courtesy of Glide Media Productions
Plan Your Visit To This Medieval Palace and RHS Partner Gardens in Wells, Somerset
The Palace, Gardens and Chapel are OPEN:
- 9.30am-5.30pm daily in the summer months
- 10am-4pm daily in the winter months
Last admission is 30 minutes before closure, check for any changes to opening times and access here. Café opening times may vary.
Home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for 800 years, this stunning medieval palace and gardens in the heart of Wells, Somerset, is adjacent to Wells Cathedral and open for all to enjoy.
Our Legacy:
The site and 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 with the primary purpose to: “conserve The Bishop’s Palace for future generations; welcoming all who seek a place of beauty, reflection, and enjoyment”.
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.
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 (see schedule below).
Choose from the popular 12 month Annual Pass or Day Tickets. Details below.
It’s free to visit The Bishop’s Table café and the Croquet Lawn area.
Buy Admission Tickets onsite or online.
Tours
Multi-media audio tours of the Palace building and Guided Tours of the Palace site are included with your admission. Check available times at the Ticket Office on your arrival.
Events
The Palace’s new ‘Big Four’ headline events for 2025 are:
- The Palace Garden Fair (10th May)
- The Palace History Fayre including Medieval Banquet (14th/15th June)
- Party at the Palace – Saturday 12th July. Our fabulous new music concert Tickets with early bird tickets now on sale; see below for information!
- Sparkle Christmas Lights – Sat 6th/Tues 30th December 2025. Our popular Christmas lights event will significantly increase in size and scope in 2025
These events will be ticketed separately.
The popular outdoor theatre season will also return in the summer.
Friends of the Palace
The Friends of the Palace replaces the previous Membership programme and is designed to better reflect our visitors’ interests, reward your ongoing support, and helping us preserve the Palace’s heritage and gardens for future generations.
Support us by becoming a Friend of the Palace and not only will you be able to access the Palace and Gardens whenever you like during opening hours, but you’ll also receive an additional number of benefits and discounts including exclusive Friends events and tours; 50% off entry to ten partner gardens; 10% discount on plants and produce, 10& discount in the cafe and shop, half price day tickets for your guests, priority booking for all theatre, film, and concert events and Father Christmas, free cake from our cafe on your birthday, plus lots of additional benefits not available with the standard 12-month admission ticket.
Map of the grounds
(click on image to download a PDF version to keep)
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is easy to find; you can get directions here
Off Market Place (through The Bishop’s Eye entrance)
Wells
Somerset
BA5 2PD
(for Sat Nav use BA5 2RE – This will take you to Harris & Harris. Continue walking under the Bishop’s Eye and bare right along the path to reach the Gatehouse and Portcullis. Please note that the weight limit on the drawbridge is 2.7 tonnes.)
There is no parking on site. Please click here for travel and parking information.
We’re also close to other tourist attractions in Somerset, such as Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey, The Newt in Somerset, Stonehenge, Bristol and Bath attractions and many more – perfect for visitors wishing to plan a full day out.