We have prepared this welcome pack to help you get maximum enjoyment out of your stay with plenty of local recommendations as well as some practical information on the running of the house.

For more information of what's on around Somerset visit https://www.themendipsrock.co.uk/

WELLS

Nestling at the foot of the Mendip Hills, the City of Wells retains a unique historic core preserved almost intact from the Middle Ages with its Cathedral, Bishop's Palace, Vicars' Close, ancient streets and glorious buildings. With everything from cafes to traditional pubs and inns, specialist independent retailers to major high street names plus excellent year-round entertainment, Wells is an unbeatable destination and a wonderful place to visit.

The Guard House lies at the heart of Wells, and given this is the smallest city in the UK, hardly a mile wide, it is not far to walk anywhere! If you turn left out of the property and walk down the street you will reach the High Street.

The Tourist Information Centre has a website that is worth a visit for up-to-date events and general information: https://www.wellssomerset.com/

WELLS HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS

Wells Cathedral

This is an epic endeavour of ecclesiastical architecture raised as England's first Gothic Cathedral between 1175 and 1490. The first building phase took about eighty years, building from east to west, culminating in the magnificent West Front. About 300 of its original medieval statues remain. Check the cathedral website for details of concerts and tours.

The Bishop's Palace Moat and Gardens

The Bishop's Palace and accompanying Bishops House, is adjacent to Wells Cathedral and has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.

Building of the palace started around 1210 by Bishops Jocelin of Wells and Reginald Fitz Jocelin. The chapel and great hall were added by Bishop Robert Burnell between 1275 and 1292. The walls, gatehouse and moat were added in the 14th century by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury. The Bishops House was added in the 15th century by Bishop Thomas Beckington. The great hall later fell into disrepair and was partially demolished around 1830.

It is free to walk around the palace and to cross the draw bridge and eat at the cafe, however to enter the building, the beautiful gardens and children's play area there is a charge, however we highly recommend it as it is an incredible and peaceful setting with lovely views and the kids will have fun discovering the dragon's lair.

Vicar's Close

This close runs north from Wells Cathedral, one of the only intact residential medieval streets left in Britain. It comprises of numerous Grade I listed buildings, 27 of which are residences (originally 44), built for Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, a chapel and library at the north end, and a hall at the south end, over an arched gate. It is connected at its southern end to the cathedral by way of a walkway over Chain Gate. You may notice it is slightly narrower at the top end compared to the bottom, this gives the illusion that it is slightly longer than it actually is.

St Cuthbert's Church

The Church of St Cuthbert is an Anglican parish church dating from the 13th century. It is often mistaken for the cathedral. It has a fine Somerset stone tower and a superb carved roof. It is a Grade I listed building.

The Music School at Wells Cathedral School

Tracing its history back to 909 AD, Wells Cathedral School is the oldest in the West Country and one of the oldest in the world. It was founded at the same time as the cathedral on the instructions of King Edward the Elder, the second ever king of England, as a joint institution for the education of choristers and those destined for the clergy. Over 1,100 years later this dual identity survives in the school’s unique status as an all-round school providing academic and co-curricular excellence, with a music specialist and choir school embedded within it. The extremely talented musicians put on free concerts two or free times a week at Quilter Hall (the music school), this also provides an excellent opportunity to see inside this beautiful building. It faces the north door of the cathedral. https://wells.cathedral.school/free-concerts/

Wells Museum

The Wells and Mendip Museum can be found on the Cathedral Green, next to Wells Cathedral and Vicars' Close. It is a registered charity and an accredited member of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The exhibits include items of local history and archaeological finds. The museum is housed in the former Chancellors' House, with 15th-century origins, however most of the current fabric of the building is from the 17th and 18th centuries. The stone building has gabled roofs of Welsh slate. A small entrance hall provides access to a staircase hall leading to a salon in gothic revival style with a marble fireplace. The front of the building was remodelled around 1828 and the rear includes a 20th-century extension. It has been designated as a Grade II listed building.

Guardhouse Lane

Guardhouse Lane takes its name from its eighteenth-century guardhouse, where our apartment is situated. The Napoleonic Wars of the late 1790s and early 1800s saw a new warfare of mass armies and large fleets. This made necessary the first serious attempt to house prisoners-of-war in specially built prisons or prison camps, as on Dartmoor or Norman Cross near Peterborough. Captured French soldiers and sailors were landed at Dorset ports, and marched about 20 miles a day, lodging on route at specially constructed staging-posts. Wells Guardhouse was the last overnight stop for other ranks before reaching the newly enlarged Stapleton Prison at Bristol.

