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Welcome to The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Wells.

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 30 minutes before closure)

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.

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”.

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.

Peace, beauty and space in the heart of England’s smallest city

Surrounded by a breath-taking moat, cross the flagstone drawbridge to experience a true hidden gem in the heart of the medieval city of Wells, Somerset.

There are 14 acres of RHS partner gardens to explore including the beautiful well pools from which the city takes its name.

You are also welcome to look around the Bishop’s private Chapel, explore the ruined Great Hall, enjoy a walk around the Palace moat or watch the kids let off steam in the newly refurbished Dragon’s Lair play area.

For more about entry, accessibility, Groups and general information about The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, please use the links on the left hand side of this page.

Buy Tickets Here

Events, activities and refreshments

We offer a full programme of year-round family events, free guided walks, open-air theatre, garden workshops and more or enjoy breakfast, lunch or a slice of cake with a great cup of coffee at the ever-popular Bishop’s Table café!

Guided tours are also included with your Admission – check available times at the Ticket Office on your arrival.

Admission

Admission allows for 12 months of return visits from the date of your first visit on any normal sightseeing day, including to many events and activities.

Buy Admission Tickets onsite or via this website.

Buy Tickets Here

Membership

Once you have discovered The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens you’ll want to keep coming back! Support us by becoming a Member and not only will you be able to access the Palace and Gardens whenever you like during opening hours, but you will also receive a additional number of benefits and discounts, including Member’s Only events.

Membership Details Here

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, but please check opening times first!

The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is close to other tourist attractions in Somerset, such as Glastonbury Abbey, The Newt in Somerset, Stonehenge, Bristol and Bath attractions and many more – perfect for visitors wishing to plan a full day out.