EastCambs

Things to do

Heritage, wildlife, rivers and festivals: the best days out in East Cambridgeshire, with links to each attraction.

Looking up into the Octagon at Ely Cathedral, with its star-shaped vaulting and lantern windows
The Octagon, Ely Cathedral. Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0

On the map

Heritage and museums Nature and wildlife On the water Arts, film and theatre

Heritage and museums

  • Ely Cathedral

    One of England’s finest cathedrals, with its unique Octagon, painted nave ceiling and guided tower tours.

    Ely city centre

  • The Stained Glass Museum

    The only museum in Britain dedicated to stained glass, displayed high in the cathedral’s south triforium. Reached by a spiral staircase.

    Inside Ely Cathedral

  • Oliver Cromwell’s House

    The Lord Protector’s family home, brought to life with period rooms and an audio tour.

    St Mary’s Street, Ely

  • Ely Museum

    The story of the Isle of Ely from fossils and the Romans to Hereward the Wake, housed in the city’s old gaol.

    Market Street, Ely

  • Stretham Old Engine

    The last complete survivor of the steam engines that drained the Fens, with limited open days in spring and summer.

    Stretham, near Ely

  • Prickwillow Museum

    The Museum of Fenland Drainage, with working diesel engines run on regular engine days.

    Prickwillow, near Ely

  • Burwell Museum and Windmill

    Village life in the fen-edge, with historic buildings, vehicles and the working Stevens’ Mill.

    Mill Close, Burwell

  • Wicken Corn Windmill

    A smock windmill built in 1813 and restored from 1987 by the Wicken Windmill Partnership, still grinding flour. Free to visit on its regular open days, with organic flour for sale.

    High Street, Wicken

  • Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill

    A Jacobean-style house with a rich collection, extensive gardens and a working watermill.

    Lode, near Cambridge

  • The Littleport Society archive

    Local history collection from fossils and Roman finds to Victorian maps and photographs, open free on Tuesday afternoons with no appointment needed. The Society also runs talks and history walks.

    The Barn, off Main Street, Littleport

  • Haddenham Great Mill

    A Grade II listed tower windmill of 1803, one of only four complete tower mills left in Cambridgeshire, restored by the Haddenham Great Mill Preservation Trust. Look out for its open days.

    Aldreth Road, Haddenham

  • Isleham Priory Church

    A small, little-altered Norman church that belonged to a Benedictine priory, later used as a barn. Cared for by English Heritage.

    Isleham

Nature and the outdoors

Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve

Walk the boardwalk through sedge and reed beds, look out for marsh harriers, hen harriers in winter, dragonflies in summer and the herds of Konik ponies and Highland cattle that graze the fen. Wicken Fen is also the starting point of the Wicken Fen Vision, a long-term project to restore wetland between Wicken and Cambridge.

The Devil’s Dyke

An Anglo-Saxon earthwork running about seven miles from Reach to Woodditton. The bank-top path offers a fine walk with rare chalk grassland flowers and butterflies in summer.

Walking and cycling

The flat, quiet lanes and long-distance paths make this easy country to explore. Try the Fen Rivers Way along the Great Ouse and Cam, the Hereward Way through the Isle, or the traffic-free Lodes Way between Wicken Fen and Anglesey Abbey. See our walks and cycle rides page for routes on a map.

A dark wooden wind pump standing among reeds on Wicken Fen under a cloudy sky
The wind pump on Wicken Fen. Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0

Enjoy the countryside safely

  • Fen droves and riverbanks can be muddy and remote: wear good footwear and tell someone your route.
  • Keep dogs on leads near grazing animals and ground-nesting birds.
  • Follow the Countryside Code.

Nature reserves and wildlife

  • Ely Cathedral peregrines

    Peregrine falcons nest on the cathedral. Look up from the city, or follow them on the cathedral’s live webcam.

    Ely Cathedral

  • Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve

    A wetland reserve created from farmland, with lakes, reedbeds and grassland that attract a wide range of birds.

    Near Wicken

  • Roswell Pits

    Lakes and reedbeds in old clay pits beside the Great Ouse, a short walk from Ely’s riverside, with paths and birdwatching.

    Edge of Ely, off Kiln Lane

On the water

The Great Ouse flows right through Ely, and the River Cam, the Lark and a network of lodes join it nearby. Hire a day boat, learn to row or set off on a narrowboat holiday.

  • Black Prince Holidays, Ely

    Self-drive narrowboat holidays and short breaks on the Great Ouse and Cam.

    Bridge Road, Ely

  • Fish & Duck Marina

    Self-drive day boat hire from spring to autumn, at the meeting of the Cam and the Great Ouse.

    Near Little Thetford

  • Ely Rowing Club

    A friendly club on the Great Ouse offering rowing for all ages and recreational boat hire.

    Ely riverside

  • Bridge Boatyard

    Boat hire on the Great Ouse at Ely.

    Bridge Road, Ely

  • Liberty Belle cruises

    Guided narrowboat trips on the river from Ely. Trip times are on its Facebook page.

    Ely riverside

Arts, film and theatre

  • The Maltings, Ely

    A converted 19th-century riverside maltings, now a venue for concerts, comedy, shows and community events, run by the City of Ely Council.

    Ship Lane, Ely

  • Ely Community Cinema

    A volunteer-run, not-for-profit cinema screening new releases and classics at The Maltings.

    The Maltings, Ely

  • Viva Theatre

    Community theatre, youth productions and workshops in a restored mill building in Soham.

    Spencer Mill, Soham

  • Contemporary art gallery run by Babylon Arts in a riverside building on Ely’s Waterside.

    Waterside, Ely

  • Cineworld Ely

    Multiplex cinema showing the latest films.

    Downham Road, Ely

Festivals and events

  • Ely Eel Festival

    A celebration of Ely’s eel heritage around the early May bank holiday, with a parade, food and music. Details are published by Visit Ely.

  • Ely Folk Festival

    A friendly weekend of folk music, ceilidhs, dance and camping, held each July just outside the city.

  • Reach Fair

    One of England’s oldest charter fairs, held in the village of Reach each spring and traditionally opened by the Mayor of Cambridge.

  • Soham Pumpkin Fair

    A popular autumn fair held in Soham on the last Saturday in September.

  • Soham Carnival & Heavy Horse Show

    Running since 1952 and organised by the Soham Benevolent Association to raise money for local groups.

  • Ely Fireworks

    A community fireworks display in Cherry Hill Park in early November, with food stalls and fairground rides. Soham Town Rangers also hosts a family fireworks night.

  • Ely speciality markets

    Farmers’ markets, seasonal fairs and late-night summer markets throughout the year.

  • Burwell Carnival

    A community day out for all ages that raises thousands of pounds for local charities and groups.

  • Stretham Feast

    A village festival held every May since 1877, with a market around the Village Cross, an outdoor service, a pipe band parade and a fair on the recreation ground. Feast Day is the third Sunday in May.

    Stretham

See dates and the yearly calendar on our what’s on page, and find clubs and groups to join on our clubs and societies page.

Dates, opening times and prices change, so always check with the organiser before you travel. Listings are for information only and are not endorsements.

Plan your trip

Find trains, buses, cycle routes and moorings on our getting here page, or explore a town: Ely, Soham, Littleport, Burwell, Stretham or Wicken.