Optional Day: A Visit to the City of Ely
Thursday 17 September 2026
The Optional Day on Thursday 17 September 2026 will be a visit to the small city of Ely in the heart of fenland Cambridgeshire some 16 miles north of Cambridge.
The visit will entail a guided tour of Ely Cathedral which has origins dating back to the year 670. The current medieval building dates from 1081. It has the third longest nave of any UK cathedral. A unique Octagon Tower is at the heart of the building with another feature being the 14th century Lady Chapel. There is also a Stained Glass Museum which can be visited. Ely Cathedral is a striking example of medieval architecture on a grand scale. It is often referred to as the ‘Ship of the Fens’ as it can be seen from miles around and across the flat landscape of the fens (a vast agricultural area in east England).
The optional day will also include a visit to Oliver Cromwell’s House. It was the residence of the Cromwell family for some ten years from 1636. The house, which also doubles up as a Tourist Information Centre, is now a museum devoted to the history of Oliver Cromwell and English Civil War which saw the execution of King Charles I in 1649 and Cromwell subsequently installed as ‘Lord Protector’ in 1653; an extraordinary parliamentary and constitutional period of British history.
The visit to Ely may also include a visit to the Session House, the local courthouse, and there will be opportunity to wander through the cathedral grounds, alongside the monastic buildings and down to the picturesque riverside.
For this visit a coach will depart Cambridge at approximately 10am and return to Cambridge arriving back between 4pm and 4:30pm. These timings will be confirmed nearer the time.
Lunch will be included within the cost of the optional day. Further details about the lunch venue will be provided soon.
Please note that due to the age of some of the buildings being visited, there may be some access issues with narrow staircases and where lifts are not available to upper floors.
Also, please also be aware that internet connectivity can sometimes be relatively weak in Ely.
The cost of the optional day will be: US$100.