Ely Cathedral rises from the flat Cambridgeshire fenland like a ship sailing across an inland sea – which is exactly what locals call it: “the Ship of the Fens.” When I first approached Ely by train, I spotted the cathedral from miles away, sitting on what was once an actual island surrounded by marshland and water. The scale is deceptive until you get close – this is one of England’s longest cathedrals, stretching 164 metres from end to end.
This great European cathedral‘s defining feature is the extraordinary Octagon and Lantern tower at its centre. This isn’t original medieval architecture – it was built after the Norman central tower spectacularly collapsed one night in 1322. Instead of simply rebuilding what fell down, they created something completely unique: an enormous eight-sided tower topped with a wooden lantern that appears to float impossibly in mid-air. It’s considered one of the wonders of the medieval world, and once you see it, you understand why.
Quick answer: Ely Cathedral tickets and opening hours
Adult tickets cost £14. Children under 16 enter free when part of a family group. The cathedral is open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-4pm, Sunday 12noon-3pm. Your ticket can be upgraded to an annual pass at no extra cost, giving you free re-entry for an entire year. Octagon Tower tours cost extra and must be pre-booked as spaces are limited. The cathedral costs £10,000 per day to run and receives no regular government funding.
At a glance
| Adult ticket price | £14 |
| Opening hours | Mon-Sat: 9:30-16:00 | Sun: 12:00-15:00 |
| Address | The Chapter House, The College, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4DL |
| Free for | Children under 16 (with family group) |
| Annual pass | Free upgrade from visitor ticket |
How much does Ely Cathedral cost?
When I checked in January 2026, the pricing is wonderfully simple compared to many cathedrals.
Standard admission prices
| Ticket type | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £14 | Ages 16+ |
| Free | £0 | Children under 16 (with family group) |
That’s it. No student discounts, no senior rates, no complicated tier system. Just one adult price and free entry for kids.
Annual pass – genuinely excellent value
Here’s where Ely Cathedral gets interesting: you can upgrade your visitor ticket to an annual pass at no extra cost. Just ask the team on duty when you visit. This gives you free entry during visitor opening times for an entire year from your purchase date.
Important notes about annual passes:
- Only available for full-price visitor tickets (not tour tickets or group discounts)
- Not transferable
- Not valid for concerts or special events
- Always check opening times before visiting as they can change
Stained Glass Museum
Located upstairs in the cathedral (accessed via a 40-step spiral staircase):
Price: £6.50 (in addition to cathedral ticket)
There’s no lift access to the museum – only the spiral staircase. If you have mobility issues, this isn’t accessible. Check the Stained Glass Museum website for their own free entry criteria.
Special tours (must be pre-booked)
Octagon Tower Tours – Climb to the famous Octagon and Lantern for unique views down into the cathedral and across the Fens. The Octagon Tower tours cost £11 for adults and £9 for children. Pre-booking is essential as there are limited spaces.
West Tower Experience – Climb the west tower (separate from the Octagon). Pre-booking required.
Ground Floor Tours – Guided tours of the main cathedral. Pre-booking advised.
Hidden Heights Tours – Specialist tours to restricted areas. Pre-booking essential.
Check the cathedral website for current tour prices and availability. These tours sell out quickly, especially Octagon tours.
Gift Aid
If you’re a UK income tax payer, you can Gift Aid your ticket at no extra cost. This allows the cathedral to claim an additional 25% from the government, helping maintain this historic building.
Is Ely Cathedral free to enter?
No, not for general visiting. Adult tickets cost £14, though children under 16 enter free when with family. However, several groups qualify for free admission – check the cathedral’s website for the current free entry criteria.
Unlike many English cathedrals, such as Lichfield Cathedral, Durham Cathedral and Ripon Cathedral that operate on voluntary donation, Ely charges a fixed admission fee. This is the model favoured by the likes of York Minster, Lincoln Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral.
Ely Cathedral receives no regular government funding and costs £10,000 per day to maintain and run. Every ticket sale directly supports the building’s preservation and the cathedral’s mission.
Attending services is free and open to everyone – if you time your visit during a service, you can experience the cathedral without paying admission, though you’ll be there for worship rather than sightseeing.
What time does Ely Cathedral open?
Standard opening hours:
Monday to Saturday:
- 9:30am – 4:00pm
Sunday:
- 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Critical warning: Ely Cathedral is a very busy working cathedral. Opening times frequently change due to services, events, maintenance, concerts, and rehearsals. Before travelling, always check the cathedral’s “Changes to Visitor Opening” page on their website for any restrictions or closures on your intended visit date.
