Summary
Situated on the fringe of the expansive Fens, Peterborough is a city defined by its remarkable cathedral.
This edifice stands as one of the few fully intact examples of 12th-century Romanesque architecture, complemented by a Gothic facade that is unparalleled in the UK or Europe.
Peterborough developed into an industrial center in the mid-19th century following the establishment of a railway junction just west of the city center.
You can embark on a nostalgic journey along a preserved section of a 19th-century line on the Nene Valley Railway, which also provides access to Ferry Meadows Country Park, ideal for active family outings during summer.
Within a short drive, a plethora of attractions surrounds Peterborough, ranging from Elizabethan Prodigy Houses to the intriguing Bronze Age causeway site at Flag Fen.
Let’s delve into the top attractions in Peterborough:
1. Peterborough Cathedral
The quintessential attraction in Peterborough is its magnificent cathedral, predominantly completed before 1237. It is one of the few cathedrals in the country retaining its 12th-century Norman architecture, evident in the array of semi-circular arches embellished with zigzag motifs along the nave.
The western facade showcases an extraordinary Early English Gothic structure, featuring three imposing arches that are unlike anything preceding or following it.
Peterborough Cathedral originated from a significantly earlier Anglo-Saxon church, established around the 7th century, with the enchanting Hedda Stone from that original structure now on display.
At the church’s eastern end, the “New Building” features Perpendicular fan vaulting crafted by John Wastell, the architect of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, and visitors can also seek the tomb of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII.
2. Peterborough Museum
Housed in a solemn stone townhouse dating back to 1816, Peterborough Museum boasts an extensive collection of over 220,000 artifacts narrating the human and natural history of the city and its surroundings.
During the mid-18th century, this mansion served as Peterborough’s first hospital, and upstairs, one can find an exhibition that showcases what a Victorian-era operating theater would have looked like.
The museum encompasses art spanning from the 17th century to contemporary times and features original manuscripts by poet John Clare, who was born nearby in Helpston.
Collections include Roman pottery, Jurassic fossils, and a variety of fascinating artifacts from Norman Cross, which was the site of the world’s first purpose-built prisoner of war camp during the Napoleonic Wars, housing French and Dutch soldiers.
The museum displays handmade crafts from the camp’s inhabitants, including model ships and dolls’ houses, created over 200 years ago.
3. Nene Valley Railway
Peterborough Nene Valley Station, located at the city’s center, marks the eastern terminus of a preserved railway that traverses the Nene Valley for 7.5 miles, reaching the village of Yarwell.
This segment is a remnant of a line that once stretched from Peterborough to Blisworth, 45 miles to the southwest in Northamptonshire.
Opened in 1847, the line was shut down in 1966, but a portion was acquired in the 1970s to serve as a visitor attraction.
The line was extended a bit further to Yarwell in 2008.
Service generally operates on weekends throughout the year and also on weekdays during school holidays.
Passengers can typically experience a train pulled by a BR Standard Class 5 steam locomotive, with diesel engines utilized during maintenance periods.
4. Longthorpe Tower
Located in the western suburb of Longthorpe, Peterborough, Longthorpe Tower is a stunning three-story structure from a 14th-century manor house.
This Grade I listed tower is preserved by English Heritage.
The tower is notable for its remarkable murals painted around 1330, which adorning nearly the entire first floor.
These murals were obscured by whitewash during the Reformation and rediscovered in the 1940s.
Such paintings are almost unique within the UK and depict a variety of religious, moral, and secular subjects.
Upon thoughtful reflection on these artworks, observers can find musicians, saints, animals, kings, and an unusual mythological creature releasing flames from its posterior.
The exhibition at the tower narrates the history of the building and the family that constructed it.
5. John Clare Cottage
The esteemed Romantic poet John Clare was born in this modest thatched cottage in Helpston in 1793. The cottage was acquired by a trust dedicated to the poet in 2005 and has been developed into an educational attraction over the past decade.
Several rooms have been restored to their rustic appearance circa the early 19th century, displaying examples of John Clare’s writings and information concerning his life, which was marked by episodes of mental health challenges.
The scenic garden is tended by volunteers, and a cafe offers home-baked goods.
A well-stocked shop is available at the cottage, featuring Clare’s literary works.
Consider following up your visit with a trip to Helpston’s parish church, where Clare’s gravestone is located.
6. Nene Park
Centrally located in Peterborough, Nene Park spans a vast area and extends westward for 3.5 miles along the banks of the River Nene.
Encompassing over 2,500 acres, the park consists of a chain of lakes surrounded by pedestrian and cycling paths that guide visitors through meadows and woodlands.
Access is possible via a long rectangular rowing and canoeing course, entering through Orton Mere, which is also a stop on the Nene Valley Railway.
Nene Park includes Ferry Meadows Country Park, detailed below, and is filled with various attractions and facilities.
7. Ferry Meadows Country Park
A significant portion of Nene Park is occupied by Ferry Meadows Country Park, which offers numerous activities for families during the summer months.
At Gunwade Lake, visitors can rent pedal boats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Bird hides overlook Ham Mere, with one offering a bird feeder in sight, increasing the likelihood of spotting interesting species.
Cautious visitors traversing the paths to the hides may even catch sight of a kingfisher.
In the visitor center, you can observe live footage from a camera situated in the park’s sand martin box.
The park also features a miniature steam railway, three playgrounds for children, horse-riding facilities, two 18-hole golf courses, a pub, as well as a garden center and plant nursery.
