
About The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens, Wells.
The 14 acres of RHS partner gardens and Palace buildings are owned by the Church Commissioners and operated by The Palace Trust, a registered charity which manages the site as a heritage visitor attraction.
The cost of maintaining the Palace is met entirely by grants, by Admission Tickets, special events and our café, and donations are also crucial to our work. So your support in this respect is vital.
Our Purpose
As stewards of this beautiful and historic place, our primary purpose is “to conserve The Bishop’s Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and reflection for the benefit of all”.
Our Vision
To inspire and touch the lives of many by offering joy, healing, hope and wellbeing.
We Value
Authenticity · Inclusivity · Hospitality · Spirituality · Generosity · Sustainability
Our Legacy
The Palace Trust gets no statutory funding. The cost of maintaining the Palace is met entirely by grants from organisations like the National Lottery and Charitable Trusts, by Admission tickets, special events and our café. But this does not cover the entire cost of everyday maintenance, so donations to this aspect of our work are also always welcome.
Likewise, the cost of conservation work cannot be met by admission fees etc. so we rely on voluntary donations to finance this aspect of our work. The annual costs vary between £400,000 and £500,000. So, this is an area where we welcome donations – large or small, regular or one-off – to enable us to carry out this vital work.
There are various ways to support our work, which are listed below, together with links to enable you to support us with the minimum of effort:
2025 Business Plan
A bite-sized version of our 2025 Business Plan is available to download HERE.
Other Ways To Support The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens
– Appeals
– Remembering us in your will
– Palace membership
– Volunteering your time
Admission
Value-packed admission gives access to the medieval Palace and Undercroft, ruined Great Hall, 14 acres of RHS Partner Gardens, The Bishop’s Chapel and to a packed year-round events programme (unless exclusive Friends of the Palace events or ticketed separately) including family workshops, storytelling, monthly Wellbeing Walks, themed events and daily guided tours.
Admission details, including prices, are HERE.