10 Things to do in Peterborough That You Shouldn't Miss

November 10, 2021 Leida Jutras

Peterborough (/ˈpiːtərbrə, -bərə, -ˌbʌrə/ ( listen)) is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, with a population of 183,631 in 2011. Historically part of Northamptonshire, it is 75 miles (121 km) north of London, on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea 30 miles (48 km) to the north-east. The railway station is an important stop on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh.
Restaurants in Peterborough

1. Peterborough Cathedral

Peterborough PE1 1XS England +44 1733 355315 [email protected] http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,062 reviews

Peterborough Cathedral

Peterborough Cathedral is in the heart of the historic city of Peterborough, England. There has been a place of worship and prayer on the site for 1350 years, the present building approaching its 900th anniversary. With superb Gothic West Front and beautiful hand-painted wooden nave ceiling. Peterborough Cathedral is also the resting place of Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine of Aragon. The Cathedral was also once the resting place of Mary Queen of Scots until her body was moved to Westminster Abbey in 1612. Today it continues to be the focus for a vibrant community. It is the principle church for the Church of England diocese of Peterborough, which serves Northamptonshire, Rutland and the Soke of Peterborough. The origins of the cathedral can be traced back to King Peada of the Middle Angles who founded the first monastery on the site in 655AD. The monastic settlement was almost entirely destroyed by the Vikings in 870 and rebuilt as a Benedictine Abbey between 960 and 970. The Abbey church then survived Hereward the Wake’s attack on the Abbey in 1069, and remained intact until an accidental fire destroyed the second Abbey here in 1116. It was rebuilt in its present form between 1118 and 1238. It became the Cathedral of the new Diocese of Peterborough in 1541 and it is now known as the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew.

Reviewed By nuneatonjohn2017 - Bulkington, United Kingdom

This visit exceeded our expectations; the cathedral is very large and has fantastic architectural features. A tip is to make sure you look upwards! There is no admission fee although you are encouraged to make a donation. There are even free tours at some times of the day. If you wish to attend a service, they occur every day in the late morning and early afternoon. If you are visiting and do not wish to participate in the service, you can continue your visit using the side aisles. The history of the cathedral is fascinating and you can see the final resting place of Katherine of Aragon as well as getting an understanding of Tudor history with the transition from Benedictine monastery to cathedral. Highly recommended.

2. Nene Valley Railway

Excellent
60%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 880 reviews

Nene Valley Railway

The NVR is a great day out for the kids and the exciting train ride is just part of it, remember loads of our attractions are free like the children's play area and the river-side picnic spot and you can jump, off at other stations and explore what they have to offer too. If you are looking for things to do in Peterborough why not visit us... It not just the train ride either, there are plenty of other things that go towards making the NVR a great place to spend the day. Grown up visitors will love the heritage and nostalgia. Parents and Carers will find loads of things here and at our stations to entertain the children.

3. Ferry Meadows Country Park

Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU England +44 1733 234193 [email protected] http://www.nenepark.org.uk/
Excellent
65%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,577 reviews

Ferry Meadows Country Park

There is something for everybody at Ferry Meadows. Imagine somewhere beautiful, safe and unspoilt where you can walk, cycle, play, horse-ride, ride a train, go fishing, exercise the dog, jog, push the buggy and explore endless meadows, lakes and woodland all less than three miles from Peterborough's busy city centre. We also offer three play areas catering for different ages and an events programme throughout the year with lots of activities for children. If all of this isn't enough to keep you entertained the Visitor Centre & Gift shop stocks a wide range of toys and games along with gifts, souvenirs and sweet treats. After all this activity you can relax at one of our cafes, find a nice spot for a picnic or fire up on one of our barbecue stands. Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity centre offers a wide range of watersports too for adults and children alike and you can book the meeting room for events with a view of the lake.

Reviewed By Helielli - Manchester, United Kingdom

Fabulous place, well kept, well thought out, plenty to do and something for all ages whether it be walking, cycling, dog walking, boating or playing in one of the three brilliant play parks.

