This article is about the city of Wells in England. For other meanings, see Wells (disambiguation)

Wells is a small city in the Mendip district of Somerset. It is England's smallest city with a population of only 10,000. (Technically, though, the City of London has a resident population of only 7,000, and so may beat it). It has been the only city in Somerset since the change of the county border in 1975.

This fact is still argued today depending on the school of thought as to whether the nearby City of Bath is considered part of Somerset due to its "ceremonial" attachment to the county despite being completely separate administratively.

Wells is a popular tourist destination, due in large part to having several historical sites and its proximity to Bath, Stonehenge and other popular sites. Parts of Wells Cathedral (widely considered one of the most beautiful in England) date back to the 10th century, and one of its streets, Vicars' Close, is reputed to be the oldest continually-inhabited street in Europe. The city derives its name from three wells in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace.

William Penn is said to have passed through Wells shortly before leaving for America, spending a night at The Crown Inn.

External links

• Wells City Council