Cathedral Marina

Cathedral Marina sits right on the water in Ely, and it's the sort of place that creeps up on you. One minute you're wandering the Georgian streets near the cathedral, the next you've stumbled onto a proper working marina lined with narrowboats and the odd gin palace. It's a working waterway, not a polished tourist attraction, which is precisely why it works.

What you get here is a chance to potter about on the water itself. You can hire a boat for the day, take a guided tour, or just lean against the railings watching the life of the Ouse unfold. Families with young kids will find it engaging enough for a couple of hours - there's something about boats that keeps children entertained. Keen walkers should come for the towpath, which stretches out from here in both directions and offers proper countryside views without the crowds you'd get elsewhere.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Hatters Meadows or Heatherbield Lodge are both within spitting distance - Cathedral Marina works as a half-day diversion before heading back to base. It's not the sort of place to build an entire afternoon around, but it slots nicely into a Cambridgeshire trip, especially if you're combining it with Ely Cathedral itself.

Free to wander and watch, though hiring a boat will cost you. Go on a weekday morning if you can - weekends pull in the crowds and you lose that working marina atmosphere.