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Major city · United Kingdom

Ely, EnglandEly

Give Ely one full day and one night: cathedral, Cromwell's house and the riverside on foot, then leave. Two nights only if you add Wicken Fen or Welney.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ely is a pocket-sized cathedral city on a chalk hill in the Fens, 15 min by train from Cambridge and about 1 h 15 min from London King's Cross. Everything worth seeing sits inside a 15-minute walk of the station, so it works as a day trip from Cambridge or a single overnight. The cathedral is the reason to come; the fens and the market are the reason to stay a little longer.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
Apr–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some attractions closed)
Airports
STN · LHR · NWI
Nights
1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ely, England999 ▾
  • Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)999
  • Emergency from any phone (EU-wide)112
  • NHS non-urgent advice111
  • Police non-urgent101

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ely, England, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or bagel£6–8 (≈ US$8–11)
  • BeerPint of beer in a pub£4–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£10–20 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or pub-room bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £100 (≈ US$140) · High £180 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ely Cathedral and its octagonal lanternOliver Cromwell's houseFenland wetland reserves at Wicken and WelneyThursday, Saturday and Sunday markets
Airports
STN London Stansted (Closest major airport, under 50 miles by road; CrossCountry and Greater Anglia trains link the airport with Ely.) · LHR London Heathrow (About 90 miles by road; Piccadilly line to King's Cross St Pancras, then a direct Great Northern train to Ely.) · NWI Norwich (About 60 miles by road; a small number of UK and European flights.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: Apr–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (23°C (73°F)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ely, England: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

1°C (34°F)

9 rd

Mar

11°C (52°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

9 rd

Jun

21°C (70°F)

10°C (50°F)

9 rd

Jul

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

9 rd

Aug

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

9 rd

Sep

20°C (68°F)

10°C (50°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

7°C (45°F)

10 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

11 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes; you do not need a car or bus inside Ely. Buses to surrounding villages leave from Market Street (check boards or the tourist information centre). Trains from Ely station reach Cambridge in about 15 min, Peterborough in about 35 min and London King's Cross in about 1 h 15 min.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Cambridgego

Door to door: About 30 min

Direct train from Ely station, about 15 min

Colleges, museums and the river; the obvious half-day add-on.

Peterborough

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Direct train, about 35 min

Norman cathedral and a fast rail junction; easy half day.

Wicken Fen

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive or taxi, about 15 min south of Ely

National Trust fen reserve; one of the last pieces of the old marshland. Check opening before you go.

Welney Wetland Centre

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive via the A1101, about 25 min north

The A1101 at Welney floods in winter; check the road and the centre's opening first.

Duxford

caution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Train to Cambridge, then bus or taxi

Imperial War Museum airfield; a full day, not a quick add-on.

Huntingdon

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Train, about 40 min with a change

Nothing here beats what you already have in Ely or Cambridge.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

City centre (Market Street, High Street, St Mary's Street)

Best for one night: cathedral, market and restaurants all within a 10-minute walk.

Waterside and Annesdale

Riverside pubs and guesthouses on the Great Ouse; 10–15 min walk to the cathedral.

Near the railway station

Practical for an early train; several B&Bs within walking distance, but the centre is a 10–15 min walk away.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£50–80 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
£80–130 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × £120£120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £100£200
Cathedral ground floor, adult2 × £14£28
Octagon tower tour, adult2 × £11£22
Ely Museum, adult2 × £7£13
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £15£30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£41
Trip total≈ £227 per person per day, bed included£454≈ US$650

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Ely excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
Sandwich or bagel£6–8 (≈ US$8–11)
Cod and chips, takeawayEat-in costs a little more; a mini meal is about £7.25.£10.50 (≈ US$14)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Afternoon tea at Peacocks TearoomCream tea with scones about £12.£22.50 (≈ US$30) per person
Pint of beer in a pub£4–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Train Ely → Cambridge, off-peak return£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£10–20 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ely is a small, quiet city and feels safe day and night. The real risks are fen roads after dark, winter flooding on the A1101 at Welney, and unlit towpath or bridleway cycling between Cambridge and Ely.
  • Buy a train ticket before you travel; ticket offices, machines and online retailers all work.
  • Roads into Ely congest at morning and evening peaks, especially near Cambridge, Newmarket and King's Lynn.
  • Some fen routes flood in winter, notably the A1101 at Welney.
  • Many minor fen roads are poorly surfaced with unguarded ditches and dykes: do not cycle or drive them after dark if you do not know them.
  • The Maltings restaurant closes over winter; check before planning a meal there.

Emergency numbers

Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
999
Emergency from any phone (EU-wide)
112
NHS non-urgent advice
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Ely, EnglandEly

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency999
  • Emergency (any phone)112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Ely; the US Embassy is in London and most consulates-general are in London or Cambridge (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Ely → Cambridge: about 15 min, off-peak return roughly £6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
  • Train Ely → London King's Cross: about 1 h 15 min direct
  • Cathedral ground floor, adult: £14 (≈ US$19), child free; Octagon tower £11 (≈ US$15) adult / £9 (≈ US$12) child

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry
  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is the only language you need here.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ely, England. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some attractions closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for STN: last trains to Ely field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: cathedral and The Gallery, Market Street and the market square, Waterside and the river.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (cathedral, Cromwell's house, Ely Museum, Stretham Old Engine) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Flood and closure fixtures for Wicken Fen, Welney and the Maltings so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources