Wells’ biggest
Cathedral Green
Park or garden
0.7 ha (2 acres)
Centralin the middle of Wells
The Chain Gate with Approach Staircase Grade I +3 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0B−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Wells · parks, paths & countryside
26% of the land within 5 km of Wells is National Park or National Landscape
The Mendip Hills National Landscape reaches the edge of Wells. Footpaths add up to 66 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 3.4 for every square kilometre. A park or playing field is within a 5-minute walk for 65% of residents. Wells grades B− for the outdoors: #30 of 49 in Somerset. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.7 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
65%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
66 km
3.4 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
26%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Mendip Hills National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Wells?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Protected countryside26% of the land within 5 km is Mendip Hills National Landscape.Hills with a view5 mapped viewpoints, about 5× as many per resident as the typical town its size.Historic parks3 registered historic parks and gardens, including Mendip Hospital Cemetery.Less park per person1.7 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Wells’ strongest suit is protected countryside on the doorstep, followed by its views. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Wells grades B− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Wells, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B−
Better than 48% of UK towns#30 of 49 in Somerset · 41st of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.7 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
33out of
100
100
A park within a walk65%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
25out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape26%of the land within 5 km
82out of
100
100
Footpaths3.4 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
69out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Wells is 41st of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 11,500 to 12,700 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Wells3.4
Towns its size3.0
Somerset towns3.0
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Wells1.7
Towns its size2.1
Somerset towns2.0
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Wells65%
Towns its size85%
Somerset towns83%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Wells stands out most for path per km²: only 24 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on homes near a park, where 53 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitby North Yorkshire | A+ | 4 | 100% | 2.9 | 53% |
| 2 | Tring Hertfordshire | A+ | 5.7 | 95% | 4.8 | 57% |
| 3 | Snodland Kent | A+ | 7.7 | 97% | 4.4 | 44% |
| 4 | Chepstow Gwent | A+ | 1.9 | 100% | 3.3 | 30% |
| 5 | Minehead Somerset | A+ | 1.4 | 95% | 4.3 | 47% |
| 6 | Brockworth Gloucestershire | A+ | 2.5 | 95% | 5.1 | 46% |
| 7 | Waltham Cross Hertfordshire | A | 10.6 | 100% | 5.6 | 0% |
| 8 | Holyhead Gwynedd | A | 3.4 | 78% | 2.3 | 31% |
| 9 | Southwick West Sussex | A | 1.1 | 100% | 2.6 | 34% |
| 10 | Houghton-le-Spring Tyne and Wear | A | 4.8 | 100% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 11 | Sandown Isle of Wight | A | 1.4 | 74% | 4.5 | 28% |
| 12 | Killingworth Tyne and Wear | A | 4.7 | 97% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 13 | Little Lever Greater Manchester | A | 4.5 | 97% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 14 | Dawlish Devon | A | 2.1 | 93% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 15 | Bradwell Norfolk | A− | 2 | 80% | 2.7 | 31% |
| 16 | Matlock Derbyshire | A− | 2.9 | 76% | 4.7 | 20% |
| 17 | Blackwood Gwent | A− | 3.6 | 97% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 18 | Bridport Dorset | A− | 0.9 | 75% | 3.7 | 71% |
| 19 | Flackwell Heath and Wooburn Green Buckinghamshire | A− | 1.7 | 90% | 3.9 | 30% |
| 20 | Guiseley West Yorkshire | A− | 2.5 | 75% | 5.7 | 6% |
| 21 | Lees Greater Manchester | A− | 2.5 | 80% | 4.4 | 4% |
| 22 | Barton-upon-Humber Lincolnshire | A− | 5.9 | 97% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 23 | Tavistock Devon | A− | 5.9 | 83% | 1.6 | 72% |
| 24 | Cleckheaton West Yorkshire | B+ | 3.3 | 98% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 25 | New Milton Hampshire | B+ | 2.3 | 75% | 1.9 | 38% |
| 26 | Ivybridge Devon | B+ | 1.8 | 86% | 3.4 | 38% |
| 27 | Blandford Forum Dorset | B+ | 2.1 | 90% | 2.2 | 72% |
| 28 | Chorleywood Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.7 | 37% | 5.7 | 22% |
| 29 | Haslemere Surrey | B+ | 1 | 78% | 5.1 | 80% |
| 30 | Bentley South Yorkshire | B+ | 3.4 | 100% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 31 | Worsley Greater Manchester | B+ | 4.7 | 86% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 32 | Cudworth and Shafton South Yorkshire | B | 3.1 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 33 | Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire | B | 2.4 | 70% | 2.9 | 53% |
| 34 | Buckhurst Hill Essex | B | 4.5 | 64% | 6.3 | 0% |
| 35 | Littleborough Greater Manchester | B | 5 | 85% | 3 | 0% |
| 36 | Stotfold Bedfordshire | B | 2.1 | 96% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 37 | Shirebrook Derbyshire | B | 1.8 | 100% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 38 | Ystrad Mynach Gwent | B− | 5.4 | 85% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 39 | Honiton Devon | B− | 1.3 | 90% | 2 | 73% |
| 40 | Chigwell Essex | B− | 2.9 | 64% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 41 | Wells Somerset | B− | 1.7 | 65% | 3.4 | 26% |
| 42 | Lymm Cheshire | B− | 3.6 | 89% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 43 | Ince-in-Makerfield Greater Manchester | B− | 2 | 74% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 44 | Rochford Essex | B− | 2 | 71% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 45 | Kingsteignton Devon | B− | 1.9 | 95% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 46 | Huntington North Yorkshire | C+ | 2 | 72% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 47 | Stanwell Surrey | C+ | 1.4 | 93% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 48 | Hersham Surrey | C | 2.5 | 73% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 49 | Featherstone West Yorkshire | C | 2 | 77% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 50 | Bridgnorth Shropshire | C− | 2.4 | 66% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 51 | Haverfordwest Dyfed | C− | 1 | 85% | 1.4 | 8% |
