Reporter Niamh Dann visited Ely for the day to see why it has been named the best place to live in Cambridgeshire (Image: Niamh Dann/Cambridge News) Group 28 Stay up to date with all the latest news, features and reviews of all things food, drink, and entertainment with our weekly What's On email Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. More info Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Recently, Ely was named the best place to live in Cambridgeshire by Muddy Stilettos . Beating Cambridge and eight other beautiful villages in the county, this massive achievement might leave many wondering why it came out on top against such tough competition. I have never visited Ely before so when it was announced that it came number one, I was dying to find out why. All I knew before driving down was that it had a pretty amazing Cathedral and was famous for its eels. I'm certain they are not the reasons it won. So I drove down and spent the day roaming the streets and trying to see as many attractions as I possibly could. By the time I walked back to my car, I left feeling as if I finally understood why it has been named Cambridgeshire's best place to live and was completely convinced that it deserved it more than anywhere else. Read more: The often overlooked Huntingdonshire village should be named one of Muddy Stilettos' best places to live Filled with history Ely Cathedral in the distance (Image: Niamh Dann/Cambridge News) As soon as you enter Ely, the beautiful old buildings and breathtaking Cathedral hits you right in the face with a century's worth of local history. For those who love a city of stories, Ely is a history lovers' paradise. Although there is so much to see that tells the story of Ely's people, nothing stands out quite like Ely Cathedral. Towering over the landscape, you can see its spire wherever you are in the city. It sits up in the sky, always beckoning you over. From the outside it is amazing enough, but inside is a whole different story. You can look around the Cathedral with a £10 adult ticket. I have seen quite a few Cathedrals in my day, but none blew me away quite like this one. The architecture, colours and paintings inside make it completely unique. The stained glass windows filling Ely Cathedral with colour (Image: Niamh Dann/Cambridge News) It also turned out I had gone at the perfect time of day. With the sun hitting the stained glass windows, the Cathedral pillars were flooded with a rainbow of colours! I have never seen anything like it anywhere else in the
UK. It was truly a sight to see. But this is not where Ely's history ends. I also decided to visit the Oliver Cromwell Museum, just around the corner from the Cathedral. This is a fascinating part of the city's history and no trip there is complete without seeing it. The Museum was filled to the brim with stories and facts I had never heard before and I left feeling as if I was closer to what 17th-century Ely might have been like with one of history's most infamous figures walking its streets. Foodie heaven Reporter Niamh Dann eating at The Almonry attached to Ely Cathedral for lunch (Image: Niamh Dann/Cambridge News) After a whole day roaming the city, by the time it reached lunchtime, I was pretty hungry and searched around for the perfect foodie stop-off. Walking out of the Cathedral I discovered it had it's very own café built within the Medieval precinct of the Cathedral. The Tea Room overlooks the Cathedral gardens and is apparently the perfect setting for morning coffee and homemade cake. I didn't need much more convincing than that so I headed down, enjoyed a cappuccino and pulled pork brioche bun with salad and then enjoyed a walk through the gardens. Perfection! Walking through the city, I also saw countless cafés, tearooms, bakeries and restaurants that could please any foodie. I have already decided that next time I visit the city I will be taking a trip down to Peacock's Tearoom which was recently named a Local Gem on the Good Food Guide . Read more: The Huntingdon butchers whose Wagyu Beef pie has been named one of the best pies in the country Indie is best Ely High Street has independent shops for everyone (Image: Niamh Dann/Cambridge News) For such a small and cute city, I was not surprised to find the High Street heavily prioritises Independent shops rather than those big names. When many across the country are asking where the high street has gone, Ely's seems to be a bustling cultural hub. I specifically enjoyed the indie shops The Eel Catcher's Daughter, Topping and Company Booksellers of Ely and Ely Fudge Company. I could have easily stayed all day going from shop to shop and never getting bored - and it seemed like everyone else was doing the exact same thing. After visiting this little Cambridgeshire gem, it's no surprise it has been named the best place to live in Cambridgeshire. Even beyond its amazing buildings and shops, there is a calmness to the city that is so enjoyable and I can't wait to visit again. Read next: Famous Cambridge garden that helped inspire Charles Darwin to discover evolution How to celebrate the spring equinox in Cambridgeshire with your family Giant observation wheel to return to Parker's Piece in Cambridge this summer Cambridgeshire musicians band together for tour and hometown gig Here is how you can meet Peter Rabbit in Cambridgeshire for free this Easter Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow CambridgeLive
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