What Ely Cathedral does

Ely Cathedral is a registered Church of England charity (charity no. 1202546) and active place of worship located in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK, that simultaneously operates as a major visitor attraction. It runs three worship services daily without exception, alongside a ticketed visitor experience featuring the 1342 Octagon Tower, the 288-step West Tower, the Hidden Heights roof tour, Ground Floor tours, and a multi-media handheld digital guide available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, British Sign Language and audio description. The Cathedral also hosts the Stained Glass Museum (over 125 panels spanning 800 years), concerts and exhibitions, and a Learning & Families programme including Little Gargoyles, Lego Cafe and Boardgame Cafe. The physical site is supported by an on-site shop at the entrance and an e-commerce store shipping to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The Cathedral's operational footprint is delivered through approximately 68 staff and a network of voluntary guides, choristers, and the Friends of Ely Cathedral fundraising charity. Leadership comprises a Chapter (Dean, Residentiary Canons, Honorary Canons), a Senior Management Group (Chief Operating Officer, CFO, Directors of Communications & Commerce, Conservation & Works, Learning, and Music), and specialised music staff including boy and girl chorister directors. Operating cost is publicly stated at £10,000 per day, covering building conservation, worship, music, education, outreach and care.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of visitor entry fees, paid tours, museum tickets (£6.50 adult), concerts and events, donations (one-off £10/£30/£50 and monthly £3/£5/£10 with 25% Gift Aid top-up), Friends and Order of St. Etheldreda memberships, legacy giving, on-site and online retail (including exclusive Way of Life jewellery), and afternoon tea at the Almonry Kitchen. Technology is non-proprietary: standard web stack with PayPal, Royal Mail, DPD, Google reCAPTCHA and Google Analytics; no AI, app, or SDK platform is in evidence. The Cathedral's website acknowledges support from the Church Commissioners' Cathedral Sustainability Fund for digital infrastructure.

Name

Ely Cathedral

Legal name

Ely Cathedral Enterprises Limited

Website

https://elycathedral.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ely Cathedral is a registered Church of England charity and active place of worship in Cambridgeshire, UK, operating as a visitor attraction offering ticketed entry, guided heritage tours, the Stained Glass Museum, daily worship, educational programmes, events, and an online shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Heritage Tourism

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Religious Organizations (8131), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines) (THAJACAG), Religious & Sacred Sites Tours (THAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Heritage tourism services
• Religious worship services
• Guided cathedral tours
• Heritage conservation programs
• Choral music programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ely

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Entry Fees: Charges for visitor entry to the Cathedral during specified opening hours (Monday-Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 12noon-3pm). Revenue supports building upkeep, maintenance, and ongoing mission.
2. Donations and Gifts: One-off and monthly donations accepted online. Gift Aid scheme available for UK taxpayers allowing 25% top-up from government. Legacy giving (gifts in wills) also mentioned.
3. Donations - Buildings and Heritage: Designated donations for conservation and preservation of the Cathedral building and heritage assets.
4. Event and Tour Tickets: Revenue from special tours (Octagon Tower Tours, West Tower Experience, Hidden Heights Tours) and concerts/events held at the Cathedral.
5. Online and On-site Shop Sales: E-commerce operation selling cathedral merchandise including souvenirs, books, music recordings, gifts, jewellery (Way of Life collection), toys, and homeware. Physical shop also operates at the Cathedral entrance.
6. Membership Schemes: Friends of Ely Cathedral membership with subscription-based support providing benefits including free entry. Order of St. Etheldreda membership.
7. Afternoon Tea and Catering: Almonry Kitchen Afternoon Tea service at £24 per person, pre-booked 24 hours in advance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ely Cathedral is a working religious institution and historic visitor attraction operating daily worship services, ticketed entry, and a portfolio of guided tours (Octagon Tower, West Tower, Hidden Heights, Ground Floor) with multi-media digital guides. It also operates an online shop selling souvenirs, books, and exclusive Way of Life jewelry, alongside educational programs, concerts and events, and a fundraising operation supporting the £10,000/day heritage preservation cost.

Product overview

Ely Cathedral operates as a visitor attraction and working religious institution offering a diverse portfolio of products and services organized into visitor experiences, hospitality, e-commerce, educational programs, and worship services. The visitor experience portfolio centers on ticketed entry combined with optional tour add-ons including Multi-Media Digital Guides (available in 6 languages plus BSL and audio description), Octagon Tower Tours, West Tower Experience, Hidden Heights Tours, and Ground Floor Tours. Additional attractions include The Stained Glass Museum and Almonry Kitchen Afternoon Tea. The Online Shop provides e-commerce sales of cathedral souvenirs, books, music recordings, and exclusive Way of Life jewelry. Educational offerings include Learning & Families Programs such as Little Gargoyles, Lego Cafe, and Boardgame Cafe. The Cathedral also offers daily worship services and hosts concerts and events throughout the year. All visitor operations are supported by an online booking and donation system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Way of Life Collection: Exclusive silver jewellery collection celebrating the iconic Way of Life sculpture by Jonathan Clarke, featuring necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
• Richard Briggs Collection
• St. Etheldreda Collection
• Dave Thompson Collection

