Ely

A historic fenland city dominated by its magnificent cathedral with the soaring octagonal lantern tower visible for miles across the flat landscape. The compact medieval town offers riverside walks, museums, and excellent restaurants.

Things to do

• Ely Cathedral — Explore this stunning medieval cathedral with its iconic octagonal lantern tower, intricate carvings, and stained glass spanning centuries of craftsmanship.
• Riverside Walk to Waterside — Stroll along the peaceful Great Ouse riverbank where swans glide past willows and you can spot kingfishers in season.
• Ely Museum — Discover local history from Roman times through the Fenland's transformation, housed in a Victorian building near the cathedral.
• Oliver Cromwell's House — Visit the timber-framed Tudor home where Cromwell lived before the English Civil War, now furnished with period details.
• Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum — Learn about fenland engineering at this preserved Victorian pumping station just outside Ely showing how the marshes were reclaimed.
• Window in the Nineteenth Century — Browse this intimate independent cinema and café housed in a historic building, offering films and local refreshments.

Food to try

• Eel Pie — A traditional fenland dish where fresh eels caught from local waters are stewed in jellied gravy, historically the working person's meal here.
• Cambridgeshire Sausages — Visit local butchers to try premium pork sausages seasoned with sage, reflecting the region's farming heritage.
• Fenland Produce at Market Hill — Browse seasonal vegetables, soft fruits, and local honey at the town's weekly market where growers sell directly to visitors.
• Potted Shrimp — Sample the traditional East Anglian preparation of small peeled shrimp packed in spiced butter, served on toast at local restaurants.

Local customs & good to know

• Cathedral Evensong Tradition — Attend the evening choral service at the cathedral, a centuries-old custom still performed by the cathedral choir most days.
• Fenland Flat Landscape Perspective — The town's elevated cathedral island feel is deliberate—Ely literally means 'island of eels' from when fenland was marshland, so embrace the flat vistas.
• Market Hill as Town Hub — The historic market square remains Ely's social and commercial center where locals gather; it's where community life centers, not just tourism.