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4-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 10:00

Riverside Inn

Stay at Riverside Inn, a 4.3-rated guest house in Ely offering cosy rooms with river views, free Wi-Fi, parking, and a convenient location near Ely train station.

8 Annesdale, ELY CB7 4BN, United Kingdom View on map
8.6/10
Very Good Based on 146 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Breakfast Parking Smoke-free
What recent guests emphasize

Comfortable stay with scenic river views

Guests appreciate the peaceful riverside location, well-equipped rooms, and breakfast offerings, while some note minor service and breakfast temperature inconsistencies.

Guests often praise

  • Spacious, cosy rooms with luxurious touches such as underfloor heating and high-quality linens.
  • Fantastic river views, especially from rooms overlooking the marina.
  • Comfortable beds and relaxing ambiance throughout the guest house.
  • Good variety and quality of breakfast, served in a bright, airy dining area.
  • Convenient location near Ely Cathedral, shops, restaurants, and walking access to the canal.

Worth knowing

  • Parking is available but must be arranged and paid for in advance.
  • Some guests found the buffet breakfast tepid or limited in warm vegetarian options.
  • There is no reception desk; communication with staff is typically via phone or doorbell.
  • Rooms with river views may experience some noise due to the waterfront location.
  • Service experiences vary, with occasional reports of difficult interactions.

Best for

  • Visitors seeking a quiet, scenic base with easy walking distance to Ely’s main attractions.
  • Couples or solo travelers looking for comfort and character in a historic setting.
  • Travelers who prioritize a charming, relaxed atmosphere over extensive hotel facilities.
  • Guests who value a riverside location with picturesque views and a homely feel.
  • Those wanting a guest house with a focus on comfort, cleanliness, and good breakfast options.
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About this property

Welcome to Riverside Inn

Set on the banks of the River Great Ouse, Riverside Inn occupies a manor house dating back to 1888, offering a quiet riverside setting within walking distance of Ely train station and local attractions such as Ely Cathedral and Oliver Cromwell's House. The guest house features cosy rooms, many with river views, complemented by modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, complimentary parking (arranged in advance), and a lounge area.

Accommodation at this guest house is noted for its clean and comfortable nature, with several reviews highlighting the quality of beds, well-appointed bathrooms with underfloor heating, and thoughtful extras like tea and coffee facilities. Breakfast is served buffet style in a bright, airy room and includes a range of options from cooked items to continental choices, though some guests mentioned limited vegetarian hot selections and noted occasional issues with the toasting facilities.

Guest feedback generally emphasizes the peaceful atmosphere and convenient location close to local pubs, restaurants, and the waterfront. While most comments praise the attentive and friendly staff, a few reviews mention communication challenges, but this has little impact on the overall positive experience described by many visitors.

Riverside Inn suits travellers seeking a tranquil base with easy access to Ely’s historic sites and natural reserves like Wicken Fen. The smoke-free property does not accommodate pets, fitness facilities, or a swimming pool, focusing instead on providing a restful and practical stay within a charming riverside environment.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Breakfast
Parking
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Pool
Pet-friendly
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

KAB
Karen Aka Bubbles Mar 30, 2026
10

This is a lovely guest house. Delightful rooms,very clean,beautiful bathroom. We paid a bit extra for a river view. Plenty of choice at breakfast. A truly magical place,right on the river. With parking to be arranged and paid for in advance Thank you for a lovely stay.

CS
Carol Stacey Mar 29, 2026
8.0

The hotel itself is lovely. Really nice rooms, comfy beds and pillows, great shower over the bath. Tea and coffee in the room. Small but good breakfast choice. Great location for the cathedral and shops and restaurants, situated right on the river The reason I've marked it down for service is that there was a bit of an altercation with the lady who was probably the manager. It was all done via the ring doorbell and whilst my husband wasn't aware there was a pin code for the door as I hadn't told him, he got out of the car to ask about parking as there were no spaces available outside and it wasn't really clear where we could park. Had the lady just advised us that there was free parking in Ship Lane, a 2 minute drive away, then we wouldn't have got into the argument with her as she insisted on reading out details of the messages she had sent me prior to arrival but I was already aware of these details, I just wanted to know where the alternative parking was. So instead of talking to me through the door bell and telling me to go into the hallway and look at the map to see where alternative parking was available, she could have explained it clearly and saved us all an argument and then she wouldn't have had to message me to tell me we had spoken to her using strong and inappropriate language towards her ( which we didn't, we were speaking among ourselves but she was still listening via the doorbell) and telling us to make sure we didn't speak to the breakfast staff in such a manner or she would be forced to stop serving us. So - apart from that, we had a pleasant stay, it's a lovely hotel but beware of upsetting Lily!!

