St Peter-ad-Vincula Church

The little church sits quietly on the edge of Ely, easy to miss if you're not looking for it. St Peter-ad-Vincula is one of those wonderfully obscure parish churches that British villages do so well - the kind of place where you might be the only visitor on a given afternoon.

Inside, it's all medieval bones and local history. The name itself - "St Peter in Chains" - hints at the building's age, though most of what you see dates from the 13th century onwards. For architecture enthusiasts, there's genuine interest here: decent windows, decent stonework, the sort of details that reward a slow walk around the interior. It won't take you hours, mind. A proper look takes maybe thirty minutes, longer if you're into rubbing down brass memorials or reading every inscription.

This works best as a detour rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at Heatherbield Lodge or Hatters Meadows nearby, it's a gentle walk to stretch the legs and get a sense of proper rural Cambridgeshire. Families with older kids who don't mind churches will find it peaceful rather than tedious. Younger children might get restless fairly quickly, though.

The admission situation and opening hours aren't always clear for smaller churches like this one - worth checking locally in Ely before you head out, or calling ahead. It's the sort of place that rewards turning up without too many expectations, but equally, you don't want a wasted journey. Combine it with a proper explore of Ely Cathedral itself, just a couple of miles away, and you've got yourself a proper morning.