Tickets & Opening
Home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years this stunning medieval Palace and its 14 acres of RHS partner gardens is open for all to enjoy.
Opening Hours
Summer
9.30am – 5.30pm
Open daily from March 2025 – October 2025.
Winter
10am – 4pm
Open daily from October 2025 – March 2026 (excluding Christmas closures – see below).
Value-Packed Admission
Choose from the popular 12 month Annual Pass, Day Tickets or our Friends of the Palace scheme. Details below.
It’s free to visit The Bishop’s Table café and the Croquet Lawn area.
12 Month Annual Pass
The value-packed 12 month Annual Pass gives access to the medieval Palace and Undercroft, ruined Great Hall, 14 acres of RHS Partner Gardens, The Bishop’s Chapel, Dragon’s Lair play area and to a year-round events programme (unless event is ticketed separately) including family workshops and trails, re-enactments and a choice of tours.
Entry to ticketed events, including the Christmas Illuminations, is not included with the Annual Pass. Upgrade to become a Friend if you’d prefer to include this benefit.
| Who | Standard (2025) |
| Adult | £25 |
| Family (1 adult) | £40 |
| Family (2 adults) | £65 |
| Child (5-17 years) | £10 |
| Child (Under 5 years) | FREE |
| Essential Helpers Assisting Disabled Visitors | FREE |
| Student (With valid in date card) | £18 |
Day Tickets
| Who | Standard (2025) |
| Adult Day | £14 |
| Child Day | £7 |
| Student Day | £12 |
| Child Day (Under 5 years) | FREE |
| Joint Day Ticket with Wells Cathedral | £22 |
Friends of the Palace
The Friends of the Palace scheme includes all the benefits of the Annual Pass, as well as entry to ticketed events, discounted entry to our partner gardens and lots of additional benefits.
Other Ticket Options
Joint Day Ticket to Wells Cathedral and The Bishop’s Palace £22
One ticket provides access to the two major Wells attractions on the day of the visit with a significant saving on the cost of separate admission.
RHS Membership (purchase via the RHS)
RHS members are welcome to visit free on a Friday (year-round) and on a Monday (winter hours in 2025), excluding special events. Please show your RHS card at the ticket office to receive your ticket.
2025 Update: Unfortunately, the admission details included in this year’s RHS Handbook for RHS Members are incorrect; please refer to the information above for valid admission dates.
RHS membership visits can not be pre-booked in advance.
Historic Houses Membership (purchase via Historic Houses)
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is part of the Historic Houses group. Please present your Historic Houses Membership at the Ticket Office.
Historic Houses visits cannot be pre-booked in advance and are not valid on special event/ticketed days.
Gardeners’ World 2-4-1
The Bishop’s Palace accepts Gardeners’ World 2-for-1 vouchers on normal sightseeing days. Please present your voucher at theTicket Office on arrival to receive your discount.
Gardeners’ World 2-for-1 discounts cannot be pre-booked and are not valid on special event/ticketed days.
Tours
Discover exclusive audio and video content of our RHS partner gardens via our Bloomberg Connects app content; experience the wonderful stories of the medieval Palace building and its people via our multi-media tours or join a daily tour led by our experienced guides. All included with your ticket.
Partial/Full-Site Closures
On occasion, the Palace site may need to be closed at the last minute due to adverse weather conditions or an event.
You’re welcome to call us on 01749 988111 ext. 200 to double-check we are open before you visit.
- Saturday 13th December – Palace and Gardens closure from 12.30pm (café open as normal)
- 24th – 26th December – Full site closure
- 31st December – Palace and Gardens closure from 4pm (i.e. no Christmas Garden Illuminations)
- 5th – 7th January 2026 – Full site closure
Dogs
Dogs are welcome in the gardens other than the Dragon’s Lair area as this is a safe space for children; we do ask that they are kept on a short lead elsewhere in the gardens. Dogs may not enter the Palace buildings unless they are assistance dogs.
We have a dog-friendly café where your dog will have access to water and you can purchase dog treats!
Scooters and Bikes
Scooters and bikes should not be ridden once you have crossed the drawbridge to ensure the safety of other visitors.
Bike racks are available behind the Gatehouse on the right after you cross the drawbridge. There is also a designated area in front of the wooden hut by the garden entrance gate for leaving scooters and bikes, which is visible from the café.
Tripadvisor
Don’t just take our word for it! Read our visitor reviews on TripAdvisor.
Our Location
- 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. Travel and parking information can be found HERE.