GETTING OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE

The Somerset Levels and Starling Murmurations

The Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills, they have an area of about 160,000 acres. The Mendip Hills separate the Somerset Levels from the North Somerset Levels.

Starling murmurations are a true wonder of the natural world and the RSPB Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury are one of the best places in the UK to come and witness this amazing wildlife spectacle. Starling numbers are greatest in December and January, as many of the birds are migrants from the colder areas of Northern Europe. However, large numbers of birds can turn up from the end of October right through until the start of March.

Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor is a hill near Glastonbury in the English county of Somerset, topped by the roofless St Michael's Tower, a Grade I listed building. The entire site is managed by the National Trust and has been designated a scheduled monument. Parking is available for a small charge at Drapers factory car park nearby.

Tor Woods

Within easy walking distance of the centre of Wells, this National Trust woodland offers acres of space for wild play. The woods have plenty of material for den building and woodland crafts. There are some hills and banks and occasional steep drops. There are open fields adjacent to the woods offering possibilities for picnics and ball games.

The Mendip Hills

The Mendip Hills (commonly called the Mendips) is a range of limestone hills running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome. The hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Chew Valley and other tributaries of the Avon to the north. The hills give their name to the local government district of Mendip, which administers most of the area. The higher, western part of the hills, covering 198km2 has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which gives it a level of protection comparable to a national park. Numerous activities available such as gliding, caving, walking and abseiling.

Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be over 9,000 years old, was found in 1903. Older remains from the Upper Late Palaeolithic era (12,000–13,000 years ago) have also been found. The caves, produced by the activity of an underground river, contain stalactites and stalagmites. The gorge is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest called Cheddar Complex. You don't have to pay to visit Cheddar Gorge (the commercial attractions are currently closed), you can enjoy the lovely walks around it and the very impressive views.

Burrington Combe

Burrington Combe is a Carboniferous Limestone gorge near the village of Burrington, on the north side of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. "Combe" or "coombe" is a word of Celtic origin found in several forms on all of the British Isles, denoting a steep-sided valley or hollow. Burrington Combe is a gorge through the limestone hills although there is now no river running through it. Various cave entrances are exposed which have been occupied by humans for over 10,000 years, with a hill-fort being built beside the combe in the Iron Age. The geology has led to a diversity of plant life. Burrington Combe is similar to Cheddar Gorge only a little smaller and it is on the north side of the Mendips as opposed to the south. Burrington Combe has not been commercialised in the same way and there are some lovely walks around it.

Ebbor Gorge

Set within the ancient limestone Mendip Hills, Ebbor Gorge is designated a National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England. Here you’ll find woodland, rocks and caves. There are small streams good for paddling and fallen trees to clamber over. Fill a day wildlife spotting, exploring the woodland, playing in streams and climbing up the rocky path to the Gorge. The car park is free but please note that it is locked at dusk and managed by Natural England. It is sometimes described as a 'mini Cheddar' and is a lovely place to visit, located near Wookey Hole.

Milton Lodge Gardens

Milton Lodge is a house and garden overlooking the city of Wells. The terraced garden, which was laid out in the early 20th century, is listed as Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England.

Wookey Hole Caves

Wookey Hole Caves are a series of limestone caverns, a show cave and 20 'all weather' tourist attractions in the village of Wookey Hole. They are about 10 minutes drive from here. It is a very popular place to visit and tickets can be purchased with Tesco Clubcard vouchers. Otherwise checkout the tourist office for promotions and vouchers.

Stourhead (National Trust)

Stourhead is a Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden, a 45 minute drive away. When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.

There is a Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings to view. The Palladian house is set amid ‘picnic perfect’ lawns and extensive parkland. Set in 1,072 hectares, the estate has chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland managed for wildlife.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS NEARBY AND PLACES TO VISIT

The Newt

The gardens and landscaping at The Newt are an incredible spectacle and well worth a visit. It is a working country estate with acres of farmland, woodland, orchards and gardens. Please check their website for entry details (membership maybe required) and seasonal events. (30 min drive).

Longleat

45 mins drive from here, Longleat is an English stately home and the seat of the Marquesses of Bath. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park.

The house is set in 1,000 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, with 4,000 acres of let farmland and 4,000 acres of woodland, which includes a Center Parcs holiday village. It was the first stately home to open to the public, and the Longleat estate includes the first safari park outside Africa.

There is a full day of fun for the whole family with plenty of entertainment for children. There are often special events on throughout the year so check their website for what might be on during your stay. Tesco Clubcard tickets available.

