City of Ely and the Ship of the Fens

Welcome to the historic city of Ely, full of charm and beauty and home to one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England. Nestled in the Fen countryside, this small city in East Cambridgeshire is your ideal day visit. After an interesting tour of the cathedral, you will have the opportunity to explore Cambridge, Ely’s famous neighbour.

Ship of the Fens

Your day begins in the city of Ely where you meet a local guide for a tour of the magnificent Cathedral which is located in the centre of the city, surrounded by medieval monastic buildings, parkland and meadows. Ely Cathedral is the only UK building to be listed as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages’. Visible for miles around, the Cathedral is therefore often referred to as ‘The Ship of the Fens’. The nave is the same length as Ely High Street, with a spectacular roof of painted panels. The famous Octagon Tower, sometimes referred to as ‘The Lantern’, is a wonder of the medieval world and globally recognised as a masterpiece of engineering. Most recently, Ely has become a prominent film location for some epic films including Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Other Boleyn Girl and The King’s Speech.

Fens Drive

Afterwards, head across the Cambridgeshire fens and drive towards the world-famous university city of Cambridge. Here, you can see the famous ‘punts’ on the river.

Lunch

Enjoy a two-course lunch followed by tea and coffee.

Visit to Cambridge

After lunch, your tour continues with a gentle walking tour of this famous city. You may wish to take a look at Christ’s College, where young Charles Darwin studied.  There is the opportunity to visit King’s College, where the Chapel is the grandest and most beautiful building in Cambridge. Hence, it ranks amongst the most important examples of perpendicular (late gothic) architecture. There is an extra charge with timed entrance here.