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The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel

3.0 star property

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Front of property
Exterior
Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, individually decorated
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; Italian cuisine

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Room service
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
20 Sadler Street, Wells, England, BA5 2SE
  • Place, Wells Cathedral
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Wells Bishop's Palace
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Mendip Hills
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Airport, Bristol (BRS-Bristol Intl.)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Room options

Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Single Room, 1 Single Bed

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bed

City Double or Twin Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

Superior Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Double or Twin Room

Deluxe Double or Twin Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, individually decorated

Deluxe Double or Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

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About this property

The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel

Central guesthouse connected to a shopping centre in Wells with a restaurant
Along with a restaurant, this smoke-free guesthouse has express check-out and a garden. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a front desk safe and multilingual staff assistance.
The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel offers 9 accommodations with complimentary bottles of water and a hairdryer. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. 18-inch flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

This Wells guest house provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 25+ Mbps. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Additionally, rooms include free toiletries and portable fans. Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel. During your stay, you'll be connected to a shopping centre and just a quick walk from Wells & Mendip Museum. Enjoy features like free WiFi in public areas, plus a restaurant and breakfast (surcharge).
  • Free Wi-Fi (speed: 25+ Mbps)
  • Enjoy Italian cuisine while dining at Rugantino
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Amenities include a front desk safe, multilingual staff and a terrace
  • Steps from Wells & Mendip Museum and Wells Cathedral
There's a restaurant on site. Public spaces have free WiFi. A terrace, multilingual staff, and a garden are also featured at The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel.

This 3-star Wells guest house is smoke free.

For a fee, guests can enjoy cooked-to-order breakfast on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM and at the weekend from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
Rugantino – This restaurant specialises in Italian cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Reservations are required.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free offsite parking within 100 metres
  • Street parking available

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM on weekends; GBP 15 for adults and GBP 15 for children
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • Rugantino

Family friendly

  • Separate bedroom

Conveniences

  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1473
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 18-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Phone
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 10 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: GBP 24
Express check-out available

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours must contact this property in advance to arrange check-in.

Access methods

Staffed front desk, lockbox

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: from approximately GBP 15.00 for adults and from GBP 15.00 for children
  • Late check-out fee: GBP 24 (subject to availability)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
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
This property's front desk is open during the following times:
  • Thursday - Monday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
To arrange for check-in, guests must contact the property at least 24 hours prior to arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests arriving after 7:00 PM must make advance arrangements by contacting the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with special check-in information and lockbox information. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation.

We should mention

  • Please note that this property can refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, which include pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
  • Children stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.

Property is 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

The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 119 out of 196 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 54 out of 196 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 14 out of 196 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 196 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 196 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Diane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very central, parking easy on road cross to cathedral. Fab view of cathedral from breakfast, ate dinner in the Italian in the ground floor - very nice.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Declan

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice, plus the Italian restaurant

Parking was as advised, it is Salisbury you have to contend with that. Thank you.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Abdul

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Everywhere is very walkable. Wide range of shops and restaurants. The Gatehouse is unique and charming. The hotel staff are very nice and accommodating. Great value for money. Beds comfortable. Room very clean. Overall a great experience and the city of Wells is a must-see
View from dining room
Dining room
Lobby
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Megan

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

Great service, good overall

A charming hotel in a lovely area. Staff were attentive and friendly. Restaurant had incredible food and ambience. I booked a single room which was fine. It was quite dusty in the room, notably on the top of the wide picture rail going around the bed. I only noticed when settling down to bed, I’m sure staff would have cleaned otherwise. The corner the bed was in was also a little dark and dingy and pillows were naff. Can hear other guests quite clearly particularly when they are coming up the stairs. Steep stairs up to the rooms. Beautiful view out the room window and good shower and bathroom. Would stay again but in a different room. Worth noting as well that hotel is unmanned overnight. Staff leave the restaurant in the late evening and there is no staff in until 8am ish. There are emergency numbers but worth knowing for safety and security.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dawn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Edward

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
NO PARKIING Despite not being able to reach the hotel because of a road block, not being able to speak to anyone when we phoned (and we tried several times), being offered parking options that were not available or impractical as a stop from our check-in to check-out, meaning we had to carry our luggage through town from Waitrose long-stay car park, no reception staff for most of our stay and not being able to get breakfast in the hotel, we actually liked the place. The location is ideal for visiting the cathedral and also for excellent restaurants and coffee shops. The passage to our room felt a little like a worm hole; it goes in all directions at rather curious angles. The room offered a view across the green to the cathedral. The clock chimes every quarter; you’ll hear it if you’re awake but it didn’t keep us awake. WiFi in our room was only 6mbps down at best – but even if there a WAP on our floor, the thickness of the walls meant it would have struggled. The bathroom has a bath and a hose with a shower head but no shower. Hot water supply is good. The room had a nice feel about it. The building is definitely old and the hotel has an eccentric charm. We’d stay there again, if we were not driving.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Tony

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Hotel facilities only open Monday left to our own devices Tuesday and Wednesday. No breakfast available.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elsa

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very characterful, great restaurant, really good food. Doggy friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
View of Wells Cathedral from the Bishops Palace
View from our window (the front is under renovation)
Wells Cathedral
Bedroom
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gill

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wonderful location

Lovely room in an interesting building in the heart of Wells. Friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patrick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Excellent location in a charming city
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
An old character building which has a very modern feel to it. Excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

K

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

michael

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cleanliness and laid back feel about the place.Very good value for money
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jerry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
All went fine
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Sarah

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Amanda

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.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Fran

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
All the staff at the hotel were so friendly and helpful. The room was beautiful, clean, comfortable, excellent facilities.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort

Beautiful Hotel, Amazing Breakfast, Awful Bed

The outside of this hotel is absolutely beautiful, with the historic Gatehouse plus connecting building and the location is complete perfection. I can’t imagine there is a better placed hotel in the whole of Wells. The staff were extremely welcoming and could not do enough for us. The breakfast is one of the best breakfast’s I have ever had in a hotel - no exaggeration! All made to order, with plenty of Hot Drinks and juices. Pretty much the only thing that let down our stay was the bed. The bed was so uncomfortable that at around 2am of not being able to sleep I actually decided to sleep on the floor! I did over head the staff talking about how the rooms and furniture were getting a refurb soon - which is promising. So although 3 stars feels harsh… I think it is fair as the bed was so bad that we could not properly sleep here.
Amazing Breakfast
Hotel Exterior
Cathedral View from breakfast
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025