Wells and the Mendip Hills
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in Somerset. At the 2021 census, its built-up area, which spills into neighbouring St Cuthbert Out, had 12,105 residents. Although Wells is often called England’s smallest city, the City of London is smaller in both area and population.
Wells has held city status since medieval times because of its cathedral. The city takes its name from three holy wells dedicated to Saint Andrew. They lie within the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace and the cathedral. Water rising at Saint Andrew’s Well fills the moat around the palace.
Local government has two tiers here: Wells City Council and Somerset Council. Somerset Council became a unitary authority in 2023, when Mendip district was abolished. The city council meets at the Town Hall in the Market Place, which was built in 1778.
The city lies at the foot of the southern slope of the Mendip Hills, where they meet the Somerset Levels. The hills are largely made of carboniferous limestone, which is still quarried at nearby sites. Meanwhile, the Mendip television transmitter stands on Pen Hill, above the city.
What an installation here tends to involve
The cathedral is a Grade I listed building, and Vicars’ Close is said to be the oldest residential street in Europe. As a result, the historic core holds many buildings where the look of a front wall matters. Before any work starts there, ask Somerset Council whether listed building consent or other planning rules apply.
An older house with solid walls needs more planning for the pipe route than a modern home. The outdoor unit also needs a spot that keeps the building’s look intact. For instance, a rear wall or a side return often hides a unit better than a front elevation.
A newer house with cavity walls and standard eaves is usually simpler. An installer can often run a short, direct pipe route on a house like this. There are fewer access problems along the way, so the job tends to take less time.
Wherever you live in Wells, the outdoor unit still needs firm ground. It also needs space for air to move freely on both sides. Wells is a popular tourist destination, so a fitter may also plan around visitor traffic in the centre.
The cathedral itself is Grade I listed. Near the historic core, check our planning permission guide before deciding where a unit could sit.
Once that position is settled, air conditioning installation costs gives a sense of the typical price range.
Coverage from Bath
Wells lies about 22 miles from Bath by road, around 40 minutes’ drive. Bath itself is covered separately, on fitting air conditioning in Bath. We also cover the towns nearby, including Glastonbury air conditioning installation, installing a system in Street and Shepton Mallet air conditioning installation.
Wells sits at the junction of three numbered routes. The A39 runs north-east to Bath and south-west to Glastonbury and Bridgwater. Similarly, the A371 heads north-west to Cheddar and east to Shepton Mallet.
The city has had no railway link since the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. The nearest station on the national rail network is at Castle Cary. However, the 376 bus reaches Bristol Temple Meads in around an hour.
Getting matched in Wells
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