JD
Jennie Davey Mar 26, 2026
10

Great location, within walking distance to Ely cathedral. Breakfast was great, cooked breakfast and a good choice of cereal, bread, pastries and fresh fruit. Bedroom was spacious, and we had a lovely view. Bathroom was lovely and the towels were lush! Staff were friendly.

JN
Joy Nicholas Mar 11, 2026
10

What a beautiful place to stay.... soooo clean & every detail catered for. Luxury bathroom complete with underfloor heating! We paid the extra to have a riverside view, worth every penny! Only negatives where NO ITV Sat 10/2 in the afternoon. Buffet breakfast, although plentiful, was tepid at 8.20am. More instruction needed re toasting machine. BUT overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, would definitely recommend & hope to return.

PS
Paul Snelling Mar 02, 2026
10

Excellent in every way! Located in a quiet area on the bank of the river looking out onto the marina on the opposite bank. Lovely pubs and restaurants nearby and people strolling about leisurely. The accommodation is exquisite. The ambiance of the place is very relaxing. Interior decor is gorgeous, and the rooms superbly appointed and convenient. The double bed was extremely comfortable. The breakfast room is light and has a wonderfully atmosphere and the food offered would suit most tastes. Simply wonderful and fantastic value for money. I couldn’t fault it.

JC
Janet Cocciarelli Feb 15, 2026
10

I highly recommend the Riverside Inn. We were so satisfied and happily surprised when we arrived. It’s located very near to the canal, for an easy walk through the city and neighboring fields. The rooms are abeautifully appointed,, and it’s located on a very quiet street. The beds are marvelous and the linens and thick towels are pure cotton. It was a luxurious sleep! They offer a lovely breakfast including fresh cappuccinos and lattes. That was another unexpected delight! The owners have sophisticated and attractive taste. We loved our stay here.

RB
Ron Bailey Feb 11, 2026
10

Well, this guest house is a gem. It would be difficult to find fault with this beautifully positioned and spotlessly clean Inn. Our room, which looked out to the river, was a good size with a fantastic underfloor heated en-suit bathroom. Every thing supplied from bottled water and coffee machine to flannels and hair products. Excellent quality breakfast in a beautifully light conservatory. It made a 2 night stop over very special.

AH
Alan Hirsch Feb 07, 2026
8.0

We had a well appointed but small room at the back of the Inn. No view but also very little noise. As the inn is on a busy waterfront, rooms with views are probably noisy. The location is lovely and nothing is vary far in Ely. Breakfast was decent, should satisfy most, and though there is no reception, staff are always available, a phone call away.

MW
Michael Weise Feb 06, 2026
10

Very nice place with friendly staff. The location is great right at the waterfront and the breakfast is excellent.

AP
Angela Piper Feb 05, 2026
8.0

Room was spacious with a lovely view of the river & a table & chairs to watch the world go past. Bed & pillows were very comfortable. Underfloor heating in bathroom, large fluffy towels, nice toiletries. Bright airy breakfast room. Buffet style breakfast, though as a vegetarian, the only cooked choice was scrambled egg & tomatoes. I opted for the continental breakfast & and it would have been nice to have warm bread rolls & croissants (I'm not sure if the toaster would warm or burn them). Close to station & Cathedral. Enjoyed my stay & would return, though just a shame about vegetarian breakfast (though I appreciate catering for everyone would cause some waste).

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Riverside Inn

ELY, United Kingdom

Set in an 1888 manor house on the banks of the River Great Ouse, this refined guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from Ely train station, and a 14-minute walk from both Oliver Cromwell's House and the Ely Museum.

  • Ely 6 min Walk
  • Back Hill 4 min Walk
  • Tesco 7 min Walk
  • Heathrow Airport 1 hr 58 Car · 2 hr 32 Transit
  • London Gatwick Airport 2 hr 4 Car · 2 hr 39 Transit
  • London Stansted Airport 57 min Car · 56 min Transit
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in United Kingdom. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Ely Cathedral 6,813 reviews

Ely Cathedral

Chapter House, The College, ELY CB7 4DL, United Kingdom

4.7 · Cathedral
Oliver Cromwell's House 1,119 reviews

Oliver Cromwell's House

29 St Mary's St, ELY CB7 4HF, United Kingdom

4.4 · Tourist Attraction
National Trust - Wicken Fen Nature Reserve 2,455 reviews

National Trust - Wicken Fen Nature Reserve

34 Lode Ln, Wicken, ELY CB7 5XP, United Kingdom

4.6 · Nature Preserve
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