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This guide forms part of our complete United Kingdom Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the UK.

This article is part of our English Counties Travel Guide. We’ve explored some of England’s most popular counties and regions, from Cornwall and coastal Dorset to Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Merseyside and Greater London. Along the way, we’ve discovered historic cities, royal landmarks, spectacular coastlines and unforgettable road trips. Explore our firsthand county travel guides to help plan a better, more informed English vacation.

From the Mystical Glastonbury Tor to the Magnificent Wells Cathedral, Our Journey Through Two of Somerset’s Most Remarkable Destinations

There are so many historic places to discover across Wiltshire and Somerset, and whenever we’re back in this part of England, we’re reminded just how much there is to explore. On this particular day, we decided to combine Glastonbury and Wells Cathedral, two very different destinations that together make a fascinating Somerset day trip.

Located roughly 23 miles south of Bristol, Glastonbury was our first stop. The drive wasn’t particularly long, and before long we were exploring one of England’s most distinctive and intriguing towns.

Discovering Glastonbury

There’s something quite different about Glastonbury.

Set among the open countryside of the Somerset Levels, the town has become famous for its connections with Arthurian legend, early Christianity, pilgrimage and centuries of myth and folklore. Whatever you believe about the stories surrounding Glastonbury, there’s no denying that the town has developed a character unlike almost anywhere else we’ve visited in England.

Of course, we couldn’t come to Glastonbury without seeing Glastonbury Tor.

Rising dramatically above the surrounding countryside, the Tor is the landmark that immediately defines the landscape. At its summit stands St Michael’s Tower, the surviving remains of a medieval church. The Tor has accumulated countless legends over the centuries, including associations with King Arthur and the mythical Isle of Avalon.

It’s one of those places where history, archaeology, landscape and legend seem to become intertwined.

More Than Just the Tor

Glastonbury deserves more than simply photographing the Tor and moving on.

We spent some time exploring the town itself, where the atmosphere is equally distinctive. Its colourful high street is filled with independent shops, cafés and businesses reflecting the town’s spiritual and alternative character.

Another major attraction is Glastonbury Abbey, whose extensive ruins tell an important part of the town’s story. Once one of England’s wealthiest and most powerful monasteries, the Abbey became closely associated with the legends of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.

After exploring, we stopped for a little lunch before continuing to the second destination of our Somerset day trip. And what a destination it turned out to be.

From Glastonbury to Wells

The drive from Glastonbury to Wells is only around six miles, making these two places incredibly easy to combine.

Wells may be England’s smallest cathedral city, but what awaits in its historic centre is anything but small.

Wells Cathedral is spectacular.

We have visited many historic churches, abbeys and cathedrals during our travels around England, but this is one that immediately impressed us.

The cathedral rises magnificently from the centre of Wells, surrounded by lawns, historic buildings and streets that seem perfectly suited to its medieval setting.

Stepping Inside Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral has served this community for more than 800 years, and stepping inside gives an immediate sense of its scale and craftsmanship.

The cathedral is celebrated as one of England’s great examples of Gothic architecture, but what struck us was how elegant it feels.

Among its most recognizable features are the unusual scissor arches, added during the 14th century to help support the central tower. Instead of looking like an engineering compromise, they’ve become one of the cathedral’s defining architectural features.

Then there’s the extraordinary West Front, covered with medieval sculpture.

It’s the sort of building where we constantly find ourselves looking upwards—and then noticing another detail we’d completely missed.

The Medieval Clock

Another feature worth finding inside Wells Cathedral is its remarkable astronomical clock. Dating from around the late 14th century, it is considered one of the world’s oldest surviving medieval clock mechanisms.

On the hour, mechanical figures spring into action, including knights circling above the clock face. It’s a wonderful reminder that medieval cathedrals weren’t simply places of worship. They were also centres of extraordinary craftsmanship, engineering, learning and community life.

Don’t Miss the Area Around the Cathedral

We’d also recommend allowing time to explore beyond the cathedral doors.

Nearby is the beautiful Bishop’s Palace, surrounded by its famous moat and gardens, while Vicars’ Close provides another glimpse into medieval Wells. Walking around this part of the city feels like stepping into another period of English history.

Unlike some larger cathedral cities, Wells remains compact and easy to explore on foot. That makes it particularly enjoyable when you’re combining it with Glastonbury on the same day.

Why We’d Recommend Visiting Both

If you’re exploring Somerset, we’d highly recommend combining Glastonbury and Wells rather than choosing between them.

Start in Glastonbury, explore the town and Abbey and make time for the Tor. Stop for lunch before making the short drive to Wells, where you can spend the afternoon exploring the cathedral and historic centre.

That’s essentially what we did, and it turned an ordinary sightseeing day into something far more memorable.

Glastonbury gave us legends, landscapes and one of England’s most unusual towns.

Then Wells gave us one of the most magnificent cathedrals we’ve encountered.

Two very different sides of Somerset and one day trip we’d happily do all over again.

Glastonbury: Visitor Information

Medieval & Royal Connections

Glastonbury Abbey enjoyed royal patronage throughout the Middle Ages, particularly from Norman and Plantagenet kings. After a devastating fire in 1184, royal support helped fund its rebuilding, reinforcing its national importance until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII brought its power to an abrupt end.

Must-See Locations

Glastonbury Tor: A steep but rewarding climb crowned by St Michael’s Tower
Glastonbury Abbey: Atmospheric ruins steeped in legend
Glastonbury High Street: Independent shops, cafés, and spiritual retailers

Admission (Guide Prices)

Glastonbury Abbey: approx. £10–£12 adults
Glastonbury Tor: Free

Best Time to Visit

Spring & early autumn offer mild weather and fewer crowds
Summer is vibrant but busier, especially around festival season

Best Photo & Instagram Spots

Sunrise or sunset on Glastonbury Tor
Abbey ruins framed by ancient stonework
Panoramic shots across Somerset hills

Why Tourists Return

Glastonbury draws people back because it’s experiential rather than observational. Every visit feels different, shaped by weather, light, mood, and personal curiosity. Few places in England invite such emotional and imaginative engagement.

Wells Cathedral: Visitor Information

Location

Wells Cathedral stands at the heart of the city of Wells, Somerset, England’s smallest city. The cathedral anchors a beautifully preserved medieval centre, just minutes from Glastonbury and Cheddar Gorge.

History

Construction began in 1175, and the cathedral was largely completed by the mid-13th century. Unlike many English cathedrals, Wells followed a single coherent architectural vision, resulting in its famously harmonious appearance.

Royal & Medieval Connections

Wells Cathedral served as a powerful religious centre under medieval bishops who held both spiritual and political authority. While not a coronation site, it was frequently visited by monarchs and senior clergy, reinforcing its national standing.