Wells and Bath named among best places to visit in the UK

Two cities in Somerset have been named as the best places to visit in the country by consumer brand Which?.

Bath in the north-east of the county won in the medium-sized category, while Wells scored top in the small-sized group.

Both scored highly when it came to attractions, and beat all of the UK’s capital’s on points.

Which? said the results show “Somerset is the place to be” for people looking to take holidays in the UK.

Wells, one of the smallest cities in the UK, has popular tourist attractions such as its cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and Vicar’s Close.

It’s also known as being the filming location of Simon Pegg-fronted comedy police film Hot Fuzz, owing to it being where director Edgar Wright grew up, as well as being used for projects such as Poldark, Hellboy and The Libertine.

Debbie, a tourist from New Zealand, told BBC Radio Somerset Wells has “so much to see and do and absorb”.

“It’s beautiful. I love history and this would be one of the most magical places that I’ve been to,” she said.

Jade Harris-King, who works at the Market Place Cafe in the city, reported growing levels of international visitors, from across Europe and beyond, adding Wells’ “wealth of history” draws people in.

In nearby Bath, the ancient city – which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site – was praised for its cultural sights by Which?, as well as its Roman architecture, food and drink and accommodation.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “For those seeking a more laid-back destination, Somerset is the place to be, with both Bath and Wells scoring highly, and each offering a wealth of historical and cultural sights.”