Ely Cathedral is absolutely stunning. The architecture is breathtaking, especially the unique Octagon Tower and the spacious Lady Chapel. Inside, every detail feels majestic yet peaceful. The staff and guides are very welcoming, and the whole visit is well worth it. A true gem and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in England.

Spectacular and unique among cathedrals, its wooden octagonal “lantern” high above the crossing is amazing to see and explore. We booked an Octagon Tower tour before our visit, and learned from our guide the original tower had been square and built in a Romanesque design, but that unstable ground - possibly exacerbated by construction of the adjacent Lady Chapel - had caused the tower to collapse in 1322. Something new was clearly required, and result was an octagonal tower made of stone and wood that was lighter in weight, spread the load more evenly, and that had an upper row of windows to admit light (a “lantern”). After examining this construction method on a model at ground level we were escorted up the first spiral staircase to the clerestory, where we were asked to deposit backpacks and purses. Nearby were the bass pipes of the organ, some of them so long that they are installed horizontally. Three more stairways ensued, two of them among the narrowest we have ever climbed in a Cathedral. All were inside the walls, and the one that accesses the roof requires one to bend almost double to duck through the exit door. The interior of the Octagon Tower is a busy maze of beams installed in the 14th Century, with some of the larger pieces at least 1,000 years old. We approached the lantern from behind and found it consisted of a number of high, narrow, painted doors, three of which were opened for us so we could peer across the octagon to the painted other side, and crane our necks to see the altar far below. It was absolutely splendid. We learned that the lantern’s last significant structural restoration was done under architect Sir Gilbert Scott in the mid 1800s, and that the lantern paintings (and part of the nave ceiling) were completed in the 1860s. Outside on the lead-clad roof we were treated to a terrific view over the city. Back downstairs we explored the magnificent Lady Chapel and some of the Chantry chapels before calling it day. Practical info: A tour will really make your time at Ely come alive, so visit the excellent Ely Cathedral website to see what is on offer. Allow about 2 to 2.5 hours for a visit.

An impressive and magnificent cathedral that makes Ely – even though it’s the second smallest city in England – truly special. Knowing that this remarkable building is almost 1,000 years old makes the visit even more fascinating. It’s also interesting to learn that parts of the first Harry Potter film were shot here. The audio guide is excellent and very informative.

Beautiful cathedral. This is an excellent place to visit for a day out. The grounds and staff are helpful, professional, and knowledgeable. If you are in the area, well worth the trip. There are numerous pubs, shops, and restaurants near the cathedral as well.

What an amazing place to visit and look around. Lots of things to see, so much history and so much beauty. The ticket price of £14 pp may seem quite steep, but you could essentially spend hours here and still not be bored. Be mindful that the Stained Glass Window Museum costs extra (to be the cost for this is quite steep for what it is) and it is also up some steep flights of steps so no good for people with disabilities; but interesting to look at the stained glass exhibits.

Ely Cathedral is fantastic. Special mention goes to Tracey, our guide on the Octagon Tower Tour. She was so full of amazing information and her pacing of the tour was perfect. Such a special and unique place.

A beautiful building from the outside and looks magnificent inside. But sadly they charge a ridiculous £14 per adult to enter just for a 20-30 minute browse. Understand they need to maintain the place but this is meant to be part of our collective heritage and should be open to all for a much smaller donation. In France similarly grand cathedrals outside of Paris are free to enter. Also, the church fathers have built an ugly building opposite the entrance that really ruins the surrounding area ( see picture). Disappointed.

If you can't find it, like me, then look for the Tourist Information Centre - it's there!!! Lovely staff on the desk. Brilliant audio guide so you can go at your own pace. Displays and informative without overloading you with detail. An important aspect of our history and I would highly recommend a visit when in Ely.

I was a bit disappointed coming here as a history fan. I think that Cromwell was a fascinating character and I really like how they present him as complex and even make you vote on whether he was a hero or a villain at the end, encouraging you to make your own judgment. That said the place is very small and the fee for entering seems a bit inappropriate. There's also no student discount. A lot of the museum is stuff you could find on Wikipedia and I wish there was more of an effort made to make the place look more period appropriate

The house is full of history and gives a real insight into Oliver Cromwell’s life and the Civil War period. The rooms are beautifully presented, with clear explanations and interactive displays. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, making the experience even more enjoyable.