Steam Railways

The East Somerset railway and heritage steam train is situated in the village of Cranmore. You can take a train journey (approximately 40 minutes over a 5 mile round trip), enjoying the small Museum, Signal Box and Miniature Railway. This is one of very few steam railways where you can visit the Engine Shed and Workshop. They also offer a Sunday lunch service, served on the train.

The West Somerset Railway is a true country branch line of the old Great Western Railway and is full of fascination whether you are looking for a nostalgic ride back in time through lovely countryside or to study the railway and industrial heritage which the line preserves.

The historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons, and the buildings of the ten unique stations linked by a twenty mile scenic journey will repay hours of exploration. The surrounding Somerset countryside and coast is as varied as it is beautiful.

HMP Shepton Mallet

HMP Shepton Mallet, sometimes known as Cornhill, is a former prison located in Shepton Mallet. When it closed in 2013, it was the United Kingdom's oldest operating prison, and had been since the closure of HMP Lancaster Castle in 2011. Before closure Shepton Mallet was a category C lifer prison holding 189 prisoners. The prison building is grade II* listed, while the former gatehouse and perimeter walls are grade II.

It is possible to book onto guided tours around the prison by guards who used to work there, and it is also possible to do self-guided tours. The prison also hosts themed events, check on their website for up to date listings. HMP Shepton Mallet is in the centre of the Shepton, a 10 minute drive away with plenty of parking nearby. They also have escape rooms and occasional ghost tours.

Glastonbury

A bohemian spirited town with some interesting shops and cafes. The Abbey (ruins) has an incredible history and used to be the second richest abbey in the country after Westminster. The Tor is really worth a walk up. It has fantastic views of Somerset and beyond and a mystical quality.

Shepton Mallet

Shepton Mallet is a small market town with a rich history and lots of independent cafes and shops. Vintage furniture and clothes dominate the lower part of the High Street and there is regular Friday market. Some of the best cafes include The Hive, Cheeky Bean, Home and The Art Bank. Peppers is also very good and has a well stocked delicatessen. The Art Bank and Bar 501 (cocktail and gin bar) are both good places to go for an evening drink.

Bath

40 minutes by car or an hour and a quarter by bus (the 174 bus from The Liberty). If you drive you are advised to use the Park and Ride at Odd Down. The local bus to Bath is every hour and takes you right into the centre. Check the internet for an up to date timetable. The main attractions include the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa, The Royal Cresent, The Georgian Streets and the Theatre Royal. It's also a lovely place to shop, eat and drink.

The Coast

It is possible to drive to the coast within an hour.

Lyme Regis and The Jurassic Coast (One hour drive)

Brean (50 minutes drive)

Weston-Super-Mare (45 minutes drive)

Weymouth (One hour and twenty minutes drive)

Bath and West Showground

Home of the massive Royal Bath and West Show which takes place at the beginning of the summer, the show ground also hosts a wide range of other events throughout the year. A couple of regular events are listed below:

- Giant Flea Market

One of the most popular events held at The Showground, the Giant Flea Market offers a bounty of retro collectables, vintage articles and unique finds. This event happens every two months – check the website for upcoming dates.
- Antiques and Collectors Fair

Unique finds, retro collectables and a vast variety of vintage items make this the West Country's premier antiques event. This event happens regularly throughout the year – check the website for upcoming dates. 

 

CAFES

There are numerous cafes to choose from in Wells, below is a selection of suggested pit stops around the city!

Bishop's Eye (12 Market Place)
A family-run, independent wine bar, restaurant and wine shop, serving all day charcuterie, cocktails and more. Bishop’s Eye are available for regular service, and private hire. Well situated in the marketplace.

Twentyone (21 Market Place)

Tasty, fresh-cooked food, from small plates to great tasting burgers, sourdough pizzas and healthy salads. Well situated in the marketplace.

Coffee#1 (53 High St)

The closest coffee shop to Bishops Mews can be found just at the end of Mill Street where it meets the High Street. Coffee#1 is locally loved - serving great coffee in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Loaf.Bakehouse (38 Market Street)

Freshly baked bread, kids play area including slide and play kitchen, also do special events and evening meals – check their Facebook page for details.

The Good Earth (Priory Road)

The Good Earth is a Wells institution, feeding hungry locals and visitors for over 40 years. A counter service restaurant/cafe as well as a Wholefood store and 'The Potager' Homeware & Gift Shop.

The Bishops Table (The Bishops Palace)

Located in the heart of the visitor area lies the award-winning Bishop’s Table café, a place to eat in Wells, Somerset with a view like no other. With free access to everyone, all you need to do is cross the drawbridge and you’ll see the award-winning building nestled under the trees overlooking the croquet lawn and Palace buildings. You get a 25p discount on hot drinks if you bring a reusable cup to the café. The Bishop’s Table was named after Bishop’s Ken’s tradition of inviting twelve poor men and women of Wells to share a meal at his table when in residence at the Palace. Bishop Ken was Bishop from 1685-1691.

