TRAVEL GUIDE
since prehistoric times. Just some of the highlights on display include the East Cambridgeshire Bronze Age gold torc – the largest of its kind – and fossils originating from the time when plesiosaurs swam in the warm Jurassic seas that covered the area in bygone millennia. Aside from wandering through the largest collection of domestic monastic buildings in the UK in the picturesque cathedral surroundings, a final historical must-do is to visit the home of the city’s most famous resident – former Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. A complicated, but nonetheless legendary historical figure, it was here where Oliver and his family lived for more than ten years in 1636. The house provides an interactive and informative insight into not just the family home, but the broader context of British history during the civil war. Delightful dining and dozing Sat opposite this historic dwelling, you’ll find Poets House – an elegant trio of Grade II listed Edwardian townhouses providing tasteful accommodation in the cathedral’s shadow for overnight stays in this sleepy spot. This boutique bolthole takes its name from a former resident – Sybil Marshall – although Poets House is something of a misnomer, since Marshall was a former author and educationist. Nevertheless, the hotel’s sumptuous suites – each with a William Holland copper bath – plus the cosmopolitan food and drink served in the restaurant downstairs will have you waxing lyrical. The à la carte menu offers a selection of fine produce, with classic favourites alongside more sophisticated fusion dishes – best enjoyed in the peaceful courtyard garden on a summer’s evening. Another top dining destination in Ely is The Old Fire Engine House, an The annual Eel Day festivities have been a staple of the Ely calendar since 2004
free in the evening before 5.15pm to catch the evensong performed by the choir on weeknights during term time, continuing the cathedral’s tradition of a choir school for boys since the tenth century. It was only in 2006 that a girls’ cathedral choir was added too! Visitor tickets and tours can be booked in advance at elycathedral.org . While here, don’t miss the Stained Glass Museum within the cathedral to learn more about this awe-inspiring craft through a jaw-dropping collection of panels tracing a history through over eight centuries of an ancient art form. From this sacred setting, head to the city’s Old Gaol, dating back to the 13th century, to explore Ely Museum. Here, you can learn the stories of the prisoners once incarcerated in these cells and those of other Fenland folk who have dwelt here
figure in the Presbytery, plus medieval carvings portraying scenes from her life and miracles in the impressive Octagon Tower. Primarily a Norman construction that took almost three centuries to build, this architectural masterpiece hosts a fascinating and complex history. It is said the monks originally paid for the Barnack limestone used to build the cathedral – quarried in nearby Peterborough – with 8,000 eels annually. Today, many will recognise its iconic facade and elaborate interiors as a location in a host of television and film – including Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Crown, The King’s Speech and most recently Maestro , to name just a few. The cathedral also hosts a rich programme of concerts, exhibitions and events. For a truly atmospheric experience, visit for
PANE AND GAIN The Stained Glass Museum exhibits designs and tools from the 13th century
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