It was a lovely place to learn about Cromwell's life and world with fun and interactive designs. The ticket price is 7.50 pounds, no student discount available, but it's well worth it if you are interested in the English Civil War or this man. The museum has made great efforts to recreate Cromwell's world. You can see Mrs Cromwell's recipes, dress in 17th century Puritans costumes, and write in Cromwell's style with the help of stencils. Near the end of the tour, you can also cast a vote on whether Cromwell was a hero or villain--with musket ball!

An interesting museum with, very informative staff, some great information on the recorded device the information boards and good were easy to read. Lovely building.

Visited Ely on the way back from a weekend away. All the town car parks are free in Ely though restricted by duration of stay from Monday to Saturday. Oliver Cromwell house is a few minutes walk from the town centre or cathedral. It is easy to locate by following the town signs. You are provided with an audio guide which you press the corresponding number as you move around the house. There is a short intro video when you move to the first room. There are various props you can try on including heavy copper armour helmets. Definitely worth a visit in Ely if you are interested in learning more about Oliver Cromwell and his role in English history, its approx 1 hour duration of you listen to the audio guide. 1 star deducted as no toilet facilities and no disabled access as they are several flights steps throughout the house.

Oliver Cromwell's House in Ely is the only surviving home of the British "Lord Protector", he lived in it for ten years (1643-1653). It is a small museum which aims to recreate how Cromwell lived during this time, and does a pretty good job of it. This isn't a huge place, so it will not occupy visitors for much more than an hour. The audio guide you get at the front desk (UKP 6.50 for an adult ticket) is very helpful, make sure to use it. As you walk through the rooms you'll get a nice sense of the place and the history behind it, though the means of "immersion" and "interactivity" are very limited indeed. Most of the time you'll be listening to the audio guide or reading the info posters on the walls. A brief video at the start will give you some info on the man's life. Worth a visit if you're in Ely anyway (the marvellous Ely Cathedral) is just a short walk away). Also, make sure to have a quick look at Cromwell's community church, St. Mary', right next door.

Quant little museum in an old jail. They kept some of the original building and interior so you can see that. Cost is £6.50 per person which seems a bit pricey for the building size. They do however have a stunning display of items from across the centuries. They showcase what Ely was like in the past to current times. Part of the showcase is for when it was a jail. They have buttons to press so you can hear what some of the inmates said about jail life This is definitely kid friendly as there are a few places for them to interact. When in the room with the insects, grab the flashlight to find the ultraviolet flowers on the wall. They have a small store to get some souvenirs or other knick knacks.

Enjoyable visit to this very local museum, describing the development, agriculture, and history of Ely. I think my highlight was the display of farming implements, gives some idea of the hard work of farm labourers. £6.50 admission, but ticket valid for a year.

Fantastic little museum. Very modern and tidy and also well curated; it's not just a lot of random trove of local artifacts scattered about but well themed with relevant information. Also great for kids. We went for the Festive Family Evening which was brilliant. Really nice crafts and hosted by a really fun team.

Having visited Ely a number of times & enjoyed the delights of a riverside walk & taken a well earned break for coffee & tea cake it was decided that a first time visit to the Museum was in order. It was not that easy to find from the train station but well woth the visit. The exhibits were in chronological order round the various rooms. This was helpful in finding out about the development of Ely as we see it today. A visit is highly recommended.

Really interesting museum and tells you about the life of Ely from pre historic times to present days. Impressed with this museum got a fresh look , clean and super tidy. The staff are very friendly and offer great customer service. So glad to have enter this museum free with my son. We had a great time knowing more about the life in Ely. Definitely well recommend for friends who will visit Ely in the future.

Worth a visit to this excellent museum in the heart of Ely, Cambridgeshire, very modern inside and plenty of interest for young and old, Children under 5 free, over 5 it's £2 50 and adults £5.50 but you can use the ticket for a whole year from the date you enter, lift and disabled toilets on the ground floor, and toilets also found upstairs although not disabled. Two stair cases one with a rope handler or a more modern one found near the lifts. Disabled parking is limited in the road, although plenty of car parks nearby with disabled spaces. Museum shop also found in the museum. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am to 5pm, Sunday 12 noon to 5pm.

The museum itself was very interesting. But we chatted with two people who work here after going through. They were so knowledgeable and knew so much not just about the local area but the RAF I would fly back from Canada just to get access to their knowledge.

Delightful and instructive. Not for those who have trouble with stone stairwells! Staff very friendly & helpful.

Nice museum inside the Ely cathedral. Lots of stained glass samples (obviously), some very old. There’s WiFi and an access to audio guide. Combined ticket available for both the cathedral and the museum.