The Cathedral Cafe (Wells Cathedral)

The Cathedral café is a relaxing, self-service eatery boasting views to the magnificent West Front of Wells Cathedral and over the tranquil moat of the Bishop’s Palace. The food is freshly prepared and baked each day – including homemade bread.– using local Somerset and Fairtrade produce wherever possible. All profits from the café go to supporting the work of the Cathedral.

SHOPPING

Markets

The Wells Market Place has been a focal point of the City over the ages and still is today with a twice weekly market. This takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm and is always busy with a wide range of wonderful food stalls and artisan crafts.

FOOD and DRINK

Burns the Bread (12 Queen Street)

Burns the Bread is an award winning family-run bakery established in 1983. They have seven shops around Somerset and also run a School of Baking. This is the place to go for speciality loaves including Multi-Seed, French Grain, Honey and Spelt Bread, made with carefully selected flour from family-run mills.

Cook (13 Broad Street)

There are 84 COOK shops located across England and in Scotland and Wales. In them you’ll find a full range of frozen ready meals, entertaining food, puddings and cakes, prepared by hand at their Kitchen in Kent, using the same ingredients and techniques you would use at home.

Roly's Fudge Pantry

Roly’s Fudge started in 1987 when the founders started to make homemade fudge in their farmhouse cottage kitchen. They decided to return to the artisan method of making fudge – no oils or additives were needed, just finest quality ingredients made with only traditional methods.

Queen Street Delicatessen (14 Queen Street)

A treasure trove of fine food and local produce

F Griffith and Sons Butchers (57 High Street)

Quality Family Butchers in Somerset since 1953, all their animals have been reared in the West Country by carefully chosen suppliers. Only the very best cuts are selected to provide customers with fantastic quality lean, tasty meat all year round.

The Grape and Good (Marketplace)

An off-licence with a difference! By working closely with their suppliers and directly with wine growers, The Grape and Good endeavour to offer much more than the often predictable off-licence and supermarket shelves, carrying a broad range of wines at various price points.

Offering something to everyone, from the interested wine novice up to the seasoned tippler allowing customers to browse and explore without intimidation or stuffiness for any budget, any style, any occasion, any food match. In addition to the wine range you will find a carefully selected offering of craft beer and spirits.

Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe (73 High Street)

Nostalgic chain retailer dedicated to retro and modern sweets, chocolate and American candy offering a 'Proper Sweets from a Proper Shop' in the heart of Wells.

CRAFTS

Sew Vintage (38 Market Street)

Stockists of Liberty Tana Lawn, a selection of 100% cottons, yarn, needles all tools for the hobbies of quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet and much more!

Somerset Guild of Craftsmen (23A Broad Street)

The Somerset Guild is one of the oldest Craft Guilds in the country and has been promoting excellence in craftsmanship and design since its inception: in 2018 the Guild celebrated 85 years of superb quality. All the makers are skilled, dedicated craftsmen and women who have undergone a stringent selection process before becoming accepted as craft members. To be a member of the Somerset Guild is the same mark of quality today as it was in 1933.

The Guild has a County wide membership of over 100 members. The Somerset Guild of Craftsmen (SGC) Shop is open throughout the year showcasing an ever increasing range of members’ work.

PUBS

Wells has many pubs to chose from suiting all tastes, including:

The Rose and Crown

The Quarter Jack (Wetherspoons)

The Globe Inn

The Full Moon

Sheep and Penguin (Gastro)

Just Ales Micropub

Fountain Inn and Restaurant (Gastro)

Britannia Inn

The Crown at Wells

City Arms and Restaurants

Fosso Lounge (Just round the corner, also well set up for kids.)

The Kings Head (Just across the road)

RESTAURANTS

A selection of best restaurants in the area are:

Goodfellows@7B - Wells (great for fish)

Root - Wells

Hauser and Wirth, Roth Bar and Grill - Bruton (great for steak)

The Chapel – Bruton

Blostins - Shepton Mallet (Classic French cuisine)

The Talbot – Mells

The Pressoir - Wells (French wine bar and restaurant with regular events)

Rugantino Restaurant - Wells (Formal Italian backing on to the Cathedral Green)

The Fountain Inn Gastro Pub - Wells (Good, long standing gastro pub)

Da Luciano Pizzeria - Wells (Authentic Italian, family run)

Thai Dragon Wells  - Wells (Classic Thai)

TAXI COMPANIES

If you think you are going to need a taxi during your stay we would advise booking in advance. Local taxi firms get booked up quickly and we don't want yo to get stranded!