Products and services

• Visitor Tickets Standard entry tickets to Ely Cathedral, valid during regular opening hours (Mon-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm), with annual pass upgrades available on the day of visit. Free for children under 16, CB6/CB7 residents with proof of address, full-time students in Cambridgeshire, parish pass holders, Friends of Ely Cathedral members, and companions of disabled visitors.
• Multi-Media Digital Guides State-of-the-art handheld devices offering self-guided tours in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, British Sign Language, and audio descriptive options for accessibility. Included with admission.
• Octagon Tower Tours Guided tours to the Octagon Tower, a medieval lantern tower completed in 1342, considered the jewel in the Cathedral crown.
• West Tower Experience Climbing experience of 288 steps to the top of West Tower offering 360-degree views across Ely and beyond.
• Hidden Heights Tours Exclusive guided access to upper cathedral levels including roof spaces, the lantern of the Octagon tower, choir roof, nave roof, and the belfry.
• Ground Floor Tours One-hour guided tours discovering the Cathedral's history, heritage, and the people and events which shaped it.
• The Stained Glass Museum Museum housed upstairs in Ely Cathedral showcasing over 125 stained glass panels representing 800 years of history. Separate ticket required (Adults £6.50, children free with paying adult).
• Almonry Kitchen Afternoon Tea Classic afternoon tea service at the Almonry Kitchen at £24 per person, pre-booked 24 hours in advance, featuring sandwiches, sausage roll, quiche, scones, cakes.
• Online Shop E-commerce platform selling cathedral souvenirs, gifts, books, music recordings, decorations, and Way of Life exclusive silver jewelry. Ships to UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
• Learning & Families Programs Family-oriented activities including Little Gargoyles sessions, Lego Cafe, Boardgame Cafe, and Discovery Mornings for children, plus school visits and sessions for home educators.
• Cathedral Services Three daily worship services held every day of the year without exception, including Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, Midday Prayer, and Evensong.
• Concerts and Events Musical concerts, recitals, and special events including candlelight concerts (Beatles, Westlife by Candlelight), exhibitions, and choral concerts throughout the year.
• Donations and Support Online giving options for supporting buildings, heritage, music, and mission work with one-off (£10, £30, £50) and monthly (£3, £5, £10) donation options, plus Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers and legacy giving.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of Ely CathedralcoreOthersSeparate registered charitable organisation that supports the Cathedral by raising funds via subscriptions and other means to assist the Cathedral in its religious, pastoral, musical, and educational work, including preservation of its fabric and furnishings. The Friends funded the Way of Life sculpture by Jonathan Clarke in 2000. They publish Christmas cards and operate membership with free entry benefits.
• The Stained Glass MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum housed upstairs in Ely Cathedral showcasing over 125 stained glass panels representing 800 years of history. Entry via spiral stone staircase (40 steps). Separate ticket required (Adults £6.50). Benefits from Cathedral location and infrastructure while providing cultural offering to visitors.
• Almonry KitchenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal catering operator providing Classic Afternoon Tea service within the Cathedral grounds. Bookings managed through the Cathedral website with catering provided by the external operator.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• English Heritage: National charity operating a portfolio of historic sites including castles, abbeys, and monuments. Comparable as a heritage visitor attraction operator with membership schemes, retail, and education programs, though it does not run active places of worship.

Direct peers

• Westminster Abbey: London-based collegiate church operating as a working place of worship, coronation church, and major ticketed visitor attraction. Comparable in combining worship, heritage tourism, retail, and conservation at scale; significantly larger in revenue and visitor numbers.
• Winchester Cathedral: Historic cathedral operating worship, ticketed visitor access, tower tours, and a café/retail offering. Comparable mid-sized heritage cathedral operating model with similar conservation and music traditions.
• Salisbury Cathedral: Medieval cathedral famous for its spire and Magna Carta, combining worship, tower tours, a refectory restaurant, and learning programs. Closely comparable in operating scale, regional cathedral model, and educational outreach.
• Lincoln Cathedral: Medieval cathedral with active worship, paid entry, tower/roof tours, and a heritage conservation program. Comparable mid-sized regional cathedral profile to Ely, with similar tour and music programming.
• St Paul's Cathedral: London cathedral combining worship, paid visitor entry, dome climbs, retail, and learning programs. Comparable as a worship-plus-tourism-and-retail cathedral operating model at a larger urban scale.
• Canterbury Cathedral: Mother church of the Church of England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site operating as both an active cathedral and a major ticketed visitor attraction. Closest comparable to Ely in worship + tourism + heritage conservation model, with significantly larger footfall.
• York Minster: Large medieval cathedral in northern England combining daily worship, paid visitor entry, tower tours, a choral tradition, and extensive conservation operations. Highly comparable operating model to Ely, with stronger brand and higher visitor volumes.
• Durham Cathedral: UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and active place of worship with paid visitor entry, Open Treasure exhibition, and educational programming. Closely comparable in heritage, museum-style interpretation, and learning outreach.
• Peterborough Cathedral: East-of-England medieval cathedral with active worship, paid visitor entry, tower climbs, and learning programs. Highly comparable geographic and demographic context to Ely, with similar mid-sized operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ElyCathedralCambridge
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElyCathedral
• Instagraminstagram.com/ely_cathedral
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ely-cathedral

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ely Cathedral