Loved visiting Ely Cathedral. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Such a beautiful piece of architecture. We didn't do the tours but understand there are other closed off areas where you can pay extra for tours. We also visited the stain glass museum which was equally beautiful. Highly recommend a visit to see born parts.

Excellent cathedral to visit, and highly recommend the Octagon Tower tour and Stained Glass museum as well. The church is nearing 700 years old, though painted ceiling is newer. It’s interesting to walk through (as most English cathedrals are), but the standout point is the octagon centre. The tour gives a lot more history, including the architectural and engineering cleverness, and allows you to go up to the top and see the almost 1,000 year old oak timbers holding it up and look down into the cathedral from behind the Angel panels.

A beautiful cathedral, one of the most exquisite I have ever been to. From the outside the tower, which is one of the tallest in the UK, is impressive. Once you are inside the sealing is decorated with paintings and the altar is amazing. On Sunday you can enter for free. This place is highly recommended if you are in the area!

A most pleasant few hours. Good walk down to the river with made paths. There are paved routes down to the river where you can enjoy a drink overlooking the river. The city centre is ok but watch out for the vagrants. On the plus side lots of old buildings and 1950s shop fronts. Excellent parking.

I love cathedrals and Ely cathedral is no exception (but it is an exceptional building!) - there's something awe inspiring and moving about old religious buildings like Ely cathedral, it's impossible to not be impressed at the architecture. The staff are lovely and friendly and always on hand to answer any questions you may have. There's a nice little gift shop and sometimes there are exhibitions. There are also toilets if you get caught short. Well worth a visit because of how breathtakingly beautiful the place is. It's a tad pricey at £8 a visit when you can get in other cathedrals for free (Peterborough and Norwich for example), but still worth a visit at least once.

Free parking in Ely, which is great. £8 each to get into the Cathedral. Fabulous historic architecture. The stained glass windows are stunning. Took us about 45 minutes to wander around and take some photos. Little gift shop on site.

I visited Ely cathedral with my father and we had a delightful time walking around this really beautiful place. It was very clean and tidy, the guides were very knowledgeable and helpful (especially Dave who did the tower tour, which I’d recommend). We had a light lunch from The Almonry restaurant which was lovely. As there was a lot to see, we plan to come back another time very soon.

Ely Cathedral, a magnificent architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of the charming city of Ely, is a place that transports you to a realm of awe-inspiring beauty and spiritual contemplation. During my recent visit, I was left utterly captivated by the cathedral's grandeur, rich history, and serene atmosphere. From the moment I set foot inside, the sheer scale and intricacy of the cathedral's design took my breath away. The soaring ceilings, ornate stained glass windows, and meticulously carved stone details are a testament to the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who dedicated themselves to its creation. Each step along the nave, transepts, and chapels reveals new wonders to behold, with architectural surprises at every turn. One of the highlights of my visit was the chance to witness the cathedral's renowned Octagon Tower, an architectural marvel that rises majestically above the crossing. The intricate tracery and delicate stonework of the tower left me in awe of the vision and engineering prowess of those who conceived and constructed it. I was fortunate enough to ascend to the tower's summit, where I was rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, offering a breathtaking perspective of Ely and its picturesque surroundings.

We went to the cathedral for their Christmad, Christmas fair, this event is set in the magnificent cathedral. Even with the bustling stalls and crowds you can see the fabric of the building and marvel at the ingenuity of the builders all those years ago. Their work has in places been update since like the large cast iron radiators which are now gas fired rather than coal. The event was well organised, at all levels, from the park and ride (cheap at£5 a car regardless of occupancy. Good coaches taking you to the side of the building and the range of stalls on offer. In addition there was a craft and food marquee which added a different dimension.

A beautiful cathedral with some awe-inspiring views. I have been in a lot of the UK’s cathedrals and this is a truly impressive church - the octagonal main tower gives an amazing sense of space and the structure and design of the church which appears austere or Romanesque gives a true sense of age and solidity. A wonderful place to walk around and be inspired.

Full of history, full of life despite being one of the oldest in the country. Ely cathedral is a place to take a good slow walk through hundreds years of colourful history. It's a great trip for even non-religious visitors.

Absolutely magnificent. They have tours inside, which are well worth it to feel the full experience of immersing yourself in the cathedral. The grounds are well maintained, and their information points are interesting. Although there is currently maintenance work being undertaken, it does not affect the sheer magnificence of this cathedral. A must-see in Ely!

Ely is a city because of its cathedral. It only has a population of around 20,000 people which, compared to other cathedral cities, is very small. But not the smallest. Ely is the 3rd smallest city in England, and the 6th smallest in the UK (St Davids, another small cathedral city in Scotland only has a population of around 2,000). Ely's cathedral dominates. As you drive towards the city it looks slightly out of place, like it may have landed there from space. I don't have a precise measure, but would guess its around 50 x bigger in volume than the next biggest structure for miles and gave me a sense of 'building dimorphism'; Closer up, the cathedral looks impressive and still very large. Its setting appears more normal and there are some small grounds to walk around in. The cathedral runs some guided tours and suggest this is time and money well spent. For non-residents of Ely there is a small charge to enter, but parking in the city is free (which seems the wrong way round). The cathedral is under renovation (to be expected, it is after all around 1,000 years old) and there was some scaffold around the entrance when I visited, but 95% is scaffold-free so don't let this put you off. Definitely worth a visit, and definitely worth the extra effort to do a guided tour. Hit the thumbs up if this was helpful 👍

There has been a place of worship here since St. Etheldredal established a monastery in Ely in 673 AD. So it feels a very special place to visit. You can go inside the cathedral for free during the worship services otherwise it's £10 per adult ( children under 16 are free.) There's a beautiful herb garden and the town itself has some great things to see including Oliver Cromwell's home.