If you're planning to visit the cathedral, this museum is worth visiting as well. It offers a variety of intricately designed stained glass windows with different themes, and you can enjoy them for about 30 minutes. The museum also showcases miniature displays of the process of creating stained glass. It's a great place to buy souvenirs made of glass, but it would be helpful to have a better packaging method to ensure that glass souvenirs are not easily broken when taken home.

Definitely worth a visit if you’re spending a day in Ely. It’s only £6.50 to get in and you get entry for a whole year. There’s a decent selection of items from varying periods of history and parts of the world. There’s a small gift shop at the start and an area for kids at the end

Very unique museum worth a 30 minute wander. It gives history of stained glass, how it’s made, and many examples of various work. I definitely felt like I now at least understand the basics for how it’s made and have a better appreciation of the craft, though did feel it focused a lot more on the 20th century (perhaps 50-65% of it) than was my preference. Note: It was inside the cathedral and 40 step walk up, but separate cost.

Informative museum with collections from different eras. You can appreciate the cathedral from higher point. I recommend all my friends visiting Ely, cathedral and this museum 👍🏻

Although I've been to Ely Cathedral several times before, 2018 was the first time I visited the Stained Glass Museum. There is a fee to enter, but once inside you enter the most fascinating world of the making, meaning and significance of stained glass throughout history. On this occasion, I was being host and photographer to a visitor (to Cambridge) from Philippines; she was awestruck by the museum's offering. While stained glass might have its roots penetrating back in history, the art and craft is very much alive...looking for a gift idea for someone? there are practical hands-on courses that one can sign up to, nearby.

Really enjoyed Ely, free parking Saturday market, Sunday market once a month. Loads of quirky shops, bars and food. Visit the cathedral awesome piece of history. Now looking at properties in the area.

Lovely eclectic market. Visited on a Saturday. Lots of stalls, including crafts, vintage, cakes & bread, hot food, etc. Lots of cafes and charity shops nearby and only a couple of minutes walk from Ely cathedral which has lovely grounds to take your picnic to! Worth a visit if you're in Cambridge or even a day trip from London which I did and it was a really nice day out.

It felt like going to a party. Lots of happy people enjoying themselves. Delicious food, lovely coffee, friendly people to talk to and look at.

Happened to be in Ely and we were told about this market. It's fabulous. We got some superb artisan bread and the vegetables we bought were fresh and tasty. The highlight for us was the Indian food stall. The food is freshly cooked and delicious.

We are so incredibly lucky to have this as our local market. Friendly traders, great range of food, crafts, plants and gifts. The Thursday charter market also has more everyday essentials. Car free and there are places to sit provided by the market as well as by the food trucks. Really the only downside is that it's spoilt us for other markets, which are often disappointing in comparison!

Ely was a lovely relaxing place to visit, we had a long weekend and we couldn't fault it, the markets, cathedral and riverside were perfect.

Clean and not overcrowded. Plenty of local shops and stalls. Great food too. I had bratwurst from the German food truck, which was amazing, but there were several options. Highly recommend.

Best sushi in the area!! We come here often and it’s by far our favorite restaurant! We came with a large group and was sat in the garden area and it was so cute out there! Warm and private perfect for our event. Staff is always helpful and friendly as well!

Literally my top 3 favorite places outside of London! Best sushi. I’m always bringing friends here. Super fresh and wide variety. They are also dog friendly. I haven’t had a single bad roll, but my fav is the Kani salad, tiger philadelphia jr roll, and the crunch. The crispy squid is amazing too.💕

The best sushi I've ever had. Really fresh & tasty. The service was excellent.Attention to detail was quite something with a lovely loo with a fab bamboo tap & Japanese style basin.

Delicious food. Attentive service. Gorgeous decor. Would recommend Sushi and Salad Ely to anyone.

A wonderful lunch to celebrate a birthday! The mega combo is perfect for sharing and so great to try all the different delicious sushi. Staff were very welcoming, attentive and made an effort to make the lunch special. Would definitely recommend.

From chef to chef this food was a 100 star experience!! Food was on point, so delicious. This will be my favourite restaurant in Ely (Cambridgeshire), chef Ichchha has the best seasoning ever, original Asian flavours, so happy to have your food. I had a bento box and my partner the spicy crunch roll.

Came for a Friday night date and had the most beautiful meal!!! Served by wonderful and friendly staff who were brilliant. The food came out super fast considering they were fully booked and so busy. We were looked after by Nimu who suggested the passion fruit and mango cheesecake, which was absolutely delicious. Thank you again !!

