Ely Flights:
Flights to Ely
Ely is one of England’s smallest cities with a population of around 15,000 people. It’s located in the county of Cambridgeshire, about 23 kilometres from the city of Cambridge making this a smaller and quieter alternative to that world famous city.
Flights to Ely are best arranged to arrive in London, where there are a number of major roadways for driving and rail routes to Ely. Heathrow Airport (airport code: LHR) will give you the best options for a flight to Ely when departing from Johannesburg. Virgin Atlantic, BMI and British Airways all have non-stop flights but a number of other airlines have 1-stop routes as well. Turkish Airlines makes a transfer in Istanbul, SwissAir stops in Zurich and Iberia connects in Madrid.
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The Tourist Attractions of Ely:
Ely was historically an island situated in the marshy Fens and it gets its name from the eels that lived in the marshes! Though it isn’t an island these days (because the Fens were drained), the Fens position of the city, and the fact that the larger city of Cambridge is fairly close by, has meant that Ely never grew too much, retaining its small city appeal. For this reason Ely is a worthwhile stop for anyone visiting this part of England; offering quaint winding streets and a nice, historic atmosphere.
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the main attraction in the city. It’s known as the Ship of the Fens because the tall towers can be seen from miles around! There has been a church here since 673 and the current cathedral was built between 1083 and 1375 and includes a unique octagonal tower hat replaced the original Norman tower which collapsed in the 1300s.
Sometimes you can ask for a tour to go up the west tower from which you can enjoy some fantastic Fens views, and if you’re interested Ely Cathedral is home to Stained Glass Museum. This small museum features stained glass dating from as far back as the 13th century and the collection is of national importance.
Oliver Cromwell’s House and Museum
Oliver Cromwell became the collector of taxes for Ely in 1636 and so he lived in the city for several years while he held this position. The house in which he lived still stands today and is used as the Ely tourist information centre but it’s also a museum. The rooms of the house are staged as they would have been during the period in which Cromwell lived here.
Wicken Fen
Visitors who would like to see some of the Fens that surround Ely can visit Wicken Fens Nature Reserve in Wicken, just outside the city. This nature reserve features walking trails, an old fens cottage, and the Dragonfly Centre.
When Should You Visit?:
With its mild climate Ely can be visited at any time of the year though summers are usually the most popular. Temperatures are warm with average highs around 22C in July and August, and pleasant temperatures in spring and autumn too. May for example has an average high of around 17C. Winters are mild with occasional frosts and cold snaps.