Eastlife Spring 2020
With spring flowers, warmer weather and Easter on the horizon, we’re helping you get out of the winter slumber and embrace the great outdoors. Spend the afternoon exploring the sleepy villages of Norfolk or Suffolk, learn to sail on the Broads or punt along the River Cam. Find out more about beach hut hire on the pretty shores of Mersea Island or discover the likes of Ely, Colchester and Ipswich with our travel guides. With spring flowers, warmer weather and Easter on the horizon, we’re helping you get out of the winter slumber and embrace the great outdoors. Spend the afternoon exploring the sleepy villages of Norfolk or Suffolk, learn to sail on the Broads or punt along the River Cam. Find out more about beach hut hire on the pretty shores of Mersea Island or discover the likes of Ely, Colchester and Ipswich with our travel guides.
CambridgeshireSpringtimein ElyWritten by Bob Cox-Wrightson | Twitter @bobcwThe blossom is out, and spring is in the air, and there’sno finer city to visit at this time of year than Ely. The citylooks at its best as it shakes off the dark winter days,so whether you’re looking for family spring-time walks,leisurely shopping or the best of eating and drinking, theFenland’s Cathedral city is the place for you at this timeof the year.Place to eatThe best way to arrive in Ely is by train, with servicesspanning the East of England and beyond. Walk fromthe railway station to the nearby riverside, and you’ll finda tranquil area to explore. Eateries include the Cutter Inn,serving drinks and meals right by the river(www.thecutterinn.co.uk), the Riverside Bar andKitchen at the historic Maltings, offering a great rangeof freshly prepared dishes (www.rbk-ely.co.uk), andthe award-winning Peacock’s Tearooms, where youcan enjoy a light lunch or a cream tea, with a staggeringamount of delicious brews to choose from(www.peacockstearoom.co.uk).198Walks in ElyStroll along to Jubilee Gardens and enjoy a picnicand explore the winding paths amongst the treesand flowerbeds. From here you can wander up to ElyPark, with fine views of the Cathedral, and further intothe city centre. Known locally as Cherry Hill, Ely Parkincorporates an ancient castle mound, and links theriverside to the Cathedral and City Centre.Take a walk around the back of the Cathedral and you’lldiscover an entrance to the gardens of The AlmonryRestaurant and Tearoom. Take a seat in the 13th-centurymedieval vaulted undercroft, or enjoy a picturesqueview of the Cathedral from the neat and pretty gardens(www.elycathedral.org/visit/the-almonryrestaurant).
CambridgeshireTo the MarketFrom here, duck through the medieval gateway andyou’ll be right in the centre of the city, at the MarketPlace. The general Thursday market has been held heresince the 12th century and features fresh local fruit andveg and everyday household items alongside artisanbreads, cakes and tasty street food.The Craft, Food & Vintage Market is held every Saturday,and has a fantastic range of arts and crafts from localmakers plus antiques and vintage collectables, plus awealth of worldwide food and drink, including Ely’s veryown Ely Gin (elygin.co.uk).There’s even more to explore at the Farmers Market,which takes place every second and fourth Saturday ofthe month, all year round, and has a great selection ofseasonal local produce (www.elymarkets.co.uk).Alternatively, if you carry on further along the riverside,you’ll discover the vast Waterside Antiques Centre, thelargest antiques centre in East Anglia. This enormousbuilding, originally built as a maltings in the late 1760s, ishome to more than 65 antiques dealers and is chock-fullfull of treasures waiting be discovered(www.watersideantiques.co.uk).Just along from Waterside Antiques is another hiddentreasure of Ely’s riverside, Babylon Arts, which has aprogramme of visual art, film, and live events throughoutthe year, featuring artists from the area and further afield(www.babylonarts.org.uk).Things to do with children in ElyWalk further along the riverside, past the boats andwillow trees, and you’ll discover one of Ely’s bestchildren’s play areas, at Ely Country Park. This is afantastic place for the kids to run about and to enjoy apicnic. It features some great play equipment, includinga zip wire and a multi-play pirate ship. There are also twocircular walking trails, from which you can take in thesurrounding wildlife in the Fen landscape(www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/ely-country-park).For more information about events in and around Elythroughout the year, go to www.visitely.org.uk.199
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Cambridgeshire
To the Market
From here, duck through the medieval gateway and
you’ll be right in the centre of the city, at the Market
Place. The general Thursday market has been held here
since the 12th century and features fresh local fruit and
veg and everyday household items alongside artisan
breads, cakes and tasty street food.
The Craft, Food & Vintage Market is held every Saturday,
and has a fantastic range of arts and crafts from local
makers plus antiques and vintage collectables, plus a
wealth of worldwide food and drink, including Ely’s very
own Ely Gin (elygin.co.uk).
There’s even more to explore at the Farmers Market,
which takes place every second and fourth Saturday of
the month, all year round, and has a great selection of
seasonal local produce (www.elymarkets.co.uk).
Alternatively, if you carry on further along the riverside,
you’ll discover the vast Waterside Antiques Centre, the
largest antiques centre in East Anglia. This enormous
building, originally built as a maltings in the late 1760s, is
home to more than 65 antiques dealers and is chock-full
full of treasures waiting be discovered
(www.watersideantiques.co.uk).
Just along from Waterside Antiques is another hidden
treasure of Ely’s riverside, Babylon Arts, which has a
programme of visual art, film, and live events throughout
the year, featuring artists from the area and further afield
(www.babylonarts.org.uk).
Things to do with children in Ely
Walk further along the riverside, past the boats and
willow trees, and you’ll discover one of Ely’s best
children’s play areas, at Ely Country Park. This is a
fantastic place for the kids to run about and to enjoy a
picnic. It features some great play equipment, including
a zip wire and a multi-play pirate ship. There are also two
circular walking trails, from which you can take in the
surrounding wildlife in the Fen landscape
(www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/ely-country-park).
For more information about events in and around Ely
throughout the year, go to www.visitely.org.uk.
199
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