How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Wells

City in Somerset, South West

We analysed 680 postcodes in and around Wells, Somerset against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 20% of them (136) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 80% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BA5 2BQ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Wells

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55-59 dB60-64 dB65-69 dB70-74 dB75 dB+Unshaded = below the mapping threshold or not modelled (not necessarily quiet).

How many postcodes are affected?

Road noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night11% (75)5% (37)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night7% (47)6% (43)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (13)<1% (6)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (1)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped80%87%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped100%100%

Share of the 680 postcodes within ~5 km of the Wells centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Wells

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: BA5 2BQ · BA5 1QZ · BA5 1FP · BA5 1LY · BA5 1QT · BA5 1QP

What this data does — and doesn't — cover

  • Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
  • Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
  • No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
  • 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.

More detail on the methodology page.

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Nearby areas

Frequently asked questions

How noisy is Wells?
We analysed 680 postcodes in and around Wells, Somerset against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 20% of them (136) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 80% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BA5 2BQ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Wells?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Wells are BA5 2BQ, BA5 1RB, BA5 1QT, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.