1. The House
2. Rates and Routes
3. The City of Ely
4. The City of Cambridge
5. Tours of Cambridge
6. Excursions from Ely
7. Ely to London and Europe
The Cathedral
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Ely is an ancient small town with the title of city on account of its cathedral. This draws visitors from all over the world. It is immense, a miracle of gothic architecture, bordering on the main street and set against parkland and monastery buildings.
The cathedral is visible from miles around, the destination for pilgrims in olden times making the lengthy and arduous journey by boat through the surrounding marshes.
The cathedral has a unique feature, the Octagon, the structure which surmounts the transepts and the nave. Visitors should not miss the tour of the Octagon offered by the cathedral guides.
The Fens
Before the draining of the surrounding wetlands, Ely was an island as were many other nearby locations. This aspect is one of the features in the excellent Ely Museum in Market Street. The Isle of Ely is now perched above the drained marshes, the fenland, stretching flat, and (it must be admitted) fairly featureless in all directions.
For nature enthusiasts, Ely is central for visits to the wildfowl sanctuary at Welney, and the unique Wicken Fen, the preserved original fenland. See Excursions from Ely
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The City The name of the city is said to be derived from "eels" for the reason that eels were caught locally, but there is convincing evidence of Ely being the location of Ilios, the religious site of the Trojans. Recent scholarly appraisal of Homer's Iliad points to East Anglia as the location of the Trojan kingdom. For information see www.Troy-in-England.co.uk The River The River Great Ouse passes through Ely and it attracts many fishermen and cruising boats. On the river bank are situated: The Maltings, a hall with bar and restaurant and cinema, several other restaurants and a pub. There is a marina, a ships' chandlers, and a vast antique shop nearby. Facilities Ely has a wide range of very attractive shops and two large supermarkets. There are numerous restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, a sports hall, and a sailing club. There is an 18-hole golf course and a driving-range. Parking is free, with car parks close to the centre of town. Cambridge Ely is an excellent centre for visits to Cambridge. See The City of Cambridge Tours of Cambridge |