| 52 | Oakham Rutland | C− | 1.8 | 86% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 53 | Market Drayton Shropshire | C− | 1.5 | 88% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 54 | Codsall Staffordshire | C− | 1.4 | 84% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 55 | Sarn Mid Glamorgan | D | 1.8 | 75% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 56 | Amesbury Wiltshire | D | 1.8 | 73% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 57 | Desborough Northamptonshire | D | 0.6 | 69% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 58 | Wetherby West Yorkshire | D | 0.5 | 14% | 3 | 0% |
| 59 | Thorne South Yorkshire | D− | 1.6 | 65% | 0.6 | 0% |
| 60 | Watton Norfolk | D− | 0.5 | 28% | 1.4 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Wells’ built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Wells
The biggest is Cathedral Green, 0.7 ha (2 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
Close to home
6 in 10 Wells residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (65%)Further (35%)
Wells65%
Towns its size85%
Somerset towns83%
All UK towns83%
About 4,200 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 9 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 1,344 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
National Parks and National Landscapes around Wells
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape
Mendip Hills
At the edge north198 km²since 198927% of the land within 5 km
Official site26% of the land within 5 km of Wells is National Park or National Landscape, more than 81% of UK towns.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
3 waymarked walks pass through or near Wells
66 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Wells and the kilometre around it, 3.4 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
Regional
Monarch's Way9.0 km
West Mendip Way6.1 km
East Mendip Way4.5 km
3 regional routes pass through, including the Monarch's Way, West Mendip Way and East Mendip Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
3 historic parks, and what stands in them
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Wells’ named parks.
Park with listed buildings
Cathedral Green
0.7 ha. 4 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge, including The Chain Gate with Approach Staircase (Grade I).
IThe Chain Gate with Approach StaircaseIITriple Lamp Standard Adjacent to Boundary Wall Opposite Wells MuseumIITriple Lamp Standard Approximately 25 Metres to West of South West TowerIIWalls Linking the West Cloister Porch of the Cathedral
Registered · Grade II*Bishops Palace2.5 ha
Registered · Grade IIMendip Hospital Cemetery0.4 ha
Registered · Grade IIMilton Lodge and The Combe0.6 ha
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Wells: May to July and September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.6 | 16.1 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 85 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 76 | 87 | 103 | 83 | 113 | 118 | 112 |
May is the driest month (72 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 20 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 118 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 35 nights a year. The climate in Wells →
Things to do
5 viewpoints, 9 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
5Viewpoints5× towns its size7Hills and peaks3Picnic sites3.1× towns its size9Playgrounds0.4× towns its size3Campsites
The nearest beaches
Wells is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Berrow Sands14 mi from Wells’ edge
DirectionsClevedon Beach17 mi from Wells’ edge
DirectionsLadye Bay18 mi from Wells’ edge
DirectionsSugar Loaf Beach19 mi from Wells’ edge
DirectionsThe Bendricks27 mi from Wells’ edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. Henley Hill, at 60 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Wells.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 5
Plus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 7
Henley Hill60 m (197 ft) · 0.2 mi from town
DirectionsHay Hill85 m (279 ft) · 0.6 mi from town
DirectionsBen Knowle Hill99 m (325 ft) · 1.0 mi from town
DirectionsHorrington Hill253 m (830 ft) · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsHarter's Hill32 m (105 ft) · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsLauncherley Hill120 m (394 ft) · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 3
Plus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 9
Parsons Way Play Areain town
DirectionsWookey Hole Indoor Playground0.6 mi from town
DirectionsDinosaur Valley0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 6 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 3
Lower Milton Caravan And Camping Site0.5 mi from town
DirectionsThe Lorax Patch0.5 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
PiltonShepton MalletGlastonburyDraycottWedmoreStreetWells
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | B− | 1.7 | 65% | 26% |
| Pilton 4.1 mi | D− | 1.2 | 28% | 0% |
| Shepton Mallet 4.6 mi | C | 1.2 | 70% | 1% |
| Glastonbury 5.0 mi | C− | 2.0 | 69% | 0% |
| Draycott 5.5 mi | C+ | 2.1 | 68% | 46% |
| Wedmore 7.2 mi | B | 4.7 | 60% | 1% |
| Street 7.2 mi | C+ | 0.7 | 96% | 0% |
Wedmore, 7.2 miles away, grades B, the best next door: 60% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Wedmore has at least twice Wells’ green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Wells
What is the biggest park in Wells?
Cathedral Green, 0.7 ha (2 acres). 1 named park, garden or playing field is in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Wells near a National Park?
It covers 198 km² and was designated in 1989.
What are the best walks near Wells?
3 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Monarch's Way, West Mendip Way and East Mendip Way.
What is the nearest beach to Wells?
Berrow Sands, 14 mi from the edge of the town, then Clevedon Beach (17 mi). Wells itself is inland.
How many people in Wells live near a park?
65% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Wells?
May to July and September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Wells are historic?
Mendip Hospital Cemetery (Grade II), Milton Lodge and The Combe (Grade II) and Bishops Palace (Grade II*) are on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Wells good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.4 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 69% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 33% (1.7 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Wells’ overall grade.
Sources
Where Wells’ outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.