Wells at a glance
Wells is a city in Somerset with a cathedral and the Bishop's Palace. The First 376 bus connects it with Glastonbury. On a weekday sample, the bus leaves Wells at 10:45 and reaches Glastonbury at 11:06, so the ride takes 21 minutes. Check the current timetable before you go, because times change.
This is an independent guide, not the website of the cathedral or the palace. Prices and hours are those listed by the operators in 2026.
Wells Cathedral: tickets in 2026
A tourist visit and prayer are different kinds of entry.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £15.50 | Valid for 12 months; guided highlights tours and the audio tour are included |
| Child 5 to 17 | £5 | Children under 5 are free |
| Late entry after 15:30 | £10 | No re-entry within the year |
| Combined with the Bishop's Palace | £22 | Also sold at the ticket desks of both places |
| Prayer, services, lighting a candle | Free | No entry fee for these |
Events with their own price are not covered by these tickets.
Our picks: a day trip with Wells
This day trip from Bath includes Wells and its cathedral, with Cheddar Gorge and Glastonbury on the same day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Wells and Somerset tours
Guided day trips that include Wells, Glastonbury and Cheddar Gorge, with live prices and availability.
Opening hours and closures
Know the Sunday hours before you plan around them.
The building
The cathedral building is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00. Tourist visiting runs Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 16:30.
Sundays
The cathedral gives Sunday visiting hours of 12:00 to 14:00 in the main text and 12:00 to 14:30 in the page footer. Plan for the earlier time, and check before you travel.
Closures in October 2026
On 23 October 2026 the cathedral is open all day only to people attending the University Centre Somerset graduations. On 27 October the Quire is closed to visitors from 12:00 for a funeral service.
The Bishop's Palace
The palace has its own ticket office and its own opening times. From 29 March to 24 October 2026 it is open daily from 09:30 to 17:30. The winter hours of 10:00 to 16:00 ended on 28 March 2026. Check the palace for winter times from 25 October.
There is no parking on the palace site. The café and the Croquet Lawn can be used without a palace ticket.
Bishop's Palace prices in 2026
The adult day ticket rose by £1 and the combined ticket by £2 compared with 2025.
| Ticket | Day ticket | Annual pass |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £15 | £25 |
| Student | £12 | £18 |
| Child | £7 (under 5 free) | £10 (aged 5 to 17) |
| Family | – | £40 (1 adult), £65 (2 adults) |
| Cathedral and palace | £22 adult | – |
A necessary companion of a disabled visitor enters free. In 2025 the adult palace ticket was £14 and the combined ticket £20.
A day in Wells
One way to order the visit.
Morning: the cathedral
Tourist visiting starts at 09:00 Monday to Saturday. The highlights tours and the audio tour are part of the ticket, so you do not need to pay extra for them.
Midday: a break at the palace
The palace café can be used without a palace ticket. If you plan to go in, the combined ticket at £22 is cheaper than buying the two tickets separately, which would cost £30.50.
Afternoon: the palace or a late entry
If you arrive after 15:30, the cathedral late-entry ticket costs £10. It does not come with the 12-month re-entry of the normal ticket.
Back to Glastonbury
Check the last bus before you start the day, and tap on and off with the same card to keep the fare within the £5 daily cap.
Getting from Glastonbury to Wells
The bus is the simple option.
The 376 bus
The 376 runs between Bristol and Yeovil via Wells and Glastonbury. A timetable valid from 21 September 2026 shows a weekday trip leaving Wells at 10:45 and reaching Glastonbury Town Hall at 11:06.
Fares
First lists single fares in the West of England zone of £2.60 for up to 6 miles and £3 beyond that, valid since 4 January 2026. On the 376 between Wells and Street, tapping on and off with the same card or device caps the day at £5.
On to Cheddar
The 126 links Wells with Cheddar. A weekday example leaves Wells at 11:10 and reaches Cheddar Tweentown at 11:50, 40 minutes. A diversion because of road works ran from 1 September to about mid-October 2026, so check the current service notice.
Cheddar Gorge →More on timetables and parking is on the getting there page. Back in Glastonbury, the Abbey and the Tor are the main sights.
Wells: frequently asked questions
How much does Wells Cathedral cost?
An adult tourist ticket costs £15.50 in 2026, a child aged 5 to 17 pays £5, and under 5s are free. After 15:30 a late-entry ticket costs £10. Praying, attending a service and lighting a candle are free.
Is there a combined ticket for the cathedral and the palace?
Yes. A combined adult ticket costs £22 and is sold at both ticket desks.
How long does the bus take from Glastonbury to Wells?
About 21 minutes on the 376 in a weekday example. Check the current timetable, because services and times change.
When is the cathedral open on Sundays?
The cathedral gives 12:00 to 14:00 in one place and 12:00 to 14:30 in another. Plan for 14:00 and check before you travel.
Is the Bishop's Palace open in winter?
It is open daily from 09:30 to 17:30 until 24 October 2026. Check the palace for winter times from 25 October.
Can I park at the palace?
No. There is no parking on the palace site, so use a public car park or come by bus.