Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY? </h2>



<p>Ely Cathedral is one of the wonders of eastern England and to see this marvel of architecture rising above the flat vista makes living here a daily delight<em>.&nbsp;</em>But Ely isn’t just amazing because it&#8217;s home to The Ship of The Fens. The streets of the bijou town are lined with picture-postcard historic houses and cute little cobbled squares and it lies on the beautiful River Great Ouse, where you can row and walk to your heart&#8217;s content.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant.jpg" alt="Ben's Yard restaurant ely " class="wp-image-35714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/bens-yard-restaurant-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ben&#8217;s Yard Restaurant. (Image Arctic Zoo/ Ben&#8217;s Yard)</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="http://www.theoldfireenginehouse.co.uk">The Old Fire Engine House</a> is a traditional restaurant and art gallery in a gorgeous Georgian House that serves food inspired by the Fens. <a href="http://www.theroyalstandardely.com">The Royal Standard</a>, a Greene King pub, is a popular place for a relaxed meal, while for something a little more special head to hotel <a href="https://www.poetshouse.co.uk">Poet&#8217;s House</a>. </p>



<p>For easy lunches after a riverside walk there&#8217;s <a href="http://www.peacockstearoom.co.uk">Peacocks Tearoom</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RBK.Ely">Riverside Bar and Kitchen</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/thecutterinnely/posts/?ref=page_internal">The Cutter Inn</a>. For a unique place to eat check out <a aria-label="The Almonry (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.elycathedral.org/plan-your-visit/eat-drink-shop/the-almonry-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Almonry</a> restaurant in The Undercroft of Ely Cathedral&#8217;s medieval precinct. <a href="http://www.theyardely.co.uk">The Yard by Silver Oak</a> is an outdoor street-food style eatery with amazing coffee. <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk">Ben&#8217;s Yard</a>, a smart retail village, has a <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk/amelierestaurant">pretty botanical-inspired restaurant</a> currently run by Cambridgeshire&#8217;s much-loved Amelie restaurant that is a wonderful place for breakfast, brunch and lunch. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1422" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/449762961_17972939384738434_415289864315611299_n.jpg" alt="Ben's Yard Shopping Ely Cambridgeshire" class="wp-image-42332" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/449762961_17972939384738434_415289864315611299_n.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/449762961_17972939384738434_415289864315611299_n-800x790.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/449762961_17972939384738434_415289864315611299_n-1000x988.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/10/449762961_17972939384738434_415289864315611299_n-400x395.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ben&#8217;s Yard</figcaption></figure>



<p>There are plenty of independent shops in Ely, plus three market days a week. For a serious sugar hit, <a href="https://www.elyfudge.co.uk/">The Ely Fudge Company</a>, as the name suggests, sells the most delectable handmade fudge and sweet treats. Plenty of indies to shop local, gift shop <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jensensely/?locale=en_GB"></a><a href="https://www.eelcatchersdaughter.co.uk">The Eel catch Catcher&#8217;s Daughter</a> and kitchen shop <a href="http://www.cutlacks.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cutlacks</a>. <a href="https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Topping and Company</a> is a proper old-school bookshop that hosts many author events, and <a href="http://www.watersideantiques.co.uk/">Waterside Antiques</a> is a huge antiques centre with around 60 dealers. Over at <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk">Ben&#8217;s Yard</a> on the outskirts of the city you&#8217;ll now find lovely indie shops including <a href="https://www.fredaandbert.co.uk/">Freda &amp; Bert </a>gift shop, <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk/love-lane-by-abi">Love Lane by Abi</a> homewares shop, <a href="https://thatchandroses.com/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwrp-3BhDgARIsAEWJ6SyiCc_k0z1vGQ1giYBj42ushhWB47gLXXrNc6awZ5rPKF6Tq5m3M-4aAnl9EALw_wcB">Thatch &amp; Roses</a> florist and <a href="https://www.arloandjacob.com/our-showrooms/ely">Arlo &amp; Jacob</a> furniture. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>You’re spoiled for choice with cool boutique style gyms and studios in Ely, but our pick is the brilliant Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.freshandwell.co.uk">FRESH</a>. run by Alice and Sara where you can take Barre, Pilates, Dance, Flexitone and Yoga classes in a light-flooded studio. Just outside town at shopping village and restaurant Ben’s Yard, there’s also <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk/the-ness">The Ness Club</a>, an intimate studio for boutique classes in yoga, reformer Pilates, barre fitness, HIIT, and mindfulness. And being a small city, there are all the doctors, dentists and health professionals you could need right on your doorstep. </p>



