Ely
One of England’s smallest cities, crowned by its Norman cathedral and famous Octagon lantern. Wander the riverside, the markets and Oliver Cromwell’s House.
Big skies · Fenland · The Isle of Ely
Discover East Cambridgeshire
From the cathedral city of Ely – the “Ship of the Fens” – to ancient wetlands, riverside pubs and market towns, there’s more to the Fens than the flat horizon suggests.
Start exploringPlaces to visit
East Cambridgeshire stretches from the edge of Cambridge out across the Fens to the Norfolk and Suffolk borders.
Soham
A historic market town with a working windmill, the medieval St Andrew’s Church and easy access to the surrounding fen and commons.
Littleport
A Great Ouse riverside town in the heart of the Fens, with boating, walks and a proud history of fenland life.
Burwell & Reach
Home to Burwell Museum and windmill, and the start of the Devil’s Dyke – an Anglo-Saxon earthwork running across the chalk towards Newmarket.
Sutton, Haddenham & the Isle
Hilltop villages on the old Isle of Ely, with sweeping views over the black fen soils and some fine village churches.
Bottisham, Lode & the south
Gentler, greener villages close to Cambridge – including Anglesey Abbey, its gardens and working watermill at Lode.
See & do
- Ely Cathedral – climb the West Tower or the Octagon for views across the Fens.
- Oliver Cromwell’s House – the Lord Protector’s family home, now a museum in Ely.
- Ely Museum – the story of the Isle, from fossils and Romans to Hereward the Wake.
- Stretham Old Engine – a preserved 19th-century steam pumping engine that helped drain the Fens.
- Anglesey Abbey – National Trust house, gardens and Lode Mill.
- Local food & drink – farm shops, riverside pubs and fenland produce grown on some of the richest soil in Britain.
The great outdoors
Wicken Fen
One of Europe’s most important wetlands and one of the National Trust’s oldest nature reserves. Look out for Konik ponies, Highland cattle, dragonflies and marsh harriers.
Rivers & waterways
The Great Ouse, the Cam and the Lark wind through the district – perfect for boating, paddling or a towpath walk.
Walking & cycling
Flat, quiet lanes and long-distance paths such as the Fen Rivers Way make this easy country to explore on foot or by bike.
Getting here
By train
Ely is a major rail junction with direct trains to Cambridge, London, Norwich, Peterborough and beyond. Plan your journey with ElyTrainStation.co.uk.
By road
The A10 and A142 link the district to Cambridge, King’s Lynn and Newmarket, with the A14 to the south.
By bike
National Cycle Route 11 runs between Cambridge, Wicken and Ely through classic fen landscape.