The charming city with the UK’s most beautiful street that looks like it’s frozen in time
- UK Hidden Gems
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Hidden in the heart of Somerset, this city may be England’s smallest, but it’s also one of the most beautiful.
With its golden stone buildings, narrow streets, and breathtaking cathedral, Wells feels like a place that time has almost forgotten.
Next to the cathedral sits one of its most famous sights, Vicars’ Close, often called the UK’s prettiest street and the oldest surviving medieval street in Europe.
Walking along its cobbled road feels like travelling centuries into the past. Built in the 1300s, Vicars’ Close was designed to house the Vicars Choral, the clergy who sang and served in the cathedral.
Their role still continues today, and the cottages, tall chimneys and old-fashioned lamps make the street look like something from a period drama.
At the centre of the street is Vicars’ Hall, which was finished in 1348. It once served as the Vicars’ dining hall, meeting place, and treasury, and it remains one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in Wells.
The street originally had 42 homes, though only 27 remain today. All of them are Grade I listed buildings, protected for their historic and architectural importance.
One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “Absolutely stunning and definitely worth seeing. It felt like stepping back in time, I can see why so many TV shows and films are shot here.”
Another visitor said: “Amazing! It really feels like going back in time. The buildings are so well looked after and the rows of chimneys make it look straight out of Mary Poppins.”
Wells itself is just as beautiful as Vicars’ Close. The small city is built around its grand Gothic cathedral, known for its incredible carvings and striking scissor arches inside.
Close by is the Bishop’s Palace, complete with a moat and resident swans who famously ring a bell when it’s feeding time, adding to the fairytale feel of this enchanting little city.
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