The Anchor Ely

Hotels
8.1 (270 reviews)
25 main street Little Downham , Ely , gb

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Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food quality
Comfortable stay
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Small room size
No air conditioning

Categories

Cleanliness
7.43
Some reviews mentioned cleanliness issues, such as dirty bathrooms and thin walls.
Service
8.6
Numerous reviews highlighted helpful and friendly staff.
Location
8.34
Good location for visiting family and nearby amenities.
Room Quality
7.89
General comfort and adequacy mentioned, but some issues with room size in certain reviews.
Amenities
8.02
Basic amenities noted; the hotel lacks specific offerings like air conditioning.
Value for Money
7.88
Guests found it a bit pricey for what was offered, but value noted in context.
Food and Beverage
8.43
Food quality was frequently praised, especially breakfast.
Overall Experience
8.2
The general sentiment was positive, with some minor drawbacks mentioned.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 04:32

Property Description

Modern Amenities and Comfortable Stay

Little Downham Anchor, located in Ely, offers a convenient stay just 32 km from the University of Cambridge. The 3-star hotel provides a shared lounge, free private parking, and a terrace for guests to unwind. Indulge in delicious meals at the on-site restaurant and enjoy drinks at the bar.

Cozy Rooms with Added Convenience

The hotel rooms are equipped with a kettle for your hot beverage needs. Some rooms even feature a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and toaster, adding extra convenience to your stay. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV and complimentary toiletries for a comfortable experience.

Entertainment and Nearby Attractions

Guests can enjoy playing darts at Little Downham Anchor or venture out to explore nearby attractions like Ickworth House and Ely Cathedral. With free WiFi and a non-smoking environment, this property is ideal for leisure and business travelers alike.

Book your stay at Little Downham Anchor for a memorable experience!

Important information:

Please note that on Sundays, the restaurant closes at 15:00 and the bar closes at 18:00. Dogs are welcome, but there are a limited amount of pet friendly rooms. If you are bringing a dog, please contact the property. There will be an extra charge of GBP 30 per night per pet, also a GBP 50 damage deposit per pet will be required. Electric car charging available- please pre-book, cost applicable.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is needed).

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for £10 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 14 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 14 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.1
Based on 270 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.43
Service: 8.6
Location: 8.34
Room Quality: 7.89
Amenities: 8.02
Value for Money: 7.88
Food and Beverage: 8.43
Overall Experience: 8.2
M
Mark • couple • gb
8
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
R
Ruth • couple • gb
7
2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
N
Nicola • couple • gb
8
Great stay but the guy in charge wouldn’t book us a table to the football because we weren’t eating in the restaurant bu
Pros:

Clean, quiet and easy to get to where we needed to go.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
D
Doug • solo_traveller • gb
7
Unfortunately, with the distance and my physical limitations and the huge heat wave, just added to
Pros:

I didn’t stay because of the distance to drive each day, when hoping to attend the Ely Folk Festival.
The room and the facilities didn’t suit my requirements as a disabled person unfortunately.

Cons:

Location and next to a tyre garage. Plus the disabled bays blocked by a car!

2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
M
Mario • solo_traveller • gb
10
Lovely.
Pros:

Did not have the breakfast.

However, the Sunday and Monday, kitchen was closed. Team supplied fresh bakery and fruit for the morning to take into the room the night before.

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
D
Debbie • couple • gb
1
I would never stay at this establishment again .
Pros:

Nothing . Very very unhappy as the room was so hot . Either no aircon . We had to go and ask for a fan . They eventually came back with a small desk fan . Which didn’t do anything . We had to drive around to go and go and buy another fan . There was no air in the room. . No soap . Carpets needed to be vacuumed . Bed was rock hard with lumpy pillows . The sheet was too small for the bed and didn’t fit . To pay £130 for a night is absolutely disgusting .

Cons:

Nothing . Very very unhappy as the room was so hot . Either no aircon . We had to go and ask for a fan . They eventually came back with a small desk fan . Which didn’t do anything . We had to drive around to go and go and buy another fan . There was no air in the room. . No soap . Carpets needed to be vacuumed . Bed was rock hard with lumpy pillows . The sheet was too small for the bed and didn’t fit . To pay £130 for a night is absolutely disgusting .

2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
L
liverpoolkop • couple • au
8
Only had one night
Pros:

Just a good place suited our needs

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
T
Tony • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Nice bar. Frienfly staff

2026-06-21 • via Nuitee
C
Christine • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

The location was very good for my needs

Cons:

Told that breakfast had not been paid for, my booking told me different

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
G
Geoffrey • extended_group • gb
7
It was OK....clean....friendly staff.
Pros:

The dinner on our second night was good. I had the chicken burger, and my wife had two starters the chicken goujons and the spring rolls (duck only, no vegetable). Basic stuff but OK.
Our room (7) for disabled was very comfortable.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. The lift to the first floor was very important for my wife.

Cons:

We did not get the full English breakfast on either morning ( they assumed we knew it was only continental on Mondays), we did get a bacon butty with our continental, but it was still very disappointing when you thought you had a good full English to look forward too......didn't even get one on the next day which was Tuesday.
Not what was advertised on Booking.com.
The Anchor was locked when we arrived at 14.30, and only opened it's doors at 15.00 so be warned not to arrive too early.

2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
L
llivett1 • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
J
John • family_with_children • gb
10
Great place Thank you
Pros:

Great room, friendly staff and great food and drink Thank you

Cons:

All was great

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
M
Maicon L Ferreira • solo_traveller • br
1
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
J
Janine • couple • gb
8
Nice place to stay
Pros:

Comfortable stay with welcoming staff. Room was quiet & food & shower were hot!

2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
R
Rufus • couple • gb
7
Did what was asked but nothing impressive.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

TV did not work and cost was high for what it offered

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sam • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-26 • via Nuitee
G
Graham • couple • gb
9
The Anchor is a welcoming, friendly and relaxing place to stay; we loved it!
Pros:

We had an excellent duplex room, with a large, comfortable bed and great facilities. The room was very clean and everything worked correctly. We enjoyed an excellent breakfast on both days, which was included in our room rate.
The staff were particularly friendly and very helpful throughout our stay.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
M
Mike P.H. • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
J
John • solo_traveller • gb
8
Good value for money.
Pros:

Superb breakfast, good tasting and more than enough. Staff very helpful and friendly, nice lively bar downstairs. Parking very easy and next to reception.

Cons:

Room was fine apart from the window curtain, it was so thin the early morning sunshine poured in..... Door locks slightly stiff.

2026-03-30 • via Nuitee
O
Olga • family_with_children • us
9
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee