Address: Chapter House, The College, Ely CB7 4DL, United Kingdom
Phone: +441353667735
Rating: 4.7
based on 511 reviews.
Accessibility
Pros:
"Ely has plenty of free parking around the city all within walking distance to the Cathedral."
"The Cathedral is free to visit if you're a local, all you have to do is take your ID and two letters with your home address on & that’s it then they’ll give you a Cathedral card to use for future visits."
"It also has great disabled access, toilets for both disabled and baby changing. And a lovely gift shop too."
"The entrance is wide and evenly tiled making it wheelchair accessible."
"Accessible facilities and access, good toilet facilities, a shop, and knowledgeable volunteers and guides on hand to answer your questions."
"Free car parking possible in the layby very close to the cathedral(1 minute walk) or follow parking signs and park a 10 minute walk away."
"Good Parking and free!"
Cons:
"I was told that it was still up 40 stairs and was going to stay in that location as it has been there 'since the 70s' and there were no plans to make it more Accessible."
"Although there is a stained glass museum I was unable to visit as there is spiral staircase to get there so was inaccessible to anyone with mobility issues."
"I suggested perhaps some of the glass exhibits could be brought down so that wheelchair users could see something. I was told the glass was 'too heavy'."
"Parking is a way out of the city centre and a lot of it will be uphill to the Cathedral."
"And then parking is nonexistent. You will have to find a place to park and then walk about 5 minutes to the cathedral."
"It's 15 minutes or more from the train station and uphill all the way there."
"I knocked off one star because the town centre location means that parking is a couple of minutes walk, which is not so fun in the rain."
Architecture & History
Pros:
"From the moment one enters the galilee porch and gazes upwards to the beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling and walks along the lengthy nave to the central Octagon 'Lantern Tower' and then onwards until the very end chancel - one must marvel at the hands that raised this magnificent cathedral more than 13 centuries ago!"
"Beautiful cathedral with an amazing amount of history."
"The breathtaking beauty of its interior and the serene ambiance within its hallowed walls make it a must-visit destination."
"This really is a magnificent cathedral and there had been a church on this site since AD 673 when St. Etheldreda founded her monastery."
"Ely Cathedral was spectacular, the Gothic architecture was stunning. Also the price is reasonable for visiting."
"The number one site to visit when you are in Ely. Architecture is amazing."
"Ely Cathedral, a magnificent architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of the charming city of Ely, is a place that transports you to a realm of awe-inspiring beauty and spiritual contemplation."
Cons:
"The cathedral is under renovation (to be expected, it is after all around 1,000 years old) and there was some scaffold around the entrance when I visited."
"A consequence of the act was the destruction like that of St Thomas of Canterbury Shrine the Shrine of St Ethelreda."
"Shame on Henry VIII for his reformation destruction of the carvings, some beautiful sculptured work destroyed."
"The chapel like other areas shows of the cathedral shows the violence of the reformation in its decapitation of images and chisel or pointed instrument marks on the walls."
"The destruction of statues and artifacts during the reformation should stand as a stark reminder to us today."
"But it seems a real shame that militaria had invaded the furthest east high altar area."
"The cathedral was beautiful but we were 'welcomed' by a rude, elderly person telling us the cathedral is shut for visitors, even though the website stated otherwise."
Value for Money
Pros:
"Entry is £10."
"The stained glass museum was worth the 5 pounds for which cathedral is not required."
"Ely Cathedral was spectacular, the Gothic architecture was stunning. Also the price is reasonable for visiting."
"The Cathedral is free to visit if you're a local, all you have to do is take your ID and two letters with your home address on & that’s it then they’ll give you a Cathedral card to use for future visits."
"The cathedral is open to all for free on Sunday."
"You can go inside the cathedral for free during the worship services otherwise it's £10 per adult (children under 16 are free)."
"Brilliant hour or so. Really refreshing not being told how much to pay."
Cons:
"I would recommend taking the tour to go up the Octagon which is an additional £10 (£20pp total)."
"Lovely cathedral,great architecture. Entrance fee was a big shock, £8.50 per person and an extra £13 if you want to see the Stained glass exhibits."
"However, at £18 pp it isn't cheap."
"Only downside is that it’s all a bit on the pricey side with entrance and a tower tour costing £16.50 or £9.50 just for entrance."
"Shame about the new 10gbp charge as bringing students to visit they're not prepared to spend more than 5gbp for it."
"£8 each to get into the Cathedral."
"The cost seems a little high in my opinion, making visiting inaccessible to many most days of the week."