Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire

Saturday 1 June 2024 (pm)

* * Booking open * *

From	To	Activity	Location
12:30	15:00	Registration	Lady Chapel
12:30	15:15	Collection of academic dress	Lady Chapel
12:30	15:15	Photography	Hayward Theatre
14:45		Cathedral doors open	Cathedral main entrance
15:00	15:30	Musical performance	Cathedral
15:30	17:00	Ceremony	Cathedral
	17:30	Return of academic dress	The Old Palace Gardens

This page was last updated on 16 April 2024. The final version will be posted 2-3 weeks before the ceremony.

Arrival and registration

Upon arrival, please head to the Registration desks in the Lady Chapel to collect your entrance and refreshment tickets, your presentation card and souvenir programmes. You will also be given an information sheet with a map of the venues to help you find your way around. A preview of this will be available here in the weeks leading to the ceremony.

If you have any questions during the ceremony day, the staff at the Registration and Enquiry desks will be pleased to help you.

Academic Dress

If you have chosen to wear academic dress for your ceremony, you can collect these from the Lady Chapel once you have registered. Collection will be open from 12:30 and all hired items should be returned to The Old Palace Gardens by 17:30.

For details on Open University academic dress, including how to pre-order from our approved suppliers, please see ‘Preparing for your ceremony’.

Photography

The photography studios are located in the Hayward Theatre and will be open from 12:30. The service will also be available for a short time after the ceremony. Please be advised that there may be queues, so allow yourself plenty of time.

A photograph will be taken of you when you cross the stage. This photograph will be available to purchase after the ceremony from the sales stand situated in the Lecture Hall of the Old Palace Gardens and online at www.edeandravenscroft.com.

For further details on the photography services available on your ceremony day, including how to pre-book, please see ‘Preparing for your ceremony’.

The ceremony

Please enter the Cathedral through the main door. Graduates and guests requiring a step-free entrance should enter through the North Door, next to the Lady Chapel.

The doors to the Cathedral will open at 14:45 and the musical programme will start approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony. Graduates and their guests should be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Your ceremony is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.

Please note guest seating is not allocated.

Further details about the ceremony proceedings can be found on ‘Your ceremony day’.

Venue information

Accessibility

The Cathedral has many adaptions to improve its accessibility for visitors with disabilities, and its South Door provides ramp-free access for wheelchair users. For further details, please go to www.elycathedral.org/plan-your-visit/information-for-visitors/accessibility.

Please note that the ceremony activities and the car park are in different locations and walking between them will be necessary. For example, it is a 10-minute walk from the car park to the Cathedral, a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral to the photography studios, and a 7-minute walk from the post-ceremony drinks reception back to the car park. There will also be a drop-off bay outside the main entrance to the Cathedral on the day.

If you or any of your guests have additional seating requirements to be considered for the ceremony, please telephone the Ceremonies Centre on +44 (0)1908 541079 at least 4 weeks before your ceremony date.

Parking

Free parking has been arranged for graduates and guests on the playing field of King's Ely School. Further details will be sent to graduates in the weeks before the ceremony.

There are also many public car parks nearby, details can be found by going to www.visitely.org.uk.

We have access to a small number of parking spaces at the rear of the Cathedral which can be reserved for wheelchair users on a first come first served basis. But please be advised that these are standard-sized parking spaces, not disabled parking bays.

Refreshments

The Cathedral's Almonry Restaurant will be open on the day for sales of light refreshments. There are also several cafes and restaurants within easy reach of the Cathedral; they will likely be busy, so you may wish to book in advance. Further information can be found at www.visitely.org.uk

Cloakroom

There are no cloakroom facilities at Ely Cathedral.

First aid

St John Ambulance has kindly agreed to provide a first-aid service for the ceremony. They will be positioned inside the main entrance (West Door) of the Cathedral.