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Cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England
Photo: Iceflow, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Ely is a small, historical cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England. Ely combines two sides: it is a pocket-sized medieval city that retains much of its medieval character, and at the same time a relaxed and tolerant market town, with increasing links to Cambridge. The "Ship of the Fens" dominates the surrounding landscape in much the same way it has done for the past millennium.
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Founded by St Ethelreda as a monastery church in 673, the present cathedral building was started in the 11th century and upgraded to a separate diocese in 1109. The cathedral has a unique octagonal tower and lantern, completed in 1328 after the collapse of the original Norman tower. You can get a year pass alongside your regular ticket. Enquire inside for a tours up the west tower for fantastic panoramic views. There is a Stained Glass Museum in the cathedral South Triforium.
In Oliver Cromwell's house opposite the cathedral, including tours of the building and a history of the fens.
Wildfowl Wetlands Trust bird sanctuary. Visitor centre and café.
Fenland National Trust nature reserve between Ely and Cambridge. One of the few remaining areas of the region's former marshland, preserved today as a Nature Reserve.
Drainage of the fens relied on windmills up to 1800 then steam pumps took over. There were over 100 of these, and this beam engine of 1831 is one of the few survivors. It's occasionally set running, though nowadays by electricity.
Ely Museum tells the story of the Ely and the surrounding fens, and highlights the building's interesting history as a gaol. The museum was renovated between 2019 and 2021, and is now a well-designed, accessible building. It caters particularly well to mixed age groups, with, for example, free story and explorer kits for younger children at the entrance. The museum's entrance fee includes an annual pass.
Ely's Eel Day Festival celebrates the city's wetland heritage. Events include a Chinese-dragon-style Eel Parade through the city centre, 'eel throwing' competitions (no real eels are used) and stalls in the Jubilee Gardens near the river. The festival is usually held in May - check the Visit Ely or Spotted In Ely websites to find out dates.
A large pub. Advertises cheap food. Only allows people aged 18 or over.
This traditional fish and chip restaurant was listed as one of Britain's best fish and chip shops by a Daily Mail reviewer in 2024. A standard cod and chips costs £10.50 for takeaway (eat-in prices are a little higher), but budget-conscious visitors have options like the Mini Meal (£7.25 for takeaway) and a sausage or fishcake and chips for under a fiver.
This is a fun cafe with retro gaming and trippy decor (think: a giant mushroom mural) upstairs. Food and drink is nothing special but is priced very reasonably, and includes comfort food like mug cakes and customisable toasties. They also stay open later than most cafes in the area, including opening until 8PM on a Sunday.
This brasserie offers a wide range of good quality West and East European food, including a wonderful 12-oz rump steak with fries, herb butter and salad for £14. Expect to pay between £8 and £16 for a meal before your drinks.
This wellbeing-themed vegan cafe has a friendly, cosy atmosphere and lots of vegan options, including a range of plant-based milk options for their drinks. The cafe is dog-friendly. Sandwiches and bagels are £8.
The Ely branch of this reliable pizza chain. Pizzas £6-8. Average meal for two £20 with a drink. Vouchers all over the place on the internet so you could get a bargain.
Italian-style pizza, pasta and chicken, with views across to the Cathedral. Pizzas £6-8. Average meal for two £20 with a drink. Lots of space over two floors.
This place does great pub food and beers. All sorts of A4-sized post-it notes advertise gigs on the small stage in the huge outdoor beer garden. The food is very good, the beer is very reasonable. Highly recommended, and more reasonable in terms of price than the Lazy Otter.
An exhibition centre, bar and restaurant. Sandwiches, bar snacks and main courses for £8. Restaurant closes over Winter period due to lack of bookings. Used to have semi-regular gigs. Check adec.org.uk for listings.
200 m from the Cathedral. A relaxed restaurant for lunch, dinner as well as morning coffee and afternoon tea. There is a homely sitting room and an art gallery upstairs and the garden is lovely in good weather. The main courses at lunch cost approximately £15 and are generally very good. They also offer second helpings!
Afternoon tea is £22.50 per person, including a choice of 40 teas, finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cake. Devnoshire Cream Tea with scones is £12 per person.
Riverside pub with traditional pub food, bar snacks & daily specials board. Very overpriced, the food comes nowhere near what you're paying for.
Good Adnams real ale and nice interior.
A functional drinking barn on the Market Street, this place is like any chain pub in any city, with little atmosphere but everything you may need a hand. Formally the hardware store Cutlacks, the pub offers relatively cheap food which is variable in quality, live sport, and occasional karaoke and bands. Best avoided on Fridays and Saturdays unless you're starting a bit of a party (in which case the Town House is across the street for the conclusion!) The occasional beer festivals there are great, with inexpensive guest ales served at one end of the bar.
Green King
One of the oldest pubs in town with lots of character, including its very own ghost (a Benedictine monk who likes ale). Can be quiet during the day, generally busiest Fridays and Saturdays until 10PM and after midnight.
The former "Best pub in Ely". The Albert holds the vote of many for the highest standard of beer in Ely, particularly Greene King. The beer garden is lovely in summer. Food is great, and the pub still retains its living room feel. Not the best place in the world for a large group of people, but much better choice than the Fountain on a pub crawl.
The Standard is great fun on Fridays and Saturdays in particular with fun cover bands and a charismatic, Hawaiian short wearing landlord. Beer is relatively inexpensive and the back of the pub has been extended so the place is now an odd mix of traditional pub and old people's home.
Has cheap rates if you book in advance (as low as £15). The Ely Travelodge is at the A10/A142 junction, which is convenient for motorists, but noisy and a mile from the centre. There is a small Budgens supermarket nearby for cheap self-catering.
Can't miss it if you drive into Ely from Cambridge, as the old A10 road makes a sharp left in front of it before meandering on to Littleport. Looks posh, and is about 100 yards from the Cathedral. You may find it difficult to park during the day.
The Braham farm campsite is run by a friendly couple, it's far enough from the road not to be noisy. It's got a footpath to Ely from it. It's got a good view of the cathedral too. Quite small, will need to book on summer weekends. Quite basic, with no shower facilities.
Offers in house bars, dining, luxurious rooms. Worth it if you have the money to spare and can get a room.
Toppings is a three-story bookshop with books on a wide range of topics, including a children's section. Think Waterstones, but with a lot more character. It is unfortunately not very accessible for wheelchair users. The shop also hosts regular author talks.
By train
Ely railway station is the only station in the city. It is on the National Rail network, served by:
By car
Ely lies at the junction of two major routes:
By bicycle
You can cycle to Ely from Cambridge. Follow National Cycle Network Route 11 from Cambridge city centre.
Ely's small city centre can easily be traversed on foot. Local villages are served by buses running from Market Street, check the boards or tourist information centre for departures.
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