This East England city centers around its Norman cathedral from 1118. Students bring energy to the streets, while museums, parks and local eateries create an active urban environment.
Peterborough, a city in Cambridgeshire, has a magnificent 12th-century cathedral with three distinctive gables on its West Front. You can walk through 3,000-year-old wooden causeways at Flag Fen, take steam train rides on the Nene Valley Railway, or enjoy plays and concerts at the Key Theatre by the River Nene. The city's large Italian community brings authentic Mediterranean flavors to local restaurants.
Exploring Peterborough Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew dominates the city center. Built between 1118 and 1238, you'll find the 1,200-year-old Hedda Stone and the tomb of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife, inside. Three high gables make up the West Front, where statues of the cathedral's patron saints look down upon visitors. The building combines Late Norman architecture with Gothic and Victorian additions.
Getting Around
Trains connect Peterborough to London (74 miles south) on the main London-Edinburgh line. You can travel to Cambridge in 30 minutes and Ely in 20 minutes by train. The River Nene flows through the city to the North Sea, creating paths for boat trips and riverside walks.
Cultural Life and Entertainment
At the Key Theatre, built in 1973 next to the River Nene, you can watch drama productions, comedy shows, and musical performances throughout the year. The annual CAMRA beer festival takes place in late August on the river embankment. During the East of England Show, you can see agricultural displays, browse craft exhibitions, and watch live entertainment.
Italian Influence and Dining
The city center, particularly around Cathedral Square and Long Causeway, has many family-run Italian restaurants, a result of one of Britain's largest Italian communities. You'll also find Chinese, Indian, and Thai restaurants in these areas.
Historical Sites and Museums
At Flag Fen archaeological park, you can explore reconstructed Bronze Age landscapes and see preserved wooden causeway remains from 1300-1000 BC. Visit Burghley House to walk through 18 state rooms filled with Tudor and Georgian furniture, and stroll in the gardens laid out by Capability Brown. The Nene Valley Railway runs steam trains between Peterborough, Orton Mere, and Yarwell Junction stations, where you can ride in vintage carriages through the countryside.
