Wells named one of the safest places to live in UK
By Laura Linham 10th Feb 2026
Wells has been named among the safest towns and cities to live in across the UK, with a major global property firm highlighting the Somerset city's quality of life and low population as key factors.
In a list published by Sotheby's International Realty, Wells was praised for its "immaculate and romantic preservation of its historic core," with the city's medieval streets and iconic cathedral cited as part of its enduring appeal.
The organisation said the safest places to live tend to be "in some of the most stunning locations," and that Wells combines peace of mind with character few other places can match.
Wells' status as England's smallest city, with a population of around 11,000, was singled out as helping to create a close‑knit, low‑crime community. Residential areas such as Tor Street and Southover were described as particularly sought‑after for their period homes within walking distance of the city centre.
Education also featured in the firm's assessment, with Wells Cathedral School singled out for offering "standout education" for pupils of all ages.
Sotheby's International Realty said that between the city's architecture, regular farmers' markets in the cathedral square and a slower pace of life, Wells is "impossibly idyllic, safe, and infinitely desirable."
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