The crowning glory of this fenland city is its magnificent cathedral, which stands superbly up above the flats. The Isle of Ely came to Etheldreda, the daughter of the King of East Anglia, and she founded a monastery here, which was replaced in Norman times by the cathedral. Its lantern tower is of exceptional beauty. The cathedral is also home to a Stained Glass Museum, which displays panels dating from the Middle Ages.

A stroll around the city reveals a variety of fascinating places, dating back centuries. Many are now privately owned, but some, like Oliver Cromwell’s House, are open to the public. The house is over 700 years old, and was home to Cromwell for 10 years. If you want to learn more about the history of Ely, the local museum has displays and information about the city and its surrounds.

Just outside Ely is the Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum. Parts of the fens have been drained since Roman times, and this museum displays some of the engines used following the industrial revolution. To experience the fens as they were, visit Wicken Fen – a carefully preserved sample of undrained original fen and Britain's oldest nature reserve.