Ely Cathedral - ELY

Yoav G.

Possibly one of the most interesting and historically significant Cathedrals in the country. Built on a site of an Anglo-Saxon church 20 years after the Norman invasion, this Cathedral presents the very best of Romanesque and gothic architecture alongside renovations made by the Victoria's. Of significance is the octagon tower, a feat of building at its time with wooden beams so large, local roads needed reinforcing to carry them in. A real jewel in the crown of Cathedrals

ivy

What a place if your in Ely definitely visit this cathedral you can get a year's entry ticket so worth getting, plenty to see and lots of information from the electronic guide you can get which has a touchscreen so easy to use. Can be chilly inside even on a hot day so tack a top. And the good thing is it's free to park in the carparks.

Emma H.

Lovely cathedral. Really beautiful with a fascinating history, which is well described. Only snags are..no free av guides if you don't pay (ie children's, surely the ones who will benefit the most, carers etc). Cafe is well outside and was shut for refurbishment. Being disabled with no notice till we got there was not great (and you then have to walk ALL the way round the cathedral to get back in)

Richard T.

Beautiful cathedral set in some lovely grounds. The surrounding area has some nice walks and places to eat and drink by the river. Inside the cathedral are stunning ceiling works, and there are beautiful stain glass windows.

Andrew T.

Spectacular cathedral with a magnificent octagonal tower dating back to the mid 14th century.
The grounds are free to visit, and provide excellent views of the cathedral's elaborate exterior. Neatly maintained gardens and a fine collection of medieval buildings make for a very pleasant setting.
To truly appreciate the cathedral, you'll need to look inside. The interior is stunning, with a remarkable Victorian painted nave ceiling, beautiful stained glass windows and ornate decoration throughout.
Entry is charged at £14 for an annual pass, with tower tours an extra £11, lasting about 1 hour. We had limited time in Ely so skipped the tower tour and just went for the £14 ticket. This includes a well produced interactive audio guide which really helps you get the most from your visit by showcasing all the highlights.
Facilities are good, with a café serving light lunches and refreshments, a gift shop and toilets within the cathedral grounds. Having visited a number of fine cathedrals recently, some of which were free to visit, I was initially surprised at the entry cost. Any concerns were about value quickly vanished upon stepping inside - Ely is not just one of the finest cathedrals in England, but surely in the world.

Cherry B.

Well worth the entry fee. The head sets gave lots of useful information. My friend struggled to hear hers as she wears hearing aids. The exhibition of tapestries was a bonus.

Paul

It is a great historical location and a fabulous cathedral. I took a guided tour that focused more on local and British history than on religion. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable, and he really added to our experience. I found that the whole place is well run; although it is a little expensive, it is a good tour.

Ben A.

Magnificent! Truly awe inspiring and full of grandeur.

You can book a "tower tour," where you climb the spiral staircase to the inside of the Octagon Tower. You can also get an audio tour that explains much of the history and significance of specific points in the cathedral.

A number of movie and TV series scenes were filmed here - see if you can figure those out!