Wells is a small city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset. It is England's smallest city with a population of around 10,000. It is the second smallest city in he UK after a city in Wales, St. Davids. It is the third smallest city in the world due to the smallest city in the world being in America. Wells, was officially classed as a city because it has a cathedral. The cathedral is one of the biggest in the southwest and costs £2,500 a day to maintain. The name Wells is due to the three famous wells situated in the centre, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the bishops place and cathedral. The bishops palace is also famous and houses the well known swans which ring a bell every time they want feeding. Wells also has the oldest existing street in the world called Vicarage Close, which still has the original cobble stoned surface.
Wells is a popular tourist destination, due to having several historical sites and also its proximity to Bath, Stonehenge and other popular sites. Parts of Wells Cathedral date back to the 10th century. The city derives its name from three wells in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace.
Also located nearby is the Wookey Hole cave system. |
