WELLS, Somerset's only city, has been ranked the second best in the UK, according to science.

The former Medieval settlement ranked only below Bath in The Telegraph's list of 69 cities, which used a science-based points system to tally up totals based on four criteria.

Wells scored highly in the four categories used to compile the rankings; hospitality and amenities (59 points), culture and heritage (43), transport (67), and nature and green spaces (68). Somerset County Gazette: The infamously striking Wells Cathedral.The infamously striking Wells Cathedral. (Image: Jamie Grover, Newsquest)

A total score of 237 points placed the city only 11 points below Bath, which took the top spot with a total of 248.

Wells ranked higher than Bristol - which placed third on 231 points - and other notable cities it outperformed included Edinburgh, Canterbury, London, Manchester, and Liverpool.

The full rankings can be viewed in the interactive table below.

Only Birmingham and St Albans scored more transport points than the city, famously known as England's smallest.

Wells was beaten by only one point to the title of best nature and green spaces in the nation, with Colchester taking the top spot with 69 points, although ranking only fourteenth in the total rankings.