Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral
Cathedral Green
Wells
Somerset
BA5 2UE
England

Website

www.wellscathedral.org.uk

E-mail

Telephone

01749 674483

Fax

01749 832210

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The present Cathedral building was begun around 1175. It is one of the most impressive of the English cathedrals and has survived eight centuries with all its associated buildings still around it - the Chapter House, Vicars' Hall, the cloisters and the unique Vicars' close. The magnificent west façade, built between 1209 and 1250, is unique in retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues. The scissor arches and famous clock cannot be missed!

Venue Type:

Library, Archive, Heritage site, Sacred space

Opening hours

April-September: 7.00am - 7.00pm
October-March: 7.00am - 6.00pm

Please note the Cathedral operates a Quiet Hour 12 noon to 1pm from April to October. This restores the peace and tranquility of this holy place and serves as a reminder of its primary purpose as a place of worship. Guided tours do not take place during Quiet Hour.

Admission charges

Admission to the Cathedral is free - donations are welcome. We receive no direct state aid and need over £3,000 per day for the maintenance, upkeep and running costs of this magnificent working cathedral. We ask you to help by giving:

Adult: £6.00
Child/Student: £3.00
Senior Citizen: £4.00

If you are a UK taxpayer please give your donation in a yellow gift aid envelope. This scheme enables the cathedral to claim a tax refund of an extra 28p for every £1 you give.

Additional info

The new Friends Building for Education and Music, situated off the East Cloister, provides secure facilities for school groups. Recent improvements include a new visitor entrance, shop and restaurant, and interpretation area in the Undercroft with interactive displays.

Collection details

Architecture, Archives, Decorative and Applied Art, Religion

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Paper-based and downloads

Visit Handbook

http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/education/visithandbook.pdf

Downloadable handbook with everything to help plan a school visit to Wells Cathedral, including available activities, National Curriculum links, advice for special schools and security advice.

How to obtain

Download the handbook for free, or for more information email education@wellscathedral.uk.net or call 01749 674483.

Information for Projects

http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/education/projects.shtml

To support project work before and after your visit to Wells Cathedral, three downloadable information sheets are available listing the Dates and Dimensions of the Cathedral building, the Deans of Wells dating back to Ivo in 1140, and the Bishops of Wells dating back to Athelm in 909.

printable map