A distinctive way to reach Ferry Meadows is to alight at “Overton for Ferry Meadows on the Nene Valley Railway.”
8. Flag Fen Archaeology Park
On the eastern outskirts of Peterborough lies an enigmatic Bronze Age site established approximately 3,500 years ago.
This remarkable prehistoric engineering feat consists of 60,000 vertical and 250,000 horizontal timbers arranged in five long rows to form a causeway.
Since the 14th century, the landscape has been drained for agricultural pursuits via dykes; however, during that era, it was significantly more saturated and difficult to traverse on foot.
Situated partway along the causeway is an island believed to hold spiritual significance.
Flag Fen’s visitor center explores the significance of the site and exhibits numerous artifacts recovered, including weapons and jewelry presumed to have been offered as votive sacrifices in the water.
In the wet room, visitors can observe a series of timbers in situ.
Outdoor reconstructions display Bronze Age and Iron Age roundhouses, alongside a Bronze-Iron Age droveway.
9. Railworld Wildlife Haven
Open on select days from February to October, Railworld is a combination of a railway museum and a nature park located adjacent to the Peterborough Nene Valley Railway Station.
Children and model railway enthusiasts will certainly appreciate the extensive and detailed OO Model Railway, which adds new buildings and landscapes annually.
Over the past 20 years, the outdoor spaces surrounding the museum have been transformed into a wildlife haven, drawing in more than 250 native species.
Facilities such as beehives, bird boxes, hedgehog “hotels,” and a newly constructed pond, along with the planting of over 250 trees, have been established.
10. Elton Hall and Gardens
Located eight miles southwest of Peterborough, Elton Hall is a grand residence that has remained within the same family, the Corbys, since 1660. Flowing through the estate is the River Nene, and the architecture of the house dates back to the 1400s.
The oldest elements are visible in the pointed Gothic windows of the southern facade.
The house opens from May to August on select days, which may vary.
Visitors can enjoy artwork by Renaissance masters, along with works from Gainsborough and Constable, and access one of the UK’s most significant private libraries, housed with treasures including Henry VIII’s personal prayer book.
The formal gardens featuring boxwood and yew topiaries have been restored since the 1980s and include a quaint Gothic-style orangery constructed to commemorate the new millennium.
11. Sacrewell
Located slightly to the west, Sacrewell is a heritage farm attraction designed to delight younger visitors.
This establishment, documented in the Norman Domesday Survey of 1086, opened as a family-friendly destination in 1964 and spans 50 acres. Children are sure to enjoy the opportunity to interact with a variety of animals, including donkeys, Shetland ponies, pygmy goats, punch horses, alpacas, Boer goats, New Hampshire red chickens, Landrace pigs, and various sheep breeds.
A mini-maze, an indoor “Playbarn,” a cafe equipped with complimentary WiFi, and a farm shop showcasing local produce and handmade gifts are also available.
One of the most striking attractions is the watermill, constructed in 1755, which has been meticulously restored to working order with assistance from National Lottery funding.
12. Crowland Abbey
Situated 13 miles from the center of Peterborough in Lincolnshire, Crowland Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastery until 1539. This Grade I listed structure continues to operate as a parish church, presenting an unusual situation as it remains a place of worship despite the majority of the abbey being dismantled.
While parts of the monastic buildings, chancel, crossing, and transepts were promptly removed, the nave preserved its roof, serving as the church for the last five centuries.
With the ruins of pointed bays and window arches clinging to the intact segment, Crowland Abbey is exceedingly picturesque and was the subject of a sonnet by John Clare published in 1828, including the skull of 9th-century abbot Theodore, who was killed by Vikings at the altar.
13. Burghley House
A worthwhile excursion approximately 15 miles from Peterborough towards Stamford, Burghley House exemplifies English aristocratic architecture.
Constructed in the late 16th century by Lord High Treasurer William Cecil, Burghley House is emblematic of the Elizabethan Prodigy House design.
In the 18th century, famous landscape architect Capability Brown laid out the gardens and regal avenues.
The house welcomes visitors in spring and summer, either freely or with guided tours.
Burghley House’s art collection encompasses several hundred works, featuring pieces by Veronese (the chapel altarpiece), Luca Giordano, and the pioneering female Renaissance artist Artemisia Gentileschi, as well as German Baroque artist Johann Carl Loth.
Visitors can admire Verrio’s ceiling fresco from 1697 above the Hell Staircase, alongside later wall paintings by Thomas Stothard.
14. Queensgate
As the largest city in the vicinity, Peterborough serves as a regional shopping center, a fact underscored by the Queensgate shopping center, inaugurated by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982. The center underwent modernization at the beginning of the 2010s, and by the time of this writing, plans had been announced for a further £30 million enhancement, including a multi-screen cinema.
The center features all the mid-market brands typically expected in a prosperous British high street, such as Office, Paperchase, John Lewis, H&M, Lush, River Island, Superdry, and Marks & Spencer, to name a few.
For dining options, familiar names like Greggs, Pret, and Costa, in addition to several fast-food outlets, are readily available.
15. Key Theatre
Established on the north bank of the Nene since 1973, the glass-structured Key Theatre serves as Peterborough’s primary venue for live performances.
The theater hosts a variety of touring musicals, bands, and dance performances, as well as local community productions.
The program peaks towards the end of the year when the Key Theatre presents its renowned family-friendly pantomimes, which have become a cherished tradition for over four decades.
The more intimate Key Studio, with 112 seats, is dedicated to drama and live comedy.
During the daytime, the theater’s highly regarded Riverside Restaurant offers lovely views over the river.
