24 March 2024 , 09:40
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The United Kingdom's 'best inland town' boasts England's earliest Gothic cathedral and is renowned for its incredible scenery.
Last year the consumer watchdog Which? said Wells in Somerset was the best inland town in the UK. Although it is a city, Wells was top of the list because of its attractiveness, scenery, tourist attractions, shopping and food and drink. The consumer champion questioned more than 9,000 Which? members to understand where the best inland towns and villages are in the UK.
Members were questioned and asked to rate their experience of going to inland locations in the last year. Wells' photogenic architecture is a huge reason people visit the city, with the cathedral topping the list of best things to do on TripAdvisor.
The structure is 850 years old and is said to be the earliest cathedral to be constructed in the Gothic style in England. Alongside having one of the oldest medieval clock faces in the world, it also has another unique attraction.
Wells Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew), Wells Abbey and park on sunny day, Somerset, England (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Not far away there is Vicar's Close, which is said to be the oldest residential street in Europe. It was constructed in the 14th century, and the picturesque close still houses its original buildings.
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The cobbled street was constructed more than 650 years ago thanks to the Vicar's Choral. Successors still live in these houses to this day. The residential street has been given a 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor, having received more than 1,000 reviews.
One visitor said: "I wandered down here after visiting the cathedral. It is picturesque and exactly as described - minus the couple of cars, you could convince yourself you’d popped back in time."