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Ely Cathedral - simply stunning

A wedding of a close friend in the historic city of Ely (The Old Hall) not only provided me with some wonderful memories of a beautiful and special day, but it also offered me a chance to find out more about the historic cathedral city.

So I decided to drive up a day before the celebration, and spend an afternoon exploring the area settled in the fen countryside.

Ely was once an island surrounded by marshland that contained many eels. The sheer volume of the slippery creatures gave weight to the name the city is known by today.

The Eel Trail celebrates the city's past and present offering a fascinating blend of a rich heritage and architectures with contemporary artworks depicting Ely's association with the eel.

Eels were historically part of the local staple diet as well as a valuable source of income. Jellied eels were popular until recent times and clients would come from London such was the reputation of Ely's eels.

Eels are still caught in the Great River Ouse although only one commercial catcher remains. Smoked eels, now considered a delicacy, can be purchased on Ely's award winning Farmer's Market and dishes such as eel stew and eel pie can be found regularly on the restaurant menus in the areas.

So, to use the 'Eel Trail' for exploring the city full of charm and beauty is the perfect guide. Here, you can visit some of the unique and impressive structures of the city, as well as investigating the more modern developments.

I was lucky as the day brought intense sunshine, blue skies, and smiling faces all around the city. Here are some of the must-sees that can give you a real flavour of the Cambridgeshire city.

Oliver Cromwell's house offers an insight into the leader's life

Oliver Cromwell's House

Doubling up as Ely's Tourist Information Centre, the house itself pre-dates Cromwell by about four centuries as parts of it have 13th century origins. Its most famous resident was of course Cromwell, who inherited the house along with the title 'Farmer of the Tithes' which today would be termed as the local tax collector.

Oliver Cromwell reading something to his family...

Former Lord Protector of England Cromwell lived in Ely with his family for just over 10 years between 1636-1647. It is the only remaining residence , other than Hampton Court in London.

The house is full of history and atmosphere, and gives a real feeling as to the kind of man Cromwell was. Still to this day the man divides opinion – hero or villain? From being a strong military leader and protecting people from despot kingly rule, to overseeing terribly tyranny's in Ireland, that essay is for another blog!

The structure inside the cathedral is inspiring

The famous Octagon Tower looks even better in sunlight

Ely Cathedral

In my opinion, one of the most magnificent, striking and spectacular cathedrals in the land. With its unique Octagon Tower, the city has developed round the magnificent structure.

The Cathedral you can see today originates from the 11th century and is a place to enjoy at your own pace with the benefit of a guided tour.

Inside, you can read how a Saxon Princess, who ran away from her husband, became a Saint and founder of Ely. Reading how the cathedral, built on the Cambridgeshire Fens, came to be the only UK building recognised as one of the seven Medieval Wonders of the World gives you a real perspective of the marvel in front of your eyes.

The perfect place for a moment of reflection

The art is simply breathtaking in Ely Cathedral

The Octagon Tower is known as a wonder of medieval engineering, nothing short of a masterpiece. The guided tour will take you back to the time of King Edward III and inside his Master Carpenter's oak Lantern Tower.

The West Tower dominated the Fenland landscape and if time permits is well worth the walk up to see the spectacular view from the top.

The Stained Glass Windows in the cathedral

The Lady Chapel is an excellent place to feel refreshed and revitalised, radiating the sunlight through the many panes of glass. Completed in 1349, the Lady Chapel is the largest of its kind in the UK, and its architectural beauty is recognised all over the world.

For more information on the cathedral, including admission prices and opening times, click here.

Stained Glass Museum

The Stained Glass Museum is situated in the South Triforium of the cathedral, and houses a wonderful collection.
The experience is enhanced by a highly-acclaimed audio-guided tour which tells the history of the stained glass through the ages. The main gallery contains displayed of stained glass windows ranging over eight centuries in specially illuminated cases.

Ely Museum

Located in Ely's old gaol, this site provides the perfect opportunity to delve through the city's history with informative and colourful displays.

The museum tells how prisoners were dealt with in the 13th century

It has also been a tavern, a house and a registry office. Learning how criminals were dealt with back in the 13th century is especially interesting, plus you get to meet some of the characters face-front!

The Riverside Walk

You cannot fail to feel at peace when walking from the waterside, past the Babylon Gallery and onto the The Maltings. As well as moored barges there are numerous pubs and restaurants that can make you delighted to while away your evening on the riverfront.

The waterside area has become a haven for food lovers with a wide variety of venues including The Cutter Inn, and the award-winning Peacocks Tea Rooms and the newly-opened Grand Central American Grill.

A beautiful, scenic walk on the riverside

However, I would recommend a visit to 'ta bouche' – a funky cocktail bar and restaurant with an excellent outdoor seating area. The food and drink are reasonably priced, but a real bonus is the exceptional and attentive service from waiting staff, ensuring all you have to do is relax and enjoy the view.