Cathedral Taxis - 01749 672244

AVACAB – 01749 670888

Wookey Taxis Ltd - 01749 678039

Swift Taxis - 01749 340820

A Taxis - 01749 670200

SUPERMARKETS

There are lots of supermarkets nearby. Wells has a large Morrisons (easily accessible by foot), Waitrose, Lidl and Tescos. 

WALKS

We are situated at the foot of the Mendips and it’s easy to join the East Mendip Way. Alternatively you can go West on the West Mendip Way! If you want a local stroll you can head to Tor Woods from the Bishops Palace. http://www.wellssomerset.com/docs/01_tor_hill_map_file_with_text_1026.pdf

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

The Mendip Hills offer a wide range of outdoor pursuits including caving, climbing, abseiling and even a dry ski slope. There is also diving and open swimming at the Vobster Quay. Please Google for details. Bike stands are available Bishops Mews.

SWIMMING

Wells Sport and Fitness Leisure Centre

Wells Sport and Fitness Leisure Centre has a new gym with industry leading equipment, new studios, new indoor cycling studio plus swimming pool with additional small pool area and new sauna & steam room.

Shepton Mallet Lido

April to September there is a lido is open in Shepton Mallet - perfect for a lovely swim in the fresh air during the summer season. It’s a got good areas for young and old and it is heated by the excess heat from the cider factory next door! Drinks and snacks available plus a lovely splash area for the children.

Greenbank Heated Outdoor Pool

Greenbank Heated Outdoor Lido is a twenty minute drive away in Street and is open from May through until early September. Greenbank Pool was commissioned to provide swimming facilities to the residents of Street, particularly to women and children, as men were inclined to swim naked in the River Brue. Since opening on the 30th of April 1937, over four and a half million people have come and enjoyed Greenbank Pool and the pool welcomes many new customers each year.

SOFT PLAYS

If you have young children and it’s pouring with rain there is always the soft play! You can walk to The Square in Wells within 5 minutes, alternatively there are other good ones at Cheddar and Farrington Gurney.

CINEMA

Wells Film Centre is just a 5 minute walk from Bishops Mews. It's a three screen independent cinema with a licenced bar.

PARK RUNS

There are two Park runs close to Wells, a free weekly 5km timed run at 9am on Saturdays:

Shepton Mallet Park Run: Park Rd, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BP

Street Park Run: Strode College Sports Centre, 8 Street Drove, Street, Somerset, BA16 0AB

PARKS

Wells Recreation Park

Just around the corner from the property is 'Wells Rec.' It features an excellent play area with a large fort. It also has long flat paths perfect for kids to practice on their scooters and bikes.

THE APARTMENT

Recycling

Please put all recycling in the recycling bin provided, it will be sorted after your stay. There is additional recycling capacity in the utility room at the bottom of the stairs. Soft plastics are not routinely recycled by the council but these can be deposited at supermarkets if you wish.

Food waste

There is limited space in the caddy provided which site in the cupboard on top of the microwave.

Heating

The heating is automatically controlled by a thermostat in the living room. If necessary you can boost the heating using the thermostat but the house is generally kept nice and warm.

Washing machine and drying facilities

There is a washing machine in the kitchen and it also has a drying function. There is a drying rack available in the main bedroom.

PARKING AND PROPERTY LOCATION

Please only park in our designated parking space labelled Apartment 1.

Directions: Immediately after the YMCA (on your left) on South Street turn left into a parking area. You will see an area designated as private parking for The Guard House. Please park in the space labelled Apartment 1. The front door of the property is located on Guard House Lane which is the next turning on the left after the car park entrance. It is called The Guard House.

Additional parking is available as detailed below:

24hr street parking is on Silver Street (a small lane) which is a very short walk away (everywhere in Wells is a short walk!). Nighttime street parking is available on the other nearby streets.

A cheap and convenient option for paid parking is a private car park at the back of the new Peacocks shop, (further along South Street on the left, it is called High Street Wells parking on google maps), It is £5 for 24hrs and you can renew by phone app. There is a council one on the right but it is short term. JustPark (Location ID 194585)

Another cheap option would be Tucker Street car park which is a council car park which is long term and according to the website is £3.10 a day. Princes Road is closer but more expensive.

Alternatively, if you explore more of the back streets you will find free street parking not very far away eg behind Tucker Street.

If you have any questions for us during your stay you can contact us on one of the following numbers:

GEORGE: 07786 938384

HANNAH: 07740 082672