Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Ely (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ely Cathedral, St Peter-in-Ely, and Oliver Cromwell's House. Also, be sure to include Countess Free Church in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Ely (England).
Table of Contents
Ely Cathedral
Norman edifice and stained glass museum. Ely Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.
The cathedral has its origins in AD 672 when St Etheldreda built an abbey church. The present building dates back to 1083, and it was granted cathedral status in 1109. Until the Reformation it was the Church of St Etheldreda and St Peter, at which point it was refounded as the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely, continuing as the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire. It is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon. Architecturally, it is outstanding both for its scale and stylistic details. Having been built in a monumental Romanesque style, the galilee porch, lady chapel and choir were rebuilt in an exuberant Decorated Gothic. Its most notable feature is the central octagonal tower, with lantern above, which provides a unique internal space and, along with the West Tower, dominates the surrounding landscape. Ely Cathedral is a major tourist destination, receiving around 250,000 visitors per year, and sustains a daily pattern of morning and evening services.[1]
Address: Minster Place, CB7 4DL Ely
St Peter-in-Ely
St Peter-in-Ely or St Peter's Church, Ely is a Church of England Proprietary Chapel in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, located on Broad Street. The chapel is in the Diocese of Ely and follows the Anglo-Catholic or high-church tradition of the Church of England.
It is a stone structure in the Early Decorated Period style and consists of chancel, nave, south porch and south-west bell turret with one bell. The architects responsible are named in a contemporary press report as 'St Aubyn and Wadling of London'. Mr H.J. Wadling attended the dedication service as 'architect'. The east window is a notable work from the studio of Charles Eamer Kempe and there is a wooden screen and rood loft designed by Sir Ninian Comper.
The building opened for worship in 1890 with the intention of ministering to those living and working in Ely's riverside district.[2]
Oliver Cromwell's House
Tourist attraction in Ely, England. Oliver Cromwell's House in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England was the family home of Oliver Cromwell. The kitchen dates from around 1215, other parts being built later. The house was the vicarage of St Mary's Church until 1986. In 1988 it was bought by the City of Ely Council and was opened as a tourist attraction in 1990, and has been refurbished to show how it may have looked during Cromwell's lifetime.
The former Lord Protector's family home is his only residence still in existence other than Hampton Court. Following a recent refurbishment the House now has a completely re-vamped Civil War exhibition with interactive displays and interpretations.[3]
Address: Oliver Cromwells House 29 St. Marys Street, CB7 4HF Ely
Countess Free Church
The Countess Free Church is a church based in the centre of Ely, Cambridgeshire, and holding events across the city. The church meets on a Sunday morning at 10.30am as well as activities and groups for people of all ages through the week, including a strong community focus by hosting various groups and activities mid-week. The church buildings are located in Chapel Street, near Ely Cathedral and the current pastor is Karl Relton.[4]
St Etheldreda's Church
Catholic church in Ely, England. St Etheldreda's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. It is part of the Diocese of East Anglia within the Province of Westminster.
The church notably contains the shrine and relics of St Etheldreda, an Anglo-Saxon queen and abbess who died on 23 June AD 679 and went on to become one of the most popular of the medieval saints in England. She has even been described as one of "the most significant of all native English Saints."[5]
Stained Glass Museum
Specialty museum, Museum
Address: The South Triforium, CB7 4DL Ely
Ted Coney's Family Portraits
Museum
Address: 49 Waterside, Ely