England's Smallest City - Slow Travel Tours

Anne & Kirk Woodyard – Music and Markets Tours

One of our favorite day trips from Bath during our November Mozartfest tour is delightful little Wells, “England’s smallest city”.

Wells is named from three wells dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, one in the market place

and two within the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace and cathedral.

Although the population recorded in the 2011 census was only 10,536, Wells has had city status since medieval times, because of the presence of Wells Cathedral, hence its label of England’s smallest city.

We always plan our visit for a Sunday, in order to enjoy the afternoon Evensong at 3:00.

The Crown, right in the market square beside the cathedral,

is just the place for a traditional Sunday Roast. William Penn stayed in Wells shortly before leaving for America in 1682, spending a night at this very inn. He was briefly arrested for addressing a large crowd in the market place, but released on the intervention of the Bishop of Bath and Wells – I hope he got to appreciate a Sunday Roast before he left! We certainly enjoyed ours – Yorkshire Pudding and all.

Walking through the vaulted passageway into the Cathedral Close,

we pass the moat, swans peacefully paddling in the calm water,

then enter the awesome Cathedral.

On this Sunday, rather than the usual boys choir, sweet young voices of girls sing the psalms and hymns as we sit with them in the beautifully carved choir,

intricate tapestries and needlework adorning the seats.

Built in Early English Gothic style between the 11 and 1400s, the Cathedral is filled with awe-inspiring craftsmanship, such as the massive and unique scissor arches stabilizing the center after an earthquake left it weakened.

Although this video is too dark – by the time Evensong is over at 4 the short winter day is dimming – I think you’ll enjoy the organ resounding in this splendid space.

The Chapter House, up a well-worn stairway, is another don’t-miss part of this ancient beauty.

Built in 1306, this meeting place for church affairs would have been an inspiring place to conduct business, with its delicate tracery and vaults rippling across the ceiling, supported by a central pillar that’s been likened to a giant palm tree, spreading its foliage above.

Like many of the places we visit on this Bath Mozartfest Tour, Wells transports us back hundreds of years with its ancient beauty and the peaceful generation-spanning quiet of Evensong.

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The best way to describe us (Kirk and Anne Woodyard) is that we’re interested in the stories that make the places we visit come alive.
We’ve visited Europe more times than we can count, learned some entertaining stories there, and met some warm and helpful people who also enjoy the wonders of music and life in Europe. We look forward to sharing these stories and friends and experiences with our Music and Markets guests.
Between our music-related travels, we split our time between our homes near Washington DC and the south of France.

While both of us have experience in organizing travel and music groups Kirk’s background is in project management and competitive writing, and Anne is an accomplished pianist with over thirty years of teaching experience, and a travel and food writer specializing in France and Italy.

Slow Travel Tours

Small Group Tours in Europe

England’s Smallest City

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