The Lorax Patch

Wells (five minutes' drive/a few minutes' cycle), the smallest city in England, packs in a good number of top tourist attractions for its size. The main event for most will probably be the cathedral, built in 1175, which towers over the surrounding buildings, but other sights include the moated Bishop's Palace and Vicars' Close, commonly held to be the oldest residential street in Europe. Within a few miles of Wells, you can climb to the top of Glastonbury Tor (10 minutes) or explore the town's many independent shops, pick your way between the rocks and hike up Cheddar Gorge (20 minutes) or head underground to explore the caves and caverns at Wookey Hole (20 minutes), one of the many interesting geological features on this side of the Mendip Hills. Venturing a little bit further afield opens up more possibilities – you could explore the stunning World Heritage Site that is Bath city centre (45 minutes), drive on a mini safari past lions, hippos and wolves at Longleat (40 minutes) or pack your bucket and spade and explore the Somerset coast at Burnham-on-Sea (40 minutes) or Brean (50 minutes).