Opening Hours
Tuesday - Saturday  
10am - 4pm
 
 
Contact​
 
Wells & Mendip Museum
8 Cathedral Green
Wells
Somerset BA5 2UE
 
t: 01749 673477
e: admin@wellsmuseum.org.uk​

Admission

 

Adult // £4

Child // £1

Family* // £8

Student // £1

​

Museum Friend Tickets

Individual // £10 (annual) or £100 (lifetime)

Family* // £15 (annual) or £150 (lifetime)
 

To learn more about Friends membership please click here

 

*2 adults + 3 children under 16 years

COVID-19 safety measures
 
We've made a few changes to ensure the safety of visitors and volunteers.
 
Face coverings​
In line with government advice, we ask that you wear a face covering unless exempt. Face masks will be available from volunteers if you do not have one. Nitrile gloves are also available if requested.
 
Volunteers on the front desk will be behind a perspex screen. Those out in the museum will be wearing face coverings.
 
Social distancing ​​​
We ask that you keep a safe distance apart during your visit. Please follow government advice on social distancing.
 
If the museum becomes very busy we may have to ask visitors to wait before entering a room. Please use your judgement. A one-way system will be in operation.
 
Unfortunately, the Samplers Room and Museum Library remain closed at present. We will open them in due course. The same applies to Wells City Archives.​​
 
Hygiene
We ask that you use the hand sanitiser provided upon entering. Please wash or sanitise your hands as often as possible.​
 
The toilets will be open, but please use the hand sanitiser both before and after use. We also request that you use the wipes provided to wipe down the door handles, lock, flush and taps. We are sure you understand the need for extra vigilance and care.
 
We have introduced extra cleaning measures. Volunteers will be checking the toilets at regular intervals.
 
Payments​​
We would prefer you to pay by card if making purchases from the gift shop, but we will still be accepting cash. Volunteers will sanitise the card machine after every use.
 
Admission is free, but if you would like to make a donation there is a donations box in the shop. You can also donate by card at the front desk. All contributions will help us keep the museum open through this difficult time.
 
We will quarantine any items handled in the shop (but not purchased) for 72 hours. This follows government guidelines. We would ask you to be aware of this when browsing the gift shop.​​
​
Please do not visit if you or any of your household have COVID-19 symptoms. 
 
Your Visit

 

Discover a fascinating variety of displays and galleries.

The museum brings to life the natural history and heritage of Wells and the Mendip region.

The museum also has extensive collections which are not on permanent display. These are valuable research resources of local and national interest. Additionally, we host the Wells City Archives, containing material dating back nearly 900 years. Please browse the Research and Wells City Archives pages to discover more.

 

The museum library is open to the public during museum opening hours. You can access the online library databases and discover more on the Library page.

 

We have a busy calendar of events. From art exhibitions to talks and presentations, there is plenty to challenge and entertain. Please visit the What's On page for details of upcoming activities.

​

Wells & Mendip Museum welcomes school visits. If you would like to visit us with a class, please contact the museum on 01749 673477 or at admin@wellsmuseum.org.uk

Find Us
​

The museum is located at the heart of Wells on Wells Cathedral Green, between the Cathedral and Vicars' Close.

 

From the High Street, walk up to the marketplace and through the medieval Penniless Porch archway in its northeastern corner. You will see the museum directly across the Cathedral Green. 

 

We are within easy walking distance (10 minutes) of the main car parks and the bus station.

​

 
Public transport
Bus
There are regular First Bus services between Wells and Bristol, and several other towns. Please visit the First Bus website for the latest timetables by clicking here
​
Train
Wells does not have a train station, and is not easily accessible by train.
 
The nearest train station by distance is Castle Cary, but there are no bus services to Wells.
​
If you are coming by rail we advise you travel to Bristol Temple Meads station and catch the 376 First Bus service to Wells. 
 
The bus journey time is approximately one hour. The museum is less than 10 minutes walk from Wells Bus Station.
Car
Parking
Parking alongside the Cathedral Green is limited to two hours, with some blue badge parking bays. This parking is typically busy during the day, especially during the summer period.
 
Wells has several pay and display car parks. Please visit the Wells Visitor 
Information website for maps and directions by clicking here
​
Dropping off
Car passengers can be dropped directly outside the museum if parking on the Cathedral Green is full. 
 
Coaches are not able to access the Cathedral Green, and passengers will need to disembark at a designated coach drop-off point.  

​

Access
Inside the museum
Wells & Mendip Museum is housed in the former Wells Cathedral chancellors' house. This dates largely from the 17th and 18th centuries. 
 
The building has level access on the ground floor, but the first floor has uneven wooden floors and steps between galleries.
 
The ground floor exhibitions are fully accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Unfortunately, due to the age of the building, the first floor exhibitions are not accessible.
 
We offer a discounted price of £1 for visitors who can only access the ground floor. The museum volunteers are happy to offer any assistance to visitors with limited mobility.
​
Accessible public toilets are available on the ground floor.