The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel, a guesthouse connected to a shopping center, offers guests the perfect blend of relaxation and convenience. Unwind in the garden or on the terrace while staying connected with in-room WiFi; enjoy Italian cuisine at Rugantino restaurant and take advantage of helpful staff.
Bristol International Airport (BRS) - 39 min drive
Frome Station - 27 min drive
Castle Cary Station - 27 min drive
Yatton Station - 29 min drive
Restaurants
Cathedral Green - 1 min walk
Market Place Cafe - 1 min walk
Fosso Lounge - 3 min walk
Coffee#1 - 3 min walk
Rose And Crown - 5 min walk
About this property
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel
Located near a train station, The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel is a great choice for a stay in Wells. For a bite to eat, guests can check out Rugantino, which serves Italian cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A terrace and a garden are other highlights. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff.
At a glance
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Hotel size
9 rooms
Arranged over 2 floors
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Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Contactless check-in available
Express check-out available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
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Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open Thursday - Monday (8:00 AM - 10:00 PM) and Tuesday - Wednesday (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with check-in instructions and lockbox information; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 7:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours must contact this property in advance to arrange check-in.
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Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
Children stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
No cribs (infant beds)
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Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms (speed: 25+ Mbps)
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free offsite parking within 328 ft
Street parking available
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Other information
Smoke-free property
No stag/bachelor or hen/bachelorette parties
Property amenities
Food and drink
Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge) 7:30 AM–9:30 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM–9:30 AM on weekends
Restaurant
Room service (limited hours)
Traveling with children
Children stay free (see details)
Services
Multilingual staff
Facilities
Built in 1473
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Garden
Terrace
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Room amenities
Be entertained
18-inch flat-screen TV
Digital TV channels
Home comfort
Heating
Portable fan
Electric kettle
Sleep well
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
What to enjoy
Individually furnished and decorated
Freshen up
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi (speed of 25+ Mbps)
Phone
Food and drink
Free bottled water
More
Daily housekeeping
Special features
Dining
Rugantino - This restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Reservations are required.
Here's the breakdown, no surprises
Optional extras
Cooked-to-order breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately GBP 15.00 for adults and GBP 15.00 for children
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge of GBP 24 (subject to availability)
Policies
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
This property does not have elevators.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB International, Carte Blanche
Cashless transactions are available.
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.
Also known as
Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Wells
Ancient Gatehouse Hotel
Ancient Gatehouse Wells
Ancient Gatehouse
The Ancient Gatehouse
The Ancient Gatehouse Wells
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Wells
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Guesthouse
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Guesthouse Wells
Frequently asked questions
Does The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel?
No, unfortunately, but there's free parking nearby.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel?
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM. Check-out time is 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a charge of GBP 24 (subject to availability). Express check-out and contactless check-in and check-out are available.
What is there to do at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel and nearby?
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel has a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel?
Yes, Rugantino offers Italian cuisine.
What's the area around The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel like?
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel is in the heart of Wells, a short 2-minute walk from Wells Cathedral and 8 minutes' walk from Mendip Hills.
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Reviews
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.0
Cleanliness
9.4
Location
9.0
Staff & service
8.8
Eco-friendliness
8.4
Property conditions & facilities
What guests liked
Breakfast was consistently described as delicious, made to order, and one of the best in a property. (9 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Popular mentions
Room
Cathedrals
View
Service staff
Breakfast
Location
Restaurant
Green
Parking
Building
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 22, 2025
Lovely old hotel in magical location
Excellent small historic hotel facing Weeks Cathedral. The view of the Cathedral from my bedroom was magical. Nice breakfast and very friendly staff
Peter
Peter, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 10, 2025
Brilliant overnight stay
Stayed here for one night, staff were all very friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. We stayed in room 2 which was at the front. Lovely big room with 4 poster bed. Very comfortable and clean. There are lots of hotels in Wells but I’m glad we chose this one.
Dawn
Dawn, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 19, 2025
Friendly and welcoming - we enjoyed our visit to Wells itself very much indeed. It was our second visit to this hotel and we would certainly choose it again!
