Opening Times

Opening Times

Monday–Saturday 9.30am - 4pm
Sunday 12 noon - 3pm

Ely Cathedral is a very busy working Cathedral and there are occasions we need to restrict visitor access or close our doors to visitors for an event, service, essential maintenance etc. We appreciate that people may travel some distance to visit, so we try and give as much notice as possible here. However some events or services need to take place with very little notice, so please check back here for any changes before you visit.

Changes to Opening Times

November

Wednesday 12 November
10am – 4pm: Organ tuning.  Please note this involves very loud, repetitive and discordant noise.

Thursday 13 November
10am – 11am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to a children’s service.
1pm - 2pm: No visitor access to the South Transept due to a lunchtime concert.  Visitors are welcome to attend the concert.

Friday 14 November
9.30am – 11am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to set up for an event.
Visitor opening 9.30am – 3.30pm (last entry 2.30pm) due to a service (Evensong with Admission of Scholars) at 4.30pm.  

Sunday 16 November
12 noon – 1pm: No visitor access to the Presbytery due to a baptism.

Monday 17 November & Tuesday 18 November
9.30am – 4pm: The Cathedral will be busier than usual with set up for the Christmas Gift and Food Fair.

Wednesday 19 November
No visitor entry or tours today, due to set up for the Christmas Gift and Food Fair.
The Cathedral shop is closed.  The Stained Glass Museum is open 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm).

Thursday 20 November – Saturday 22 November
Entry to the Cathedral is by ticket to the Christmas Gift and Food Fair only.  The Cathedral will be much busier than usual and no tours run.  If your main interest is the history and heritage of the building, you may prefer to visit on a different day.

Monday 24 November
10am – 11am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to a children’s event.

Thursday 27 November
10am – 11am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to a children’s service.
10.30am – 11am: No visitor access to the Presbytery due to a service.

Saturday 29 November
10.45am – 12.30pm: No visitor access to the East End and Presbytery to a service.

Sunday 30 November
Visitor opening is 12 noon – 2.30pm.  Access from 2.30pm will be limited due to choir rehearsals.
12 noon – 1.15pm: No visitor access to the East End and Presbytery due to a baptism.

December

Monday 1 December
No visitor entry or tours due to a schools’ carol service.
The Cathedral shop is closed; the Stained Glass Museum is open 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Thursday 4 December
10.15am – 11.30am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to a children’s service.
1pm – 4pm: The Octagon area will be busier than usual with rehearsals for The Four Seasons at Christmas.  Some visitor access and views will be limited.

Friday 5 December
1pm – 4pm: The Octagon area will be busier than usual with rehearsals for Bublé Christmas by Candlelight.  Some visitor access and views will be limited.

Saturday 6 December
1pm – 4pm: The Octagon area will be busier than usual with rehearsals for Christmas by Candlelight.  Some visitor access and views will be limited.

Monday 8 December
No visitor entry or tours due to school rehearsals and carol service.  
The Cathedral shop is closed; the Stained Glass Museum is open 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Tuesday 9 December
Open to visitors 11.15am – 4pm, due to a school carol service.  The Stained Glass Museum opens as usual at 10am.

Wednesday 10 December
Open to visitors from 10am, due to school rehearsals.
10am – 4pm: Organ tuning.  Please note this involves very loud, repetitive and discordant noise.

Thursday 11 December
Open to visitors 10.15am – 1.30pm (last entry 12.30pm) due to a school carol service.
10.15am – 11.15am: No visitor access to the Lady Chapel due to a children’s service.
10.30am – 11am: No visitor access to the Presbytery due to a service.
The Stained Glass Museum is open 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Friday 12 December
Open to visitors from 12.15pm, due to a school carol service.  The Stained Glass Museum opens as usual from 10am.

Saturday 13 December
Open to visitors 10am – 1.30pm (last entry 12.30pm) due to the Community Carol Service.  All are welcome to join the service.
10am – 1.30pm: Visitor access to the Lady Chapel will be limited due to a Christmas Wreath Workshop.
The Stained Glass Museum is open till 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

Sunday 14 December
No visitor entry or tours due to a private carol service.

Monday 15 December
Open to visitors from 11.30am, due to a school carol service.
1pm – 4pm: The Cathedral will be much busier than usual with rehearsals for a school carol concert.  Visitor access and views will be limited.
The Stained Glass Museum is open 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

Tuesday 16 December
10am – 3pm: No visitor access to the East End and Presbytery due to a school service.

Thursday 18 December
Open to visitors from 11.15am, due to a children’s service.

Friday 19 December
1pm – 4pm: The Octagon area will be busier than usual with rehearsals and loud sound checks for G4 Christmas.  Some visitor access and views will be limited.

Sunday 21 December
No visitor access to the Lady Chapel from 2.45pm, due to choir rehearsals.

Monday 22 December
10am – 12 noon: The Lady Chapel will be busier than usual due to a Nativity Dress Up event.  All visitors and their children are welcome to join the event.

Wednesday 24 December – Christmas Eve
All are welcome to join our services at 12 noon, 3pm, 6pm and 11pm.
Visitor access is 10am – 11.30am and 1pm – 2.30pm.  No tours run, no tickets are needed but donations are very welcome.

Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day
Everyone is welcome to join our services at 10.30am and 4pm.  Visitor access is 12.30pm – 3pm.  No tours run, no tickets are needed but donations are very welcome.

Friday 26 December – Boxing Day
Visitor access is 10am – 3.30pm.  No tours run today, no tickets are needed but donations are very welcome.

Saturday 27 December
Visitor entry is 10am – 3.30pm.  All are welcome to join evening prayer at 4pm.

Sunday 28 December
Visitor entry is 12 noon to 3pm.  
2pm – 3.30pm: The Octagon area will be busier than usual with choir rehearsals.  Some visitor access and views will be limited.

Monday 29 December – Thursday 1 January
Visitor entry is 10am – 3.30pm.  All are welcome to join our evening service at 4pm.