The Littleport Vine Community Church

A modest red-brick chapel sitting quietly on the edge of Littleport, just east of Ely. The Vine Community Church is exactly what it says on the tin - a working place of worship rather than a tourist attraction, which is precisely why it's worth knowing about if you're staying at Hatters Meadows or Heatherbield Lodge.

What draws people here isn't architectural grandeur. It's the genuine feel of a lived-in community space, the sort of place where locals actually gather rather than somewhere roped off behind velvet barriers. The interior is functional and warm, with the kind of simplicity that speaks volumes about what matters to the congregation.

It's best suited to anyone interested in seeing how faith communities operate beyond the cathedral circuit. If you're after stained glass and medieval stonework, you'll want Ely Cathedral instead - it's only a few miles away and absolutely worth the short drive. But if you're curious about contemporary religious life in the Fens, this tells a different story entirely.

Visit outside service times to avoid disrupting worship, though calling ahead would be the courteous move if you're keen to have a proper look inside. There's no admission charge, no gift shop, no cafe - which somehow feels rather refreshing. Allow twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you chat with anyone around.

It works as part of a broader Ely exploration, mixing the grand historical sites with the everyday reality of village life in Cambridgeshire.