<p>Looking to work on your wellbeing? <a href="https://suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/featherlight-living-life-coach-cambridgeshire/">Featherlight Living&#8217;s</a> Steph runs regular River Retreats and Flourish in the Fens life coaching workshops on her wide beam boat on the river at Isleham as well as Ely. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>Ely has a lively local makers scene and there are regular Meet The Makers markets in the city and at Ben’s Yard.&nbsp;The Cathedral is central to the community here and there are loads of amazing events from music to exhibitions throughout the year to get involved in. The highlight of the year is the huge and not-to-be missed Christmas Food &amp; Gift Fair. As far as community clubs go there’s everything from Ancient &amp; Medieval Languages Club and Archaeological Club to Theatre Club and Netball Club.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY<strong> </strong>ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1280" height="960" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely.jpg" alt="Oliver Cromwell's house" class="wp-image-29132" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely.jpg 1280w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/Oliver_Cromwell_House_Ely-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Oliver Cromwell&#8217;s House</figcaption></figure>



<p>There are miles of fen waterways to discover from Ely, so you might want to leave room in the relocation budget for a pleasure boat. <a aria-label="Ely Cathedral (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.elycathedral.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ely Cathedral</a> is worth a visit at any time of year and Oliver Cromwell lived in Ely for a decade so you can <a aria-label="visit his house (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.olivercromwellshouse.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visit his house</a> (including the haunted bedroom) and experience how life was for the Lord Protector in the 17th Century. In terms of outdoorsy activities, The National Trust&#8217;s <a aria-label="Wicken Fen (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wicken Fen</a> and the <a href="https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney/">Welney Wetland Centre</a> are an easy drive away. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.themaltingsely.org.uk">The Maltings</a> on Ely&#8217;s Riverside has been converted into a brilliant theatre and arts space and holds regular performances as well community events. There&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.babylonarts.org.uk">Babylon Arts</a>, an independent arts organisation that holds regular exhibitions and events. Throughout the year there are events and festivals such as the <a href="https://elyfolkfestival.co.uk/">Ely Folk Festival</a>, and the <a href="https://www.elyartsfestival.org/">Ely Arts Festival</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>A house here will cost you an average £392,213. Detached properties go for an average £512,525, terraced homes for £313,365, while semis are £371,742. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/82366_33051060_IMG_00_0000.jpeg" alt="row of townhouses in Ely with cathedral behind them " class="wp-image-42209" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/82366_33051060_IMG_00_0000.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/82366_33051060_IMG_00_0000-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/82366_33051060_IMG_00_0000-1000x563.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/82366_33051060_IMG_00_0000-400x225.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Snap up one of these five brand new stylish townhouses in a prime town centre location. <a href="https://www.cheffins.co.uk/residential/property/4-bed-three-cups-walk-ely-cb7-33051060?search=1&amp;s-type=buy&amp;s-term=Ely" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £750,000</a>. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Plenty of choice when it comes to childcare here with <a href="https://www.brighthorizons.co.uk/our-nurseries/ely-day-nursery-and-preschool">Bright Horizons</a> (Ofsted Good), <a href="https://www.themaltingsdaynursery.co.uk">The Maltings Day Nursery</a> (Outstanding), <a href="https://www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/nursery/ely?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw1aOpBhCOARIsACXYv-f9OQsjzoeMCBefJNsrf6EOZYyq7HlKRIr6mxSsdj_tlWe2ysoxlYEaAo-dEALw_wcB">Busy Bees</a> (Outstanding), <a href="https://www.chdn.co.uk/nursery/ely/">Clarence House Day Nurseries</a> (Good) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cathedralviewchildcare/">Cathedral View Childcare</a> (Good). <a href="https://www.kingsely.org/kings-ely-acremont-nursery/at-work/nursery/">King&#8217;s Ely Acremont School</a> also has a private nursery taking kids from 2 yrs. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Ely is home to one of the oldest schools in the UK, <a href="https://www.kingsely.org">King’s Ely School</a>, which is directly opposite the cathedral and has a really strong music, drama and arts department, as well as impressive academic results. The setting within the historic town is rather idyllic too. Good state schools in the area include <a href="https://www.elycollege.com">Ely College</a>, <a href="https://www.elystjohns.cambs.sch.uk/website/">St John&#8217;s Primary School</a>, <a href="https://elystmarys.demat.org.uk">St Mary&#8217;s C of E Junior School</a>, <a href="https://isleofelyprimary.org">Isle of Ely Primary School</a> and <a href="https://highfieldschoolely.co.uk">Highfield Ely Academy</a>&nbsp;&#8211; all rated Good.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Keep your eyes peeled for famous actors in this teeny city &#8211; Hollywood films shot here include Al Pacino&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Revolution</em> and <em>The King&#8217;s Speech</em> with Colin Firth, plus parts of Netflix&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>The Crown</em>&nbsp;were shot at Ely Cathedral.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Ely has a train station with direct semi-fast trains to London Kings Cross (70 mins). The same line goes through Cambridge – that journey takes 19 mins.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Ely

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