What's On For Families in Wells
The Bishop’s Palace is the perfect destination for a family day out, located in the heart of Wells, Somerset. This family-friendly heritage site boasts 14 acres of beautiful RHS partner gardens, an 800-year-old medieval Palace, an on-site café, baby changing facilities, pushchair-friendly paths, and the exciting Dragon’s Lair play area. It’s a place where children can immerse themselves in nature and history while letting their imaginations run wild!
School Summer Holidays at The Bishop’s Palace
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23 Jul – 2 Sept – Pollinators Family Trail
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23 Jul – Nature Ninjas in the Community Garden: Clay Bugs
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24 Jul – Outdoor Theatre: The Big Bad Wolf (ticketed separately)
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30 Jul – Nature Ninjas in the Community Garden: Nature Medallions
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1 – 2 Aug – History Alive: Britain at War
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6, 13 & 27 Aug – Art Adventurers Crafting in the Undercroft
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7, 14, 21 & 28 Aug – Summer Late Openings
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13 Aug – Outdoor Theatre: King Arthur & the Holy Fail (ticketed separately)
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20 Aug – Nature Ninjas in the Community Garden: Potato Printing
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29 – 31 Aug – History Alive: Bowlore Medieval
Family-Friendly Days Out in Wells
History Alive Series
This summer, we welcome re-enactment and living history groups to bring history to life at The Bishop’s Palace. Step back in time as you’re transported to the 17th century, medieval Britain, the 1940s and the Viking Age in our History Alive summer series, perfect for the whole family.
Explore atmospheric encampments, smell the what the cooks are cooking, hear the sounds of the past, and watch as costumed performers bring history vividly to life before your eyes.
History Alive events are included with any standard admission.
Here’s what’s on:
Multimedia Tours
Multimedia tours of the Palace building. Designed to enhance your visit with stories, music and imagery from across the centuries these tours are designed to provide 45 minutes of rich content.
There’s a choice of an adult version or one tailored for families including quizzes, treasure hunts and taking Bishop portraits!
Here’s some feedback we’ve received from one of our younger visitors who loved their multi-media tour family option:
“History is boring; this WAS NOT boring!”
Click here to see a sneak peak at the new multimedia tours
Dragon’s Lair Children’s Play Area
Explore this magical discovery area in a far corner of the Gardens!
This popular, interactive discovery area is designed around the themes and stories of the Palace, taking inspiration from well pools and water, trees and history. This outdoor natural activity space will exercise both minds and bodies with a pole jungle, tree pods, a waterwheel and sluice gates.
And 2026 sees the launch of the fabulous new “Splash Play Zone” in the Dragon’s Lair play area. Water has always been at the heart of the Palace and gardens and the Dragon’s Lair play area will now be enhanced by a magical raining water tree, generating a light spray of water; a living canopy of plants; babbling boulders which will spray small jets of water and a shallow paddling pool. A bat house and bird box will also be added to the area to ensure biodiversity.
The only question is – dare you enter The Dragon’s Lair?
Inside the Palace
Is it a boots and brolly day? You’ll still find things to do with the kids at The Bishop’s Palace!
Put up your brolly and visit the well pools. See them bubble with all the water passing underneath them. Walk through the medieval Palace, see portraits of past bishops, and find the green dragons. Visit the Bishop’s private chapel, look up, down, around and behind everything, there are many amazing details to spot.
The Bishop’s Table café also has a great range of children’s meals and snacks, along with plenty to keep the grown-ups happy.
Plan Your Visit
Entry for all the above activities is included with any standard admission including Day Tickets, the Annual Pass (which includes 12 months of return visits from the date of your first visit and you’re welcome to use it again on any normal sightseeing day), and Friends of the Palace.
To plan your perfect family-friendly day out in Wells, visit our Tickets and Opening page to view ticket information, parking in Wells, closure dates and more.
