Great Ouse Riverside

The Great Ouse runs along the eastern edge of Ely, and the riverside path below the city centre is one of the most pleasant walks in the area. The cathedral on its hill dominates the skyline above the river — the view from the water meadows looking up toward the Octagon tower is one of the best you can get.

In summer you can hire rowing boats or take guided boat trips along the river into the surrounding fenland. The Maltings, a converted waterfront building near the boathouse, houses a small venue and café. The riverside area comes alive on summer weekends with cycling clubs, kayakers, and visitors making the most of the flat fenland landscape.

things to do sight
A story
The Great Ouse was the key to Ely's medieval prosperity. The city sat on what was effectively an island surrounded by treacherous fenland — the river was the only reliable route in and out. Goods, building materials for the cathedral, pilgrims, and produce all came and went by water. The drainage of the fens in the 17th century transformed the surrounding landscape entirely, turning marshland into some of the most productive farmland in England, but the river still runs through Ely as it always has.