Ely Museum
Ely Museum
4
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Following a £2.2m National Lottery Heritage Fund redevelopment between 2019-2021, Ely Museum is now open to the public again! Ely Museum tells the stories of the people and the landscape of Ely and its surrounding area from prehistory to the present day. Our displays explore how people have lived here over the centuries and how their way of life has been influenced by the unusual landscape of the fens. They also highlight the many ways in which the people have changed and adapted the landscape to suit their needs. Light, airy galleries and lots of fun, hands-on activities for children makes a visit to Ely Museum fun for the whole family!
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4.0
136 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
59
Average
21
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Bartyd
Cambridgeshire13 contributions
July 2021 • Solo
Visited the newly refurbished Ely Museum. Although the building has been much improved there doesn't seem to be much of interest to look at. Surprisingly there was nothing about the cathedral, Ely waterside or the various cinemas that used to be in the city. I can't think that children would find this of interest and it was empty on the afternoon I visited. The admission charge means you can visit for a year but somehow I don't think I will be bothering to go back. Very disappointed!
Written 1 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine N
4 contributions
June 2022 • Family
First visit since the museum’s upgrade and we were blown away by the family-friendly exhibits; loads of things to touch and try out, great kids’ trails and small enough to hold the kids’ interest all the way round. Great afternoon activity for half-term. We’ll be back!
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,323 contributions
July 2024 • Solo
Ely Museum is at the other end of Market Street from the market and fairly easy to find via google maps.
Within the museum there are displays about what life was like in Ely many, many, many years ago up to the second world war.
The building used to be the old jail and there is a room where you can listen to accounts of what life would have been like for prisoners.
There is a lift to get to the two floors so this is helpful for those with mobility challenges. There is also a decent gift shop with lots of different things for sale.
Within the museum there are displays about what life was like in Ely many, many, many years ago up to the second world war.
The building used to be the old jail and there is a room where you can listen to accounts of what life would have been like for prisoners.
There is a lift to get to the two floors so this is helpful for those with mobility challenges. There is also a decent gift shop with lots of different things for sale.
Written 26 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary E
Aldridge134 contributions
Sept 2022
Visited when the museum was quiet so it was easy to see everything. Staff helpful, clear instructions and information on all the exhibits. Displays are clear and there are good activities for children. You could arrive knowing little about the City of Ely and would leave well informed.
Written 11 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Faye W
48 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Loved this little museum. Filled with all sorts of fascinating history. Was so shocked to find we were the only people there, especially as it was Easter Sunday! Highly recommend making this a part of your trip to Ely. Very affordable with lovely staff!
Written 14 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vantangran
London, UK961 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
£5.50 is a lot to charge for what there is. The gaol part is interesting but a lot more could be made of it. The other exhibits are pretty standard museum fare. The princess burial is again underachieving its potential.
Written 20 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AdTheLad
Cambridgeshire73 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
Tucked away at the end of Market Street, Ely Museum is well worth a visit by visitors and locals alike. A classic insight into Fenland life since the middle ages one leaves the museum wondering how anybody managed to endure such a harsh existence. They made them tough out there!
Written 3 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sumort
London, UK244 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
This museum s rubbish, and we wrote as much on the children's toy plastic exhibit! We were there around 10 minutes and we completed the whole tour. Don't go! WE saved a couple £9 as we left by informing them.
Written 22 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. I'm very sorry to hear that you thought our museum is 'rubbish' and particularly sorry that you sent other visitors away without giving them the chance to make their own decision.
It would be very helpful to us if you could give me a bit more information about what it was you didn't like as we are currently in the process of planning improvements, provided we can raise the money to implement them. Was it something specific about the displays that you didn't like? The subjects that were covered or the way they were explained? Were the staff in any way deficient in their jobs?
Written 24 March 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tony C
Dumfries, UK528 contributions
July 2021 • Couples
Newly renovated this local museum skips over the English resistance to William the Bastard and the treason the monks with just one board.
However it did a fare job of other subjects.
However it did a fare job of other subjects.
Written 2 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samantha B
6 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
Decided to go here after cromwell's nice little museum cheap enough nice little gift shop would return
Written 16 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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