Impressive church with beautiful gardens and a super nice restaurant right next to it. Ely is a super cute place to visit in the weekend with a cute small market in the central square. Nice and peaceful. I wish we had better weather but all in all a beautiful way to spend a day.

Amazing amount of history. Beautiful from the outside . Scenic and magical. Issue being , went on a Sunday to find it closes at 3.30 and they still wanted £10 to enter for limited time . Gift shop was very expensive. But worth a visit for the history but go when can spend more time .

A beautiful cathedral, The Ship of the Fens. I popped into the shop to get my Pilgrims Passport stamped. I've been here on many occasions, school visits as a governor, remembrance day, the wonderful Toppings book launches, and with friends for coffee and scones at the café. There are lovely grounds to explore as well. Accessible facilities and access, good toilet facilities, a shop, and knowledgeable volunteers and guides on hand to answer your questions. You can pay to tour the Cathedral, the octagon is a spectacular sight, especially when the poppy petals are falling. It hosts many events, festivals, and markets throughout the year. Parking is a way out of the city centre and a lot of it will be uphill to the Cathedral. It's 15 minutes or more from the train station and uphill all the way there.

An absolutely stunning cathedral both inside and out!! It’s definitely worth a visit inside and if their available book to climb the towers!!!! Both tower tours fantastic! The whole cathedral is beautiful and full of history. The staff have always been very friendly and informative when I’ve been and I’ve visited the cafe on a few occasions and have no complaints. There is a small gift shop too which is nice.

Welcome to Ely Cathedral. I've never visited this part of England before, but have longed to see Ely Cathedral, aka The Ship of the Fens. (Those who know their Pink Floyd albums will know why it's called that.) And as I drove closer it did appear as a huge ship on the horizon. The cathedral is amazing for so many reasons, but most remarkably for its octagon tower. Alas, I had no time to explore the ancient city, but I did manage a quick walk around the UK's only museum dedicated to stained glass, housed up in the gallery above the nave's south aisle. This allows the visitor to view parts of the cathedral high up. Naturally, the cathedral itself has some superb windows, but the museum has some exquisite examples from all over the UK and from Europe, covering all periods. Could have stayed longer but time was pressing, light was fading, and I still had a ninety-minute drive ahead of me.

Ely Cathedral, located in the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, is a magnificent and awe-inspiring piece of architecture. It was built over several centuries, beginning in the 11th century, and features a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The cathedral boasts a stunning octagonal tower, which is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of medieval engineering, as well as intricate carvings and beautiful stained glass windows. The interior of the cathedral is equally impressive, with soaring vaulted ceilings and a sense of grandeur that is difficult to match. Visitors can explore the cathedral at their own pace or take a guided tour to learn more about its history and significance. Overall, Ely Cathedral is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in architecture, history, or religion. Its sheer size and beauty are truly awe-inspiring, and it is a testament to the incredible skill and craftsmanship of the people who built it.

One of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. I am so impressed with not only the age of this cathedral but also the sheer detail. There is so much history in one place. We were there for a graduation and it was still really cold out which meant that it was really cold in as well. There was no heat in this place. And then parking is nonexistent. You will have to find a place to park and then walk about 5 minutes to the cathedral. Dress according to the weather outside because it will be that inside. But it is so worth it once you get in.

Beautiful building with lovely stained glass windows and incredible architecture, many photographic opportunities inside and out. It was a very warm day when we visited which made entering the Cathedral a double bonus as it was pleasantly cool

Magnificent and breath-taking. This is a true wonder. Visited on a cool Saturday afternoon with a couple of colleagues at school and had a good time. The experience in this massive cathedral with its rich history was like reading a thriller novel. The choir was amazing, and we just sat the in the utter transfiguration. Student ID admits you into the cathedral for free. You must checkout the gift shop when you visit or market across the road for great souvenirs.

Beautiful experience! And very affordable tickets. I reccomend adding one of the tours to the visit, if you are into history and architecture. they're about an hour or so. General Tickets will also give you full day access so you can look around before and after a tour if you schedule one. I bought my tickets ahead of time on their website

Amazing looking cathedral. Maybe even the best looking I have seen. It is heated which was great fir a cold December day. Lots of interesting history on display. Well worth a visit. Free parking too!!!

We visited this magnificent cathedral on Sunday. Although the stained glass museum is not open, the experience is quite impressive. Especially the colors on the walls that are drawn by sunlight and the stained glasses are magical. Those colors combined with exquisite carvings and the tranquil sound from the organ, let us forget the time and be soothed. Also recommend the trails suggested by the Ely Country Park, the views of River Great Ouse are beautiful.

One of England's "must see" cathedrals, Ely had been on my bucket list for decades. I wasn't disappointed. The ceilings are fabulous, the stonework and construction awe inspiring, and the Lantern in the roof at the centre of the cathedral is divinely beautiful. Also, "sexy bishop"

What an experience. Ely Cathedral was stunningly beautiful and a true feat of Medieval architecture, some of the existing structure was built in the 12th century. It is well maintained and the displays are well organized and informative, but the Cathedral is not a museum, it is still very much a spiritual sanctuary. The adjoining 'Lady's Chapel' had a wonderful exhibit of costumes from movies filmed on location in the Cathedral.

Ely Cathedral 'The Ship of the Fen' location - you can see it from everywhere. Stunning building that oozes prayers from the fabric of its walls. Well worth a visit inside. The acoustics are outstanding. You may hear the choir practising or the organ playing a heavenly experience worth having.