Wells Cathedral named Britain’s most beautiful building

By Laura Linham 20th Oct 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 3 minutes ago

Wells Cathedral has been named the most beautiful building in the UK by Time Out, which singled out its medieval scissor arches and stained glass.

The cathedral placed fifth overall in the publication's guide to Britain's most beautiful places, making it the highest-ranked individual building. The list was compiled by Time Out's writers and editors.

In an article published on Friday, 9 October, writer Amy Houghton highlighted the scissor arches as the feature that sets Wells apart. She compared their appearance with art deco design, despite their medieval origins.

Time Out also drew attention to the cathedral's astronomical clock, painted ceiling and surviving 14th-century stained glass. Its coverage encouraged visitors to explore the wider city alongside the cathedral.

The arches that helped secure the recognition were built out of necessity. Constructed between 1338 and 1348, they were designed to stabilise the central tower after cracks appeared in its structure.

According to the cathedral's own history, unstable foundations had caused problems after a high tower topped by a lead-covered wooden spire was constructed by 1313. Master mason William Joy's scissor arches provided a solution after earlier attempts to strengthen the building.

Their appearance still leads some visitors to mistake them for a much later addition. In reality, the design has supported the cathedral for nearly seven centuries.

The cathedral has welcomed the recognition and invited people to share photographs from their latest visits. Its response highlighted the different ways visitors can explore the building and see its architecture.