This isn’t a criticism – it’s a functioning cathedral, not a museum – but it means you absolutely must check the website before travelling.
Do I need to book Ely Cathedral tickets in advance?
For general admission: Not required, though recommended. You can buy tickets on arrival, but advance booking via the cathedral website guarantees entry and saves queuing time.
For Octagon Tower tours and other specialist tours: Yes, absolutely. Pre-booking is essential as spaces are very limited and these tours sell out quickly. Book through the cathedral website as far in advance as possible.
For groups: Contact the cathedral’s box office on 01353 660349 (monitored part-time, Monday-Friday only) or email [email protected].
Refund policy: Tickets are not refundable unless the cathedral cancels the visit or tour. Transfers to another date may be possible with suitable notice – contact the box office.
Built with 8,000 eels per year
Ely Abbey was founded in 672 AD by St Æthelthryth (also called Etheldreda or St Audrey), daughter of Anna, King of East Anglia. The name “Ely” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for “Isle of Eels” – when the area was surrounded by marshland, eels were abundant and became the local currency.
In the 11th century, the monks paid Peterborough Abbey 8,000 eels annually for the Barnack limestone used to build the current cathedral. Construction began in 1083 under Abbot Simeon. The building was granted cathedral status in 1109.
The cathedral you see today is primarily Norman Romanesque, but with significant Gothic additions. It stretches 164 metres long, with the nave alone measuring over 75 metres – one of the longest naves in Britain. The west tower rises 66 metres, though its north transept collapsed in the 15th century, leaving the west front noticeably lopsided.
The night the tower fell
On the night of 12-13 February 1322, the Norman central crossing tower collapsed. The monks thought there had been an earthquake – the noise was tremendous. Possibly caused by foundation work for the new Lady Chapel undermining the tower’s stability, or simply because the sandy fenland soil dried out and weakened, the tower came crashing down into the crossing below, also destroying the western bays of the choir.
The sacrist, Alan of Walsingham, was devastated. One contemporary monk wrote: “He was devastated, grieving vehemently and overcome with sorrow… that he knew not which way to turn himself or what to do for the reparation of such a ruin.”
Rather than rebuild a conventional square tower, Walsingham conceived something extraordinary: an octagon. They cleared away the rubble and the remains of the four original piers, creating a vast open space 23 metres wide – far too wide to roof with stone vaulting. Instead, they built eight massive stone pillars to support the octagonal base, then brought in William Hurley, the King’s master carpenter, to create the wooden lantern above.
The result is unique. The octagonal lantern appears to float in mid-air, 43 metres above the floor, held up by an incredibly complex timber structure hidden above the vaulting. The lantern couldn’t be built this way today – there are no trees large enough. The entire project took just 13 years and cost £2,406 6s 11d (roughly £3.5 million in today’s money). It was finished around 1335.
The lantern has panels painted with musical angels that can be opened, allowing choristers to sing from this extraordinary height down into the cathedral below.
Inside the cathedral
The nave is Norman, with massive cylindrical pillars and round-arched arcades – classic Romanesque architecture. Walking from west to east, you pass from the Norman nave through the Octagon (which sits where the Norman tower once stood) into the Gothic choir beyond.
The Lady Chapel, begun in 1321, is the widest medieval church in England (48 feet). Its intricate stone vaulting and elaborate decoration represent the Decorated Gothic style at its finest. Unfortunately, much of the sculptural decoration was destroyed during the Reformation and English Civil War, but enough survives to show how magnificent it must have been.
The choir stalls feature elaborate Victorian wooden carvings. Behind the high altar, the Presbytery houses the shrine of St Etheldreda, refounded in recent years after the original was destroyed during the Reformation.
Throughout the cathedral, you’ll find over 100 stained glass windows spanning eight centuries. Many contain biblical scenes and stories from the cathedral’s history.
What’s included with your Ely Cathedral ticket?
Your £14 admission includes:
- Entry to the main cathedral
- Access to the nave, choir, presbytery, and Lady Chapel (when not in use for services)
- View of the Octagon and Lantern from floor level
- Self-guided visit at your own pace
- Photography for personal use
Not included:
- Stained Glass Museum (£6.50 extra)
- Octagon Tower tours (separate booking and fee)
- West Tower Experience (separate booking and fee)
- Other specialist tours
Things to do near Ely Cathedral
Ely is a small city (population around 19,000), but the cathedral close and surrounding area have several attractions within easy walking distance:
Oliver Cromwell’s House (200 metres, 3 minutes) – The former home of Oliver Cromwell, who lived in Ely from 1636-1647 before leading the Parliamentary forces in the Civil War. Now a museum covering Cromwell’s life and the English Civil War period. £6 adults. Allow 45-60 minutes. Interesting Tudor building with period rooms.