Three of us came to Ely just to experience Peacocks Tearoom. Quaint and lovely! The service was wonderful, the food was delightful, the tea choices felt endless, the cakes! Oh my the cakes! It’s the kind of spot that makes it easy to make friends with other tables or people in the queue waiting to be seated. It’s also dog friendly which we appreciated. I think the next visit will be a romantic date. It really is quite flexible in that you can go with friends, bring your mum, or plan a date!

Quaint tea rooms near the canal with extensive tea selection. The tea rooms were busy, so we had to queue outside. I had a salt beef sandwich which was nice, although watercress garnish instead of spinach would have been nicer!

A brewery in the late 1600s until the late-1800s, the Peacocks building morphed through several other commercial uses until it opened as a B&B and award-winning tearoom. Bottom line up front: Peacocks is lovely. There is no B&B front desk; rather, one mentions “we’re staying with you” to the bustling tearoom staff, and someone appears immediately to give you a cheerful welcome to the establishment. Located above the absolutely booming Teahouse on the ground floor, the two upstairs B&B suites are accessed through a side entrance and some stairs (be sure to admire Serafa, the giraffe made of metal and fibreglass measuring tapes, towering over the laneway). Upstairs, each of the two roomy suites has its own bedroom, living room, and ensuite, and both are full of furniture, books, antiques, and ephemera (read: if your idea of a lovely B&B resembles an uncluttered and modernist Ikea lifestyle, then this might come as a surprise). Wonderfully mismatched vintage tea cups and saucers sit alongside a well-stocked, in-room tea selection, and complimentary slices of cake from downstairs await. The bed is comfortable, there are adequate plugs for recharging electronic devices, and the fully stocked bookshelf beside the loo is stroke of brilliance. Breakfast was by order, and excellent. Peacocks is well placed beside the River Great Ouse with its pretty River Walk, and 10 minutes from both the busy railway station and Ely Cathedral. Free parking was up against the picket fence in front of the B&B. Peacocks is highly recommended.

Very friendly and helpful staff. I had what I considered to be a very meagre amount of cream and jam to go with my scone. But when I spoke to the waitress about it, I was given immediately another dish of each to go with the rest of my scone. Commendably they give less to save waste and encourage you to ask for top-ups if you need them. The scone was delicious.

It’s a nice tearoom that we keep coming back again and again every time we go to Cambridge. The nice selections of meals and drinks have never disappointed us. I ordered the croque monsieur as shown and it tasted wonderful. Highly recommended if you visit Ely.

Lovely cafe, great menu choices delicious food and plenty of gluten free options (they have gluten free bread). Amazing tea selection. Great place!

Wow, what can I say, best Tea Room ever. So many choices of tea to have, I spent ages on which one I wanted! And the food also delicious - they cater for Coeliacs, Vegans and any other allergy you may have. Quite frankly I couldn't fault anything! Thank you

The restaurant has a bar, two dining rooms with a kitchen in between, outside seating for those warmer days and a gallery. Artwork adorns the walls, and visitors will wander about the tables whilst you're having your meal. On the day of our visit, the radiators were on full blast, but it was a tad cool. A 2 or 3 course set menu is reasonably priced, available alongside a more varied menu of British classics. When was the last time you saw Liver and Bacon on a menu?! The braised beef in red wine was very tasty but a bit dry. Venison casserole was delicious and served with a selection of vegetables. A large wine list with several good wines by the glass. Desserts - we enjoyed blackberry and apple crumble and chocolate mousse. Both were very good.

Outstanding home cooked british food. Service is good, but the chef is outstanding, some really good traditional fare. I had roast pork with trimmings. Great vegetables. The other members of the party had roast chicken in a white wine sauce and salmon and lemon sauce. All were very good, desert were equally traditional and good.

Beautiful intimate restaurant in Ely The old fire engine has been a stable of Ely for many many years and my family have always enjoyed eating here Beautifully presented hand cooked meals, fresh vegetables and delicious puddings

Absolutely superb. Great food, lovely atmosphere. This is not a fast food restaurant (see others' reviews about the allegedly slow service') so the small wait is definitely worth it. I'd advise you book as when we visited ( mid-week) it was nearly full. The ladies running it were lovely and helpful. A wonderful find.

We ate here on October 31st and the food was absolutely delicious. The staff were incredibly friendly. The food was prepared fresh and it tasted amazing! This was our first time eating at The Old Fire Engine House....we will be back!

