About 32 minutes
typical off-peak drive
Areas we serve / Pet Shop near Ely
Ely to Fornham All Saints
Pet shop near Ely: about 32 minutes via Newmarket and the A14
From Ely we're about 25 miles to the south-east, on the far side of Newmarket. It's a trip to plan rather than pop out for, and if you keep fish or reptiles it's a trip that pays.
Fornham All Saints, just off the A14 near Bury St Edmunds. Open seven days.
By the numbers
The Ely trip at a glance
About 25 miles
by road, the A142 then the A14
9:30am
opening time, Monday to Saturday
7 days
open every day
Directions
Directions from Ely, via Newmarket
Two roads do nearly all of the work: the A142 to Newmarket, then the A14. The top of Tut Hill is closed, so please come in this way round, even if your sat nav suggests otherwise. From the city centre:
1Leave Ely on the A142, heading south-east towards Soham and Newmarket.
2Stay on the A142 past Soham and Fordham, about 10 miles, until it meets the A14 on the edge of Newmarket.
3At the A14 junction, follow the signs for Bury St Edmunds and join the A14 eastbound.
4Stay on the A14 for about 12 miles.
5Leave the A14 at the Fornham All Saints slip road.
6Go straight over the double roundabout.
7Carry on past the new housing estate.
8Turn left at the third roundabout.
9Turn left again at the mini roundabout, onto Tut Hill. The shop is along it.
Worth the trip
Why keepers drive over from Ely
Twenty-five miles is a proper drive, so here's what makes it worth doing rather than shopping nearer home.
Pond keepers are well placed here. You can see koi and coldwater fish in the flesh and pick up pond supplies in the same visit, and we offer water testing in the shop. We're an authorised TMC stockist, so marine keepers can read about marine fish, then ring and tell us what you're hoping to find.
The reptiles are the other reason people make the trip. Seeing an animal and its set-up in person beats a photo, and we'll talk you out of a purchase as readily as into one if the set-up isn't right yet.
Tropical and aquarium
Tropical fish and aquarium supplies near Ely
Freshwater keepers from Ely find a good spread of tropical fish, from community favourites to plecos, shrimp and live plants, along with the aquarium equipment to run a tank well. We're listed as a stockist for D-D The Aquarium Solution.
Setting up for the first time? Come and talk to us before you buy the fish. A cycled tank and a sensible stocking plan save a lot of heartache, and we're glad to help with both.
Before you set off
Make the trip count
✓Ring before you leave Ely. Stock changes week to week. Call 01284 703418 and we'll tell you what's in, and we can order things in on request.
✓Check the hours. We open at 9:30am Monday to Saturday and 10:00am on Sunday, closing at 5:30pm and 4:00pm. For bank holidays, check our Facebook or call.
✓Bring your measurements. Tank, pond or vivarium size, and what already lives there. It turns a vague question into a useful answer.
✓Plan for the drive home. Live animals go straight home after the drive. Ask us how to carry them, and never leave them in a parked car.
The whole household
One trip, the whole household
Fish and reptiles bring most people over from Ely, but the same trip covers the dog, the cat, the rabbit and the budgie too.
Opening hours
Hours, address and the map
Open the route from Ely in Google Maps, read our visit us page or contact us.
Monday to Friday9:30am to 5:30pm
Saturday9:30am to 5:30pm
Sunday10:00am to 4:00pm
AddressOrnamental Fish Farm Pet & Reptile, Tut Hill, Fornham All Saints, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6LE
Phone01284 703418
For bank holiday hours, check our Facebook or call.
How far is Ornamental Fish Farm from Ely?
About 25 miles by road. Off-peak the drive typically takes about 32 minutes, using the A142 to Newmarket and then the A14. Allow longer at rush hour or when there are roadworks.
Do I have to drive through Newmarket?
Not the town centre. The A142 meets the A14 on the edge of Newmarket, and you join the A14 there heading east. Just follow the signs for Bury St Edmunds.
Is it worth the trip from Ely for a garden pond?
We think so. You can see the koi and coldwater fish yourself, pick up filters, pumps, treatments and pond plants in the same visit, and we offer water testing in the shop. Ring 01284 703418 first if you're after a particular size of fish.
Is there parking, and can I bring my dog?
Yes to both. There's free parking on site, access is step-free, and dogs are welcome on a lead. We take card, contactless and cash.
What if you haven't got what I'm after?
We'll order it in if we can, take your number and ring you when it arrives, or suggest something similar. We don't deliver or hold phone-ahead orders, so collecting it means a second trip, but at least you'll know it's here.
Keep exploring
More from the shop
How we can help
Your specialist pet shop near Ely, open seven days
Ring first, then take the A142 to Newmarket and the A14 east. We'll be here from 9:30am, or 10:00am on a Sunday.