4. Peterborough Museum

Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1LF England +44 1733 864663 [email protected] http://www.vivacity.org/heritage/
Excellent
55%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 408 reviews

Peterborough Museum

Located in one of the city’s most historic buildings, Peterborough Museum has a wealth of stories to fascinate and enthrall the whole family. With amazing objects and interactive displays for all ages, the collections comprise over 200,000 items of great national and international importance. Peterborough Museum is situated in Peterborough City Centre, on Priestgate, a minute’s walk from the main shopping areas and two minutes’ walk from the Queensgate Shopping Centre, the Bus Station or the Railway Station. If you’re using a sat nav to find us, our postcode is PE1 1LF.

Reviewed By mister216

Entry to the museum is through the gift shop and cafeteria (entry is free). Each subject is given its own room for displays and explanations. Much information on the fossils and other archaeological finds from the area ( mainly Fen Gate) as well as a very informative display showing the prisoner camp during the Napoleonic Wars (I had never heard of the camp). Lots of things for kids to do (dressing up in period costume, examining fossils). The cafe downstairs serves tea, coffee and good food, while the gift shop has some useful reference books at sensible prices. Well worth a visit.

5. Elton Hall & Gardens

Elton Hall, Peterborough PE8 6SQ England +44 1832 280468 [email protected] http://www.eltonhall.com
Excellent
60%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
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Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 92 reviews

Elton Hall & Gardens

Elton Hall is a baronial hall in Elton, Cambridgeshire. Home to the Proby family for over 400 years, the Hall is a fascinating Grade I listed building packed with treasures, fine art, porcelain and furniture. The Victorian gardens have been skilfully restored in recent years and contain a knot garden, a herbaceous garden with fountain, fine hedges and a Gothic orangery built to celebrate the Millennium. Summer opening season runs from the late May Bank Holiday until the end of August on selected afternoons. Private tours from May to September by arrangement. Full details are published on the website.

Reviewed By bonjovifan35 - Daventry, United Kingdom

Make sure you have a good wander around the gardens to find the orangery and the seat with all the shells decorating the wall behind. Look out for the candlestick holders made entirely of shells. Inside is currently a self guided tour with no rush to move on and plenty of time to look at everything. The guidebook (currently complementary) is full of detail and has lovely pictures. It would be improved with a plan of the house, family tree and a longer personal introduction by the family themselves. Make sure you spot Henry VIII's own prayer book in the library and look for the cabinet with mirrors at floor level so ladies could check if their ankles were on show! Thank you to the very informed and friendly guides who pointed these out for us. Only thing that lets this down is the lack of house related items in the shop (I do like to buy a magnet for each place I visit) and the service time in the garden centre cafe (30 mins for a tea and bottle of coke!). Toilets COVID safe and clean. Car park well signed and a decent size.

6. The Key Theatre

Embankment Road, Peterborough PE1 1EF England +44 1733 207239 [email protected] http://vivacity.org/keytheatre
Excellent
66%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 83 reviews

The Key Theatre

Set next to the River Nene, the Key Theatre has a 360 seat theatre plus a 112 studio theatre, alongside rehearsal spaces and specialist conferencing facilities. Within the building is the Riverside restaurant - perfect for pre-theatre and casual dining all through the year. Our seasonal menu has something for everyone, varying through the seasons, using the finest local ingredients. The Key Theatre works to bring an abundance of entertainment and culture to the heart of the city. Pay us a visit and be rewarded with nationally touring shows, dance, comedy, live music and much more.

Reviewed By 14-9-ans

What a fabulous little theatre this is as we had the most entertaining evening watching A Christmas Carol - performed as a one man show The staff made everyone feel very safe and were very welcoming The actor was incredible and had the audience laughing all through his manic performance that we were so pleased this was the show we had chosen to see Would love to return and support this fabulous place when things eventually return to some semblance of normality

7. Railworld Wildlife Haven

Access - Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park, Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9NR England +44 1733 344240 [email protected] http://www.railworld.net
Excellent
76%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 225 reviews