Spent a genial evening marking a birthday in this special Ely institution. Good idea, Husband. Delicious food, generously portioned. Home cooked recipes with locally sourced ingredients. The wine list? Knockout. Well balanced, well priced and well kept. The surroundings and first floor featured a blizzard of work from Father & Daughter artists, The Corrs. Highly recommend - drop by for a coffee & cake, lunch, dinner.

We hosted our wedding reception of c.60 guests here, and I cannot complement Claire and the team enough! We’ve frequented the OFEH for a number of years as the quality of the food is superb, and when catering for a sit-down meal of this size the quality did not disappoint (many a complement from “foodie” guests) and service didn’t waver. Claire was wonderfully cool headed and could not have been more perfect in her management in the months running-up to and during the reception. They had excellent food options (catering to vegetarian and vegan), knowledgeable recommendations, and were flexible and responsive in terms of how we hosted (we managed to have the champagne/canapés and the end cheese course in their stunning gardens). It was just the ideal ambiance. They really helped make the day utterly perfect and we—and our guests—cannot complement Claire and the team enough for delivering!

We were close by and after looking at their menu, decided to go in, reasonable size restaurant, food preparation is all done at the back of the restaurant, with a small bar area at the entrance. We chose to have a set meal for two, and were very impressed by the quality, quantity, taste and presentation of everything served. Unless you are extremely hungry recommend missing a starter, they bring out bread with olives, a spicy dip along with a yogurt and mint dip. Be aware they automatically put a 10% service charge on the bill, given the service was good, we didn't need a starter due to the free servings, it is a very reasonable addition. I would happily go back again to try some of their other dishes. Aug 2025

Amazing Turkish restaurant! We had a wonderful birthday celebration in the evening and were extremely satisfied. The meats were so tender that they literally melted in your mouth—no need to chew much. The flavors were perfectly balanced. I would definitely recommend it for families; the prices are very reasonable. There’s nothing lacking—only plenty of good things! If we ever find ourselves in the area again, we will definitely come back. It’s worth going even from a distance!” Teşekkürler

We were a party of 11 hungry walkers and chose from the lunchtime menu of starter & main for £15.95. The service was very friendly and efficient, coping very well with our number. The food was plentiful and tasty. Would definitely go again.

Just fabulous, been here several times now and the standard has always been consistently exemplary. Polite staff, great food, decent beer. It's not too expensive either. 100% recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely amazing experience! The food was bursting with authentic Turkish flavors, every dish cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. The lady who served us was fabulous – so warm, welcoming, and attentive. She even treated us to complimentary baklava, which was absolutely delicious and the perfect sweet ending. This restaurant is truly a gem. A must-visit for anyone who loves amazing Turkish food, generous hospitality, and friendly staff. Can’t wait to come back with family!

Great food and service. Really nice and worth the money x

Great atmosphere and tasty food :-) We enjoyed our dinner for two 😋

Vegetarian food was cross contaminated. Mine had a distinctly fishy taste. I tried the pick and mix daily menu. It instagrams well, but it was tasteless, unexciting and I don't understand the concept of a few chopped vegetables, tofu and a few slices of chilli. I've been to a lot of Thai restaurants in the past, I'm unsure with the fork and spoon only cutlery just offered here with big vegetable chunks and nothing to cut it with. Either offer a knife or chop the vegetables and other things smaller. The sticky rice was the highlight of the meal. Seating is a little uncomfortable and the fried tofu (top left) is likely bought from a packet or just tastes super similar. Service was very fast and polite. Not recommended.

Incredible, such a lovely spot. The pad Thai was great, the tofu udon was great, the staff were so lovely, the prices are good, the location is convenient. Highly recommend, would give 6 stars if possible.

Delicious Thai food. Had chicken satay, Thai green curry and sticky rice - everything tasted fresh and flavourful.

2405 Warm comfort food after a chilly concert evening Pad kee mao : probably not too much noodle but I don’t eat much carb anyway. It’s flavorful and actually a little spicy. Tom kha is very coconuty and has a hint of fish sauce. Yellow curry is also nice and not too salty. The beef not very tender but still not too touch. Really friendly service. Food came fast.

I think everything we ordered taste wise was alright, food came out very fast and I loved the Thai milk tea but the sauces was just too sweet for my preference and there wasn’t a lot of rice dishes to choose from.

Very good food, very tasty, nice place for eating, great atmosphere and amazing service.

Excellent. What a fantastic restaurant. Presentation and quality beyond belief. Authentic flavours and great service. Really recommend 👌👌