Photography Tour in Wells
The best photos of Wells aren't always at the obvious landmarks. Sure, Wells Cathedral and Bishop's Palace will fill your camera roll, but the real magic is in the side streets, the reflected light, and the unexpected angles that only reveal themselves to those exploring on foot. Seek out The Bishop's Palace moat for the kind of shot that no one else is posting.
Wells has been a city since receiving its charter in 1205, though its population remains under 12,000. The cathedral, begun in 1175, is famous for its extraordinary West Front — a screen of over 300 medieval carved figures — and its unique scissor arches added in the 14th century to support the crossing tower. Vicars' Close, a 14th-century residential street, is claimed to be the oldest complete medieval street in Europe.
Free Photography Tour in Wells with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free photography tour route in Wells. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Wells Cathedral — a Gothic cathedral with a West Front of over 300 medieval sculptures and dramatic scissor arches, Bishop's Palace — a moated medieval palace with gardens, where swans ring a bell for feeding, Vicars' Close — a 14th-century street of terraced houses for cathedral clergy, remarkably intact, plus hidden gems like The Bishop's Palace moat — swans have been trained to ring a bell at the gatehouse when they want to be fed and St Cuthbert's Church — the largest parish church in Somerset, with a fine painted wooden ceiling.
Use this page as a starting point for a Wells walking tour, a free route, or the Roamee app for Wells. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
How to Plan This Photography Tour
A strong Wells photography tour should connect recognizable anchors like Wells Cathedral, Bishop's Palace and Vicars' Close with a few slower discoveries around The Bishop's Palace moat and St Cuthbert's Church. Use the major stops for orientation, then let the route bend toward the neighborhoods, viewpoints, markets, paths, or cultural details that match a photography tour.
Roamee Pro treats the page as a starting brief rather than a fixed script: it can prioritize history, architecture, nature, adjust the walking time, and keep narration focused on why each stop matters for this specific theme.
Top Photography Tour Spots
- •Wells Cathedral — a Gothic cathedral with a West Front of over 300 medieval sculptures and dramatic scissor arches
- •Bishop's Palace — a moated medieval palace with gardens, where swans ring a bell for feeding
- •Vicars' Close — a 14th-century street of terraced houses for cathedral clergy, remarkably intact
- •Cathedral Green — the green surrounded by medieval buildings creating an enclosed precinct
Hidden Photography Tour Gems
- •The Bishop's Palace moat — swans have been trained to ring a bell at the gatehouse when they want to be fed
- •St Cuthbert's Church — the largest parish church in Somerset, with a fine painted wooden ceiling
Photography Tour Perspective
Wells attracts visitors for history and architecture, and Wells Cathedral and Bishop's Palace and every landmark doubles as a photography opportunity when you know where to stand and when the light is best. A photography-focused walk pays attention to reflections, leading lines, and street scenes between the landmarks. Hidden photogenic spots like The Bishop's Palace moat reward those who wander off the main path.
Walking Tip
Wells is tiny — you can see the main sights in a half-day walk. The cathedral, bishop's palace, and Vicars' Close are all within a few minutes of each other.
Best Time to Visit
April through October. Wells is a good base for exploring the Mendip Hills and Glastonbury.
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