Patrick
Patrick, 4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 23, 2025
Wonderful location
Lovely room in an interesting building in the heart of Wells. Friendly staff.
Gill
Gill, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
May 12, 2025
Cleanliness and laid back feel about the place.Very good value for money
michael
michael, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 23, 2025
Possibly the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever stayed in and the most friendly staff possible!
Tracey
Tracey, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 21, 2025
Loved everything about it, the staff were amazing and can’t praise the Chef enough… the restaurant is top notch.
Dominic
Dominic, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 10, 2025
An old character building which has a very modern feel to it. Excellent
Scott
Scott, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 7, 2025
All the staff at the hotel were so friendly and helpful. The room was beautiful, clean, comfortable, excellent facilities.
Fran
Fran, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 12, 2025
Ancient building, lovely hosts, great restaurant
Ancient building, lovely hosts, excellent Italian restaurant. Room was clean and tidy in this 400 year old building. Breakfast room looks onto Cathedral green.
Mark
Mark, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 17, 2024
Great location
Miranda
Miranda, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 14, 2025
Charming visit!
We loved our stay at the Ancient Gatehouse. It is just that, ancient and charming. The room was lovely and had a nice clean bathroom. We were fortunate to have a room that looked out over the green and had a view of the cathedral. There is no air conditioning. Very few places in the UK or Europe have AC, these are old buildings. There was a fan and large windows which suited us perfectly. The hotel has an excellent Italian restaurant where we ate dinner. We stayed only one night, but we will definitely return in the future.
Catherine
Catherine, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 7, 2025
All went fine
Jerry
Jerry, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 25, 2024
Great stay! The restaurant was great and such an interesting building.
Bethany
Bethany, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 23, 2024
Wonderfully located in this historic city
Sarah
Sarah, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 18, 2025
Just as it is described on the Expedia website. We loved it. Sadly only a one night stopover but we will definitely return. It was a stunning view (Wells Cathedral) in such a comfortable room. Wonderful!
Janet
Janet, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 27, 2025
Fantastic location directly opposite the cathedral. As it's the old gatehouse, the stairs to the rooms take a bit of effort as there is no lift but you do get a real feeling of originality.
We ate in the hotel and the food was excellent, as was the breakfast. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
Ian
Ian, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 4, 2024
The property is beautiful, the staff great and the restaurant amazing. Can’t wait to come back!
Tiffany M
Tiffany M, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 19, 2025
Room3
Room a bit tired in places but clean and comfortable bed with top view.
Neil Porter
Neil Porter, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Apr 14, 2025
Lovely stay with an excellent welcome from very attentive hotel and restaurant staff. Room and bathroom was a bit smaller than I expected, and could do with a bit more modernising, TV was very small and floors quite uneven and creaky. But that kind of added to the atmosphere of an ancient gatehouse. Next time I would request a room with a view of the cathedral as I think these must be more spacious.
Sarah
Sarah, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Mar 11, 2025
Cathedral visit.
We had never visited Wells and was interested in going to the Cathedral and Bishops Palace. Hotel looked well placed for this. Overall a good hotel with a good restaurant. Room a bit snug and absence of shower not great for visitors of a certain age. Bath looked like too much of a slip hazard.
Richard
Richard, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 28, 2025
Views of the Cathedral. Excellent location. Delicious Italian restaurant on-site with many options all around. Andy (manager) and the entire staff so friendly and helpful. Highly recommended for the price - 2 star at 4 star service.
Parking not that convenient, but that is expected.
Dayna
Dayna, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 29, 2024
What an absolute stunning property, Unique and Ancient, Clean and quiet great position for all Wells has to offer
Sarah
Sarah, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
May 20, 2024
Room with a View
Fantastic location with our room having a clear view of the wonderful Wells cathedral.
Robert
Robert, 3-night trip
6/10 Good
Apr 13, 2025
Room was in need of updating, carpet was dirty. Staff were pleasant, but failed to tell us that they were not open on the day we left so no breakfast would be served. We just left our key at the closed desk. The restaurant looked very nice, but didn’t get a chance to try it.