Ely offers a useful combination for a dog break: a cathedral that explicitly welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads, and a gentler riverside outing for the other part of the day. Stay in the city at The Lamb or make Little Downham your nearby village base. In either case, secure the limited dog room before deciding the rest of the trip.
Policies researched 27 September 2026 · Check directly before booking
Dog access can depend on the room or accommodation you choose. Confirm the exact dog arrangements before you pay.
The Lamb is on Lynn Road in Ely and requires advance direct dog-room booking. The Anchor is outside the city in Little Downham and identifies a specific Superior dog room. Choose between a central base and a village stay, then resolve the room and complete pet charge directly.
2 Lynn Road · Ely
The Lamb Hotel by Greene King Inns
An Ely city-centre inn on Lynn Road for visitors who want the cathedral and streets as the focus. Dog rooms are limited, making the direct availability check essential.
The dog details
All dog stays must be pre-booked with the hotel or Greene King’s booking team. Charges apply; the chain lists a nightly supplement, but ask this property for the total, limits and eating arrangements. Do not assume every room accepts dogs.
Book directly with the property Book directly and confirm the dog room, total charge and meal arrangements before paying.
The Little Downham Anchor is at 25 Main Street in Little Downham, not in Ely centre. It gives a village alternative if you are happy to travel into the city for the cathedral and river.
The dog details
The operator identifies Room 8, a Superior double, as dog-friendly. It gives conflicting fees: £30 per pet for the stay in the room description and £25 per dog per night in its terms, which also mention a £50 deposit and a maximum of two dogs. Call to confirm the correct room and total before booking.
Book directly with the property Book directly and confirm the dog room, total charge and meal arrangements before paying.
Check visitor opening times and choose an ordinary cathedral visit if you want to bring your dog. The Almonry’s Tea Room or garden provides a specifically identified option for refreshments.
Well-behaved dogs must be on leads. Pet dogs are excluded from ground-floor tours, concerts and events. Almonry dog access is limited to the Tea Room and garden, not all restaurant areas.
Use the gardens and riverfront as a flexible outdoor outing, taking a short out-and-back if your dog has already had enough stimulation from the city. Choose a current park route before extending farther towards the country park.
Keep your dog under control, clear up and follow local signs. Public garden access does not establish permission for boat trips, play facilities or nearby interiors.
Settle into the agreed room, then check the cathedral’s current visitor arrangements. Choose a normal visit rather than a tour or event excluded under the dog policy. Allow your dog a quiet pause outside and use the Almonry’s permitted Tea Room or garden if open. Guests staying in Little Downham should leave time for the separate journey back.
Day two · riverfront at your own pace
Start with Jubilee Gardens and a manageable riverside stretch. Keep the outing flexible, especially after rain or when paths are busy. Extend only if the dog still has energy for the return. A shorter walk leaves room for lunch and the journey home without turning a compact break into a full-day march.
A suggested plan, not a booked itinerary. Adapt it to your dog, the weather and current access.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Good to know before you go
Reserve the limited dog room
The Lamb needs direct advance arrangements, while the Anchor identifies a particular Superior room. Neither should be booked solely on a general pet-friendly search filter.
Separate cathedral access from event tickets
An ordinary dog-permitted visit does not extend to ground-floor tours, concerts or events. Check the current timetable before travel.
Your Ely questions
Where can I take my dog at Ely Cathedral?
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome for ordinary Cathedral visits and services. Pet dogs cannot join ground-floor tours, concerts or events. For food, the Cathedral says dogs may use the Almonry gardens and Tea Room, but not its other restaurant areas. Check the current visitor timetable before choosing a ticket, since a dog-friendly Cathedral visit does not mean every tour or event admits pets.
Ely Museum does not admit ordinary pet dogs; its visitor information makes an exception for assistance dogs. This differs from the Cathedral’s ordinary-visit policy. Choose a separate arrangement for anyone visiting the museum, or keep your outing to the dog-permitted Cathedral visit and outdoor walks.
Do I need to arrange a dog room at The Lamb Hotel in advance?
Yes. Greene King says dog-room availability at The Lamb is limited and offered first come, first served; every dog stay must be pre-booked through the hotel or Greene King's booking team. The operator confirms that a charge applies but does not publish the Lamb's amount on its hotel page. Contact the hotel before completing a booking to confirm a dog room and the full charge. Its general restaurant and breakfast information does not state where dogs may join meals.
How do I book the dog-friendly room at The Little Downham Anchor?
The Anchor in Little Downham, outside Ely, identifies Room 8, a Superior double, as its dog-friendly room and permits up to two dogs, subject to availability. Its page conflicts on charges: £30 per pet per stay in the room description versus £25 per dog per night in the terms, which also mention a £50 deposit. Call to confirm Room 8, the full total and how the deposit is handled before paying.
Which Ely Country Park walk should I choose with my dog?
Ely Country Park has two marked circular walks: the Bulrush Trail is 1.5 miles and the Kingfisher Trail is 2 miles. Choose the shorter route if that better suits your dog. The council asks visitors to keep pets closely supervised and away from the water’s edge, watch for roads, the railway and grazing cattle, and stay on marked paths or established rights of way. Follow local signs where the route crosses privately owned land.
Researched from accommodation operators, property listings and visitor information linked above on 27 September 2026. Prices and policies can change; a stated dog fee is not a room quote or a promise of availability. We have not personally inspected these places. Our day plans are editorial suggestions.
The dog details