If you want a charming city that is easily negotiable on foot, one that has it's own very unique history and superbly-maintained architecture, as well as a vibrant center, then Ely is well worth a visit. And make sure Oliver Cromwell's House is your first stop where you will be met with a smile, a map and some of the city's best kept secrets.

A well-deserved beer after a busy afternoon

Accommodation in Ely:

Poets House

The Nyton Guesthouse

The Riverside Inn

Peacocks B&B

Ely Travelodge

A selection of eateries:

The Grand Central

The Lamb

The Prince Albert

The Cutter Inn

Ta bouche

Celebrate everything Spanish - in London!

The market is sure to be a continental affair

As ever with English weather, there's no guarantee of a warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekend.

However there is a promise of one Mediterranean delight that is scheduled to hit London over the long weekend of May 3-6.

The UK’s favourite Spanish wine brand, Campo Viejo is bringing the vibrancy, life and colours of Spain to London’s Southbank Centre with its ‘Streets of Spain’ festival – a four day celebration of modern Spanish food, wine, art and culture unlike anything London has experienced before. 

Running from May 3-6, 10.30am to 7:00pm, the festival promises to bring the bustling energy and tastes of Spain to London by welcoming market stall owners from Barcelona’s world-famous La Boqueria food market to the UK for the first time ever.

Bringing fresh produce and tapas direct from Spain, the event will be the first time people will be able to buy the famous offerings here in London. The festival also impresses with a myriad of authentic Spanish experiences, such as wine tastings straight from the Campo Viejo cellar door hosted by winemakers; art demonstrations by famed street artists Okuda and Remed; films as showcased at the Spanish Film Festival; and authentic Spanish tapas prepared by La Boqueria chefs.

There is bound to be a high-class selection of Spanish meats on offer

Following the daily bustle of the market, the Streets of Spain will transform each evening into an exclusive pop-up restaurant hosted by Michelin-starred Spanish chef, Angel Pascual. The Campo Viejo pop-up experience will offer food and wine-lovers a world-class Spanish menu designed by Pascual, matched with wines from the UK’s favourite Spanish wine brand, Campo Viejo.

The Campo Viejo Streets of Spain festival offers the following colourful Spanish experiences:

Masterclasses:

• Blend your Own Wine: Attendees will have the chance to become a winemaker for an hour.  Our winemakers will explain the fundamentals of a great tasting Rioja, demonstrate what this could look like and then our fledgling winemakers will be able to try it for themselves. The ingredients will include young and aged samples, the key grape varieties and regions of Rioja. Their final blend will then be blended by the winemakers and bottled for them to collect and take home at the end of the day with their own personalised label. Places are very limited.

• Introduction of Spanish Wine: Winemakers will offer information on the Rioja region, Spanish grape varieties and styles, as well as wine busting a few myths and answering all those questions you have always wanted to ask. Attendees will have an opportunity to taste the full Campo Viejo range of red wines including Tempranillo, Reserva, Gran Reserva and its super-premium Dominio de Campo Viejo, together with two Campo Viejo Cavas.

Take home some tips from Spain's famous chefs

• Taste Experience – Looking at how taste influences wine perception: This will be a guide to discovering the effects of basic tastes – acid, sweet, salty, bitter and umami – on tasting different wines using two popular Campo Viejo products; Tempranillo and Gran Reserva. Lucky attendees will be treated to some unusual, controversial but sensational food and wine combinations: red wine and desserts or fish anybody? This session will make you think completely differently about food and wine matching and open your eyes up to the wealth of possibilities.

• Advanced Spanish Wine Masterclass: Campo Viejo Winemakers will host a Tempranillo masterclass, which as the name suggests will immerse attendees into the delights of the noble grape variety of Rioja. Tutored by our experts, attendees will compare wines from different sub-regions of Rioja – including Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa – showcasing the diversity and richness of both Rioja and Tempranillo. There will also be an opportunity to try our new vintage; Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2011. Additionally attendees will be able to taste the other Riojan varieties (Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano) and understand the differences between wines aged in French and American oak.

• Spanish breakfasts served daily from 10.45am

Live art experiences:

•  Campo Viejo will partner with two famous artists, Okuda and Remed, at the Streets of Spain event

• They will be creating a live piece of art outside the Southbank Centre inspired by the Campo Viejo brand, and will bring Spanish colour and vibrancy to the Festival Village with a number of 3D installations that will be on display throughout the weekend

Michelin star pop-up restaurant each evening from 7pm to 10:30pm.  To reserve a table, visit the Campo Viejo Facebook page.

•  Five course food and wine match menu for £65 per person

Cinema viewings of celebrated films previewed at the Spanish Film Festival

For more information and to book masterclasses and a table at the pop-up restaurant, visit www.streetsofspain.com where you will find the Streets of Spain tab on the Campo Viejo Facebook page. Also see Twitter at #streetsofspain for more information.

So I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for some decent weather come the Bank Holiday weekend, in the hope that I can experience my own little Spanish summer in the capital.