaxed and rates drop accordingly.