Ely Arts Festival and the Home and Garden Show

A sun-drenched English cathedral city in summer, with a grand medieval cathedral rising majestically in the background against a bright blue sky. In the foreground, elegant lawns are filled with tasteful garden displays, colourful floral arrangements, and well-dressed visitors browsing an outdoor cultural festival. Nearby, bunting and small exhibition tents suggest live performances and art shows. The riverside is visible in the distance, with willow trees trailing over calm water. The atmosphere is relaxed, creative, and quintessentially English, with warm golden afternoon light casting long shadows across the grass. Painterly editorial photography style with rich, saturated colours and a refined, cultural weekend-break feel.

June is Ely at its most creative

Each June, Ely comes alive with the Ely Arts Festival, a fortnight of concerts, exhibitions, poetry, workshops and pop-in performances staged across the city. With a fresh theme every year, it draws visitors who love a cultural city break with a relaxed, small-city feel.

The same month brings the Ely Cathedral Home and Garden Show, where the magnificent nave and surrounding lawns fill with interior designers, garden specialists and beautiful floral displays. It is a genuine highlight for anyone who loves design, gardens and one of the finest cathedral settings in the country.

A base in the heart of the action

Staying at The Old Warehouse puts you within easy walking distance of the Cathedral, the Market Place and the riverside, so you can drift between events without ever needing the car. Our stylish one and two-bedroom apartments give you space to relax between gallery visits and garden shows, with a full kitchen, fast Wi-Fi and free parking just a minute away.

Make it a longer break

June is one of the loveliest times to explore the Fens. Long evenings are made for riverside strolls, and the Cathedral’s summer concert programme often overlaps with the festival, giving you even more reason to linger. With Cambridge a short train ride away, a few days in Ely easily becomes a proper summer escape.

Reserve your summer stay

Book direct for the best rate, with 10 percent off your stay or 15 percent off three nights or more. Soak up Ely’s creative summer from the most convenient address in the city.