Attractions
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Ted Coney's Family Portraits
Ted Coney's Family Portraits on Ely's Waterside is now open for the season. Click here to check out his website and book your personallise tour
The area has a wide range of attractions from National Trust properties to independent museums where you can learn more about the area's rich heritage and landscape.
Ely Cathedral
We pride ourselves in offering a warm welcome to all visitors to this magnificent building, whether your interest is religious, historical and architectural or simply to explore and experience this wonderful place.
Thousands of visitors come to Ely Cathedral each year from all over the world. Few are ever disappointed, for there is something here for everyone. It gives a vision of continuity and worship down the centuries. Lovers of architecture will rejoice in the many different styles, blending to make the whole. History abounds around every corner, and the beauty created by artists in wood, stone and glass is everywhere.
Stained Glass Museum
'A Gem in the Fens'. The Stained Glass Museum is a hidden treasure within Ely Cathedral. An independent museum, it is uniquely dedicated to the art of stained glass. A display of over 100 original stained glass panels dating from the early 13th century to the present. Also more modern work by William Morris, John Piper and Brian Clarke.
Oliver Cromwell's House
Oliver Cromwell, one of the most divisive individuals in British History, spent a decade of his life living in Ely. Visit the former Lord Protector's family home which has been extensively refurbished this year. Experience what domestic life would have been like in the 17th Century in a variety of re-created period rooms as well as as exhibition detailing the Civil War. Visit Mrs Cromwell's kitchen, try dressing up or playing with the toys of the time or ventuure into the Haunted Bedroom if you dare!
Audio handsets bring the story of this impresive House to life. Guided tours and group visits welcome. Also Gift Shop and Tourist Information Centre.
Ely Museum
The Museum is the history centre for the Isle of Ely and the Fens and it takes you on a journey through time from prehistoric to the twentieth century.
Displays include original prison cells, fossils that can be touched, Roman remains and an archive film of the Fens, including punt guns and eel catching. There is also a programme of special events and temporary exhibitions running throughout the year.
Ted Coney's Family Portraits Art Gallery
www.tedconeysfamilyportraits.co.uk
Ely’s first pop-up gallery offers tours (conducted by the artist) about family life and family relationships, through paintings produced over nearly fifty years. A choice of eight tours, with one tour being on the ground floor of this grade two listed cottage.
Ely's Liberty Belle River Cruises
From the first weekend in March until the end of October, cruise the river Great Ouse on the Liberty Belle. 30 minute cruises depart regularly from the riverside near the Maltings starting from 11 am daily. Specialist evening cruises are also available, please enquire for details.
07927 390380
Ely's Escape Room
The international craze arrives at Cromwell's House! Join us for a Lock-in at The Cromwell's Arms and see if you can solve the puzzle to secure your escape in 60 minutes?
The new theme is set around a plot to murder Queen Victoria and bring about a new republic. The landlord of The Cromwell Arms is deeply troubled and needs your assistance to prevent this unspeakable crime.
Gather friends, family or colleagues together and see how well you work together in this fun but challenging activity that will be a talking point for weeks to come. This is the perfect activity to bring friends and families together or the corporate market, work parties or even young people's parties (aged 13 to 16).
St Mary's Church, Ely
Whoever you are, wherever you have come from you are welcome here! Whether your interest is spiritual, historical or achitectural, or a combination of all three, come along and discover St Mary's Church. We are open weekdays 11am from 3pm (services and events allowing) and offer a space for reflection, to explore the history of Ely, or to admire the 19th century stained glass, or the church building dating from the 12th century.
Prickwillow Museum
The Museum, in its picturesque setting close to Ely on the River Lark, holds a unique collection of large working diesel engines that played a vital part in maintaining the drainage of the once uninhabitable fens nearby. Displays or artefacts, photographs and interactive media illustrate the story of fen drainage and the social history of the local area. The highlight of a visit can be seeing and hearing one of the old engines in action and talking to engineers who have worked with the engines.
Dojima Sake Brewery
The magnificent eighteenth century estate of Fordham Abbey, around ten miles south of Ely, has been bought by the Dojima Sake Brewery and will become the UK’s first Japanese Sake brewery in Spring 2018. It will produce 10,000 bottles per year using traditional recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. In addition to tours of the estate there will be a café, visitor centre and a shop, and the majestic main house will be available for meetings and functions.
Visit our website for details of special events this year, including sake tastings.
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve
Wicken Fen provides a window on a 'lost landscape' - a unique remnant of un-drained fenland which once covered the vast lowlands of East Anglia. It is one of Britain's oldest nature reserves and was the first to be cared for by the National Trust.
Today Wicken Fen, is one of Europe's most important wetlands, home to over 9000 recorded species including many rare species of plants, birds and dragonflies. Throughout the year there's an amazing array of wildlife to see and hear, from booming bitterns and cuckoos in spring, rare orchids and dragonfles in summer, to hen harriers and short-eared owls in winter.
WWT Welney Wetland Centre
The friendly welcome our visitors receive is the perfect start to a day exploring wetlands, where incredible wildlife encounters take place in the heart of the Fens. We offer the perfect setting for you to create lasting memories with your family as you explore the great outdoors.
In winter join us for commentated wild swan feeds from our heated hide, watch as the birds fly in at dusk against dramatic Fenland sunsets or enjoy delicious treats from the café as you look out across the Fen landscape. In summer explore the further reaches of the reserve to witness breeding birds caring for young, an array of beautiful dragonflies and damselflies in the air or explore for underwater creatures at the pond dipping stations. Book onto events for more intimate encounters with wildlife at dawn in winter or after sunset in summer!
Burwell Museum
Set among beautifully preserved historic buildings, Burwell Museum tells the story of a bustling fen-edge village. Experience life in a Victorian mill, schoolroom and an old village shop, and imagine wartime in an original Nissen hut (siren included!). With vintage vehicles, historic farm machinery, traditional craft demonstrations and a Seventies telephone exchange to play on, Burwell Museum offers an amazing day out for families and everyone interested in fen village life.
Discover Newmarket
Discover Newmarket offers a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes ar racing's headquarters to learn about the fascinating history, heritage and culture of the town.