Ely Museum (400 metres, 5 minutes) – Local history museum in the Old Gaol building covering Ely’s past from prehistoric times through the medieval period and Victorian era. £6 adults. Allow 45-60 minutes. Good on the area’s fenland history and how the landscape changed.
The Babylon Gallery (300 metres, 4 minutes) – Contemporary art gallery in a converted Victorian waterworks engine house. Free entry. Changing exhibitions of modern art and crafts. Worth a quick look if you’re interested in contemporary work.
Ely Riverside (600 metres, 7 minutes) – Pleasant walks along the Great Ouse river with views back toward the cathedral. Free. Good for stretching your legs after the cathedral visit. Several pubs and cafés along the waterfront.
Jubilee Gardens (500 metres, 6 minutes) – Small public park with flower beds and riverside views. Free. Pleasant spot for a rest. The gardens lead down to the riverside walk.
Practical tips for visiting Ely Cathedral
- Location: The Chapter House, The College, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4DL
- Getting there: Ely train station is 10-15 minutes walk to the cathedral. Regular trains from London King’s Cross (1 hour 20 minutes) and Cambridge (17 minutes). The cathedral is signposted throughout the city.
- Parking: No cathedral parking. Use public car parks in the city centre (5-10 minutes walk). The nearest is Barton Road car park.
- Check before travelling: Always verify opening times on the cathedral website before your visit. Daily restrictions are common.
- Time needed: 60-90 minutes for a thorough self-guided visit. Add 45-60 minutes for Octagon Tower tour if booked.
- Octagon views: You can see the Octagon from floor level with your general admission ticket. To climb up for closer views and access the lantern level, book an Octagon Tower tour separately.
- Stained Glass Museum: Factor in the 40-step spiral staircase with no lift alternative.
- Annual pass: Don’t forget to ask about upgrading to the free annual pass if you think you might return.
- Photography: Allowed for personal use. No tripods without permission.
- Accessibility: Accessible access available, but some areas (tower tours, Stained Glass Museum) involve stairs with no lift alternative.
- Services: Free to attend. Check the website for current service schedule.
- Café: The Almonry Kitchen on site serves light meals, cakes, and afternoon tea.
- Shop: Cathedral shop sells books, gifts, and souvenirs.
- Best time: Weekday mornings tend to be quieter. Avoid when major concerts or events are scheduled.
The Ship of the Fens
The cathedral’s nickname comes from its prominent position above the flat fenland landscape. When Ely was a true island surrounded by water and marshes (before the fens were drained in the 17th century), the cathedral dominated the view for miles in every direction, looking like a great ship sailing across an inland sea.
On a clear day from the Octagon rooftop, you can see 25 miles to Royston Hill. Closer views take in Thetford Forest, Newmarket Heath, and Cambridge on the horizon – across landscape that would have been almost entirely water when the cathedral was built.
FAQs about Ely Cathedral
How much does it cost to visit Ely Cathedral? £14 for adults. Children under 16 enter free with family. Your ticket can be upgraded to a free annual pass.
When was Ely Cathedral built? The abbey was founded in 672 AD. The current building dates from 1083, with cathedral status granted in 1109. The Octagon was built 1322-1335 after the Norman tower collapsed.
What is the Octagon? The unique eight-sided tower and lantern at the cathedral’s centre, built after the Norman tower collapsed in 1322. It’s considered one of the wonders of the medieval world – a wooden lantern appearing to float 43 metres above the floor.
Do I need to book in advance? Recommended but not essential for general admission. Essential for Octagon Tower tours and other specialist tours, which sell out quickly.
Can children climb the Octagon Tower? Check age restrictions for specific tours when booking. The spiral staircases are narrow and steep.
Is there free entry? Not for general visiting (£14 adults), though children under 16 enter free with family. Check the website for other free entry criteria. Attending services is free.
What’s included in the ticket? Entry to the main cathedral including nave, choir, Lady Chapel, and floor-level views of the Octagon. Does not include tower tours or Stained Glass Museum.
How long should I spend there? 60-90 minutes for a thorough visit. Add more time for specialist tours.
Can I get an annual pass? Yes, upgrade your visitor ticket to an annual pass at no extra cost when you visit. Ask the team on duty.
Why is it called the Ship of the Fens? Because it rises prominently from the flat fenland and was visible for miles when Ely was an island surrounded by water.
Are there opening hour restrictions? Yes, frequently. Always check the cathedral website before travelling as closures and restrictions are common for services, events, and maintenance.
