Name: Ely Cathedral
Rating: 5.0

Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral, ELY, UK

1-90 Years

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Description

Ely Cathedral is one of England’s most impressive medieval cathedrals, rising dramatically above the flat Fenland landscape. Often called the “Ship of the Fens”, it is famous for its vast scale, striking architecture, and rich history. The cathedral is a peaceful place for sightseeing, worship, and learning, welcoming visitors all year round.

Key features include the magnificent Octagon Tower, one of the finest medieval engineering achievements in Europe, and the beautifully detailed Lady Chapel. Visitors can explore the Nave, Presbytery, Quire, Stained Glass Museum, and historic chapels while learning about over 900 years of history. Activities include self-guided visits, guided tours, Octagon Tower Tours, the West Tower Experience, exhibitions, and seasonal services and events.

General admission costs £14 for adults, with free entry for children under 16 when visiting as part of a family group. Entry to the Stained Glass Museum costs an additional £6.50 per person. Octagon Tower Tours cost £11 for adults and £9 for children, while the West Tower Experience costs £9.00 for adults (16+) and £7.50 for children aged 10–15.

Ely Cathedral offers a calm and inspiring experience for visitors of all ages. The combination of stunning architecture, history, and panoramic views makes every visit memorable. It’s an essential place to visit for history lovers, families, and anyone exploring Ely or the Cambridgeshire area.

Features

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Features

The Octagon: The jewel of Ely's Crown and acknowledged as one of the wonders of the Medieval world. A masterpiece of medieval engineering, it took 18 years to build. The internal height is 142 feet (43m), and its total weight is 400 tons. In the centre, John of Burwell (a village south-east of Ely), carved the beautiful Christ in Majesty. Thousands come to Ely to climb the tower and the internal wooden structure which has baffled architects for centuries.
The Lady Chapel: The largest Lady Chapel attached to any British Cathedral. The thirteenth and fourteenth centuries saw the rise of the cult of the Virgin Mary, and chapels in her honour were added to many churches and cathedrals, including Ely. As a Chapel dedicated to Our Lady, the space would have been highly coloured, with windows alive with stained glass and painted statues in the niches.
The Nave Ceiling: Installed as part of the Victorian restoration, the incredible Nave Ceiling was the work of two artists. Henry Styleman Le Strange painted the first six panels (counting from the west), and Thomas Gambier Parry painted the last six - you can observe a change of style between the sixth and seventh panels. The ceiling tells the story of the ancestry of Jesus, beginning with Adam and continuing through Abraham, David and Mary.
Stained Glass Museum: Visit the Stained Glass Museum and learn about the history and art of stained glass. Located at the Triforium level above the Cathedral nave, it is the only museum of its kind in the UK and show cases exhibits from the C13th to the present day. The museum’s permanent gallery space is located in the triforium of Ely Cathedral.
Physick Garden: During the Medieval period, there was a thriving monastery here at Ely Cathedral. Part of the work of the monastery was to heal the sick. Illness was primarily treated using herbs and plants that would have been grown in the monastery, gathered locally and, on occasion, purchased at the market. Planted in 2022, this garden at the rear of the Cathedral (behind the Lady Chapel) uses indicative species to provide an insight into how a medieval physick garden may have looked, smelled, and been experienced by the monks of Ely Cathedral.
Mary Garden: Ely Cathedral’s Mary Garden, at the rear of the Cathedral (behind the Lady Chapel), was planted in 2024, a year that saw the celebration of 30 years of women’s priestly ministry in the Church of England. It not only reflects the significance of Mary as mother of Jesus Christ, but also the contributions of women to the Christian faith across millennia, including St Etheldreda who founded the original monastery at Ely in 673AD.

Facilities

Parking: Free parking available.
Food & Drinks: There are several opportunities for eating, drinking and shopping during your visit to Ely Cathedral. We operate a number of business which not only enhance the visitor experience at Ely Cathedral, but also contribute towards the upkeep of this magnificent building.
Toilets: We have limited toilet facilities available for visitors in the Cathedral including one accessible toilet. There are public toilets on Palace Green (opposite the main entrance to the Cathedral).

What to see

Tours & Experiences

West Tower Experience: Join our West Tower Experience which will see you climbing the 288 steps of the top of the tower and being rewarded with fabulous 360 views across the city of Ely and far beyond. Take the opportunity to capture some wonderful photos of the surrounding landscape and a few selfies to celebrate making it up there, too! The West Tower Experience takes up to 45 minutes in total and requires a good level of fitness and mobility.
Octagon Tower Tours: Join our specialist Tower Guide on this fascinating tour which takes you up 170 spiral stairs inside the Octagon Tower to explore its wooden lantern. Hear about this unique structure, suspended over the centre of the Cathedral, which was completed in 1342 and is one of the wonders of medieval engineering. Peer through the Angel doors down into the Cathedral, and go up onto the roof of the tower (weather permitting) for amazing views over the city of Ely and surrounding Fens.
Ground Floor Tours: Enhance your visit with a tour to discover more about the Cathedral's rich history, heritage and the people and events which have helped shape it over the centuries. Tours last one hour.
Peregrine Hunters' Trail: A fun trail for all the family to enjoy. Explore the Cathedral to find potential prey for our resident Peregrine Falcons!
Green Man Trail: Ely Cathedral has, at the last count, over 70 Green Men and animals within its walls. Many are difficult (or impossible!) to see. However, those featured in the trail are all visible from the ground floor.
Explorers' Trail: Explore the colourful history of Ely Cathedral in this fun trail.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Admission

Adults: £14
Children Under 16: Free (in family group)
Stained Glass Museum: £6.50 in addition to Cathedral ticket

Octagon Tower Tours

Adults: £11
Children: £9

West Tower Experience

Adults 16+: £9.00
Children (age 10-15): £7.50

Pricing URL: https://www.elycathedral.org/plan-your-visit/visitor-tickets-and-tours

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Monday to Saturday: Visitor entry 9.30am - 4pm
Sunday: Visitor entry 12 Noon - 3pm

Address: Ely Cathedral, ELY, UK

Post Code: CB7 4DL

Council: East Cambridgeshire

County: Cambridgeshire

By Public Transport: Ely has many direct rail connections, including with London King's Cross, Cambridge, Peterborough, Stansted Airport, Norwich, Birmingham, York and the North East. The city is also easily accessible by bus from Cambridge and Newmarket. The Cathedral is less than a 10 minute walk from the train station, through the historic Cherry Hill Park. Alternatively, the station has an official taxi rank.
By Cycle: Cycling is widely encouraged and a great way to see the city and the surrounding area. Cycle racks are situated in the South car park of the Cathedral and opposite the front of Cathedral, outside the Cathedral Centre.
By Car: Ely is well served by several major routes including the A10 and A142 (linking with the M11, A1 and A14). Car parking is free of charge in Ely city centre and most of the car parks are a 5 or 10 minute walk from the Cathedral. Please be aware that on Saturdays and during the summer season, the car parks can get very busy. Barton Road Car Park, Forehill Car Park and Ship Lane Car Park all offer free, all day parking after 8.30am.