Wells racks up string of national nods
By Laura Linham 29th May 2026
Wells is having one of those years where every other PR list seems to have discovered the city.
The cathedral. The market. The cobbles. The countryside. The dog-friendly cafés. The general air of being extremely pretty without trying too hard.
All of it has helped Wells land in a run of national rankings during 2026.
The latest was the Agria Dog Walk Index, which named Wells the third-best city in the UK for dog walking.
Somerset was named the top county.
Agria Pet Insurance said Wells scored well for its green spaces, dog-friendly food and drink venues and nearby countryside.
It highlighted the West Mendip Way and the Mendip Hills, with Wells finishing behind Chichester and Truro.
Bath also made the top five, coming joint fourth alongside Ripon and Salisbury.
That was not the only list to come calling.
Wells was also named among the UK's best places to retire by World Atlas, which picked the city for a list of eight retirement locations across the country.
The reasons were exactly the ones locals would expect.
The cathedral. The Market Place. The cobbled streets. The green spaces. The easy access to countryside.
World Atlas said living in Wells "feels like stepping into history", while still offering modern places to eat and shop.
It also pointed to The Little Theatre, Wells Golf Club and walking spots close to the cathedral.
The guide said 30% of Wells residents are aged 65 or over, and put average house prices in the city at £362,603 over the last year.
Visitors have been saying nice things too.
Earlier this year, Wells was named one of the UK's most welcoming towns and cities in Booking.com's Traveller Review Awards.
Those awards are based on verified traveller reviews, so the result is not just about the postcard view from Cathedral Green.
It reflects hotels, guest houses, holiday lets, hosts, staff and the people visitors meet while they are here.
Booking.com said Wells stood out for hospitality, atmosphere and visitor attractions.
Ryan Pearson, regional manager for UK and Ireland at Booking.com, said reviews praised "friendly and attentive hosts", "exceptionally welcoming staff" and a sense of care that helped visitors feel at home.
The cathedral has also had its turn in the national spotlight.
In February, Wells Cathedral's Jesse Window was named fourth in the Nation's Favourite Stained Glass Window vote.
The public vote was part of the Association of English Cathedrals' Divine Light campaign.
Carlisle Cathedral's East Window came first, followed by York Minster's Great East Window and St Albans Cathedral's Rose Window.
Wells Cathedral's Jesse Window came fourth, ahead of Gloucester Cathedral's Great East Window.
For Wells, that meant one of the city's best-known treasures made the national top five.
There is, of course, a health warning with all these lists.
They are not all measured in the same way.
Some are built on surveys. Some use online data. Some are based on reviews. Some are dressed up as "awards" when they are really a very polished way of getting a company name into the news.
But they still matter.
For Wells, every national mention is another reason for people to look again at the city.
That helps visitor attractions, accommodation providers, cafés, pubs, shops, guides and local businesses that rely on footfall.
It also says something about the city's enduring pull.
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