115 Squadron Memorial

The flat Cambridgeshire landscape around Ely doesn't immediately announce itself as wartime territory, but the 115 Squadron Memorial stands as a quiet reminder of what happened here. This is a tribute to the RAF squadron that flew from nearby bases during the Second World War - Lancaster bombers mostly, the kind that saw genuine action. The memorial itself is straightforward, respectful, and the sort of place where you actually feel the weight of what you're looking at rather than just reading about it.

You'll want to allow half an hour, maybe forty minutes if you're the type to sit and absorb the atmosphere. There's no fancy visitor centre or café, which is rather the point. It's free to access, and works best as part of a broader exploration of the fenland's military heritage rather than a destination in itself.

For history-minded visitors and anyone with a connection to RAF service, this is absolutely worth the detour when basing yourselves at Heatherbield Lodge or Hatters Meadows - both are within easy striking distance. Families with older children who've studied the war at school might find it meaningful. Younger kids will likely lose interest quickly unless they're already engaged with the period.

The real appeal here isn't the memorial alone but the context - standing in the actual landscape where these squadrons operated, looking across the same fens they flew over. On a quiet day with decent light, that connection feels real.