Railworld Wildlife Haven

Alongside the Nene Valley Railway,(NVR) Peterborough Station. Short walk from Peterborough Main Line Station - Access by car through Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park - PE2 9NR - (Access also available via 'Cubitt Way' Gate, into the Railworld Car Park) We are a self funded volunteer group. We have a Passion for Nature and a slant towards Model Railways. An intriguing exciting wildlife habitat to explore and 2,000 sq.ft. of model railways to enjoy - Nostalgic film shows, Steam Specials on the Main Line, plus 'The Volunteers Story' - How determined volunteers created the 'Railworld Wildlife Haven' over a 35 year period. We aim to 'Entertain and Educate about Our Wonderful World'. In 2018 - We won the 'Queen's Award for Voluntary Service'. Please bring a picnic - Relax and relish your time with us. Family ticket 2 Adults + 3 children £10.00 - Adult £4.00 - Concessions £3.00 - Children £2.00 - Special reductions for NVR Family Rover Tickets holders!

Reviewed By MrsBrownagain - Cambridge, United Kingdom

Spent an amazing afternoon here today. Almost beyond belief it is an all-volunteer team running and creating this little bit of heaven near the city centre. I was expecting a largeish pond and lots of trees and bushes, Not so. A well -planned, designed and absolutely lovely wildlife haven incorporating a great model railway in a garden specially made for it and an enormous model railway in another building.. Very informative information boards, lovely low waterfalls, large variety of plants, fig trees, grapevines and an incredible Earth exhibition with a 2.5 metre globe with 3D effects. And a good cup of tea at the end. I am sure I have missed something out so you will all have to go yourselves and have a look. Well worth it. And no, I am not one of the volunteers. Just a first time visitor

8. Flag Fen

Northey Road, Peterborough PE6 7QJ England +44 1733 864468 http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/museums-and-heritage/flag-fen/
Excellent
51%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 243 reviews

Flag Fen

Reviewed By SimonH582

Although some visitors might be underwhelmed by what looks like a load of logs and twigs in a pond, if you are interested in the prehistoric archaeology this is a fascinating place, and very well set out and explained / labelled. its easy to see the position of the causeway in its geographic context, and the preserved boats are unique artifacts.

9. Sacrewell

Thornhaugh, Peterborough PE8 6HJ England +44 1780 782254 [email protected] http://www.sacrewell.org.uk
Excellent
46%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
11%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 467 reviews

Sacrewell

You probably know us as a lovely place for children to see the animals, run around in beautiful countryside and let off steam in our state-of-the-art play barn - but there's a lot more to Sacrewell. With the help of £1.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, our 18th century water mill is being transformed into a national centre for milling excellence - take a tour and find out how your great-grandparents got their daily bread. Foodies can also join a tractor trip around the fields of our tenant farmers Riverford Organic Farms (it's on our land). Then there's our wildlife trail, scavenger hunt and two new rambles - if you're lucky, you'll see the rare red kites and brown hares. Seasonal events range from our Lamb National to ploughing with vintage tractors. In our 50th year as a charity dedicated to agricultural education, we continue to welcome students of all ages who want to learn traditional skills and get an insight into rural life. We hope that all our visitors not only have a great day out but feel they've learned something too.

Reviewed By DangerousPaddy - Cannock, United Kingdom

My wife has taken out the annual pass to be able to take our young son there. I came along for the first time this weekend and it is a brilliant experience. Plenty to do from the play area's to the animals and lots of open ground. My wife will be a regular and I will be going back as well.

10. Peterborough Greyhound Stadium

Fengate, Peterborough PE1 5BJ England +44 1733 296939 [email protected] http://www.peterboroughgreyhounds.com
Excellent
44%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
5%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 744 reviews

Peterborough Greyhound Stadium

Former greyhound stadium available for meetings, conferences, festivals, sports events, outdoor events, photo shoots and a filming location. Anything really, you have an idea and we'll helpmake it happen!

Reviewed By 798rosa - Thetford, United Kingdom

We were invited to a 60th birthday party with a nearly 91 year old, on arriving we were helped by the door/car park attendants to make his arrival in his wheelchair very easy the staff bent over backwards to help. On getting up the lift we were greeted by a very nice young lady who promptly shew us where to go.