Ely, Cambridgeshire

Website: Cambridge-UK.com

City of Ely, Cambridgeshire

City of Ely Council has been in existence since local government was re-organised in 1974 and it was at that time Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth granted Ely its City status.

The City of Ely is a growing primary retail and service centre for the District.  City Of Ely - Population 14,500

 Ely Cathedral dominates the City Centre and dates from 1081. Within in this is the Stained Glass Museum.

Shopping is easy and convenient with free car parking. There are numerous well known shops and a good mix of specialist shops in the busy retail City It also offers a busy market on a Thursday and craft market every Saturday, with a Farmers’ market every third Saturday. There are a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels.

There are three primary schools, with a fourth one on the way and a community college, which has recently achieved Business & Enterprise Specialist status. There is also The King’s School, one of the oldest public schools in England. The sports and recreational facilities are very extensive. They include nine play areas around the City, including a skate park.

Ely has a very large modern library and has the Ely Museum. Standing in the shadows of the Cathedral is the former house of England’s Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. This has been extensively restored and is now the Tourist Information Centre

Ely benefits from a major rail interchange with 5 lines and has regular bus services to most local villages and towns.

The River Ouse flows through the City and has free 48 hour moorings. There is also the opportunity to hire boats. Along its banks are pubs and restaurants.

Ely is twinned with Ribe in Denmark and marks its 50th anniversary of the special friendship in 2006.

The parish also includes the villages of Prickwillow, Stuntney, Queen Adelaide, Chettisham and Shippea Hill. These are all within a few miles of Ely and are all very small. Prickwillow and Stuntney both benefit from a village hall and recreational area. Prickwillow has a small drainage museum in a former pumping station. Queen Adelaide also has a village hall. All but Queen Adelaide and Shippea Hill have their own church, which are in regular use.

Official City of Ely, Cambridgeshire website: cityofely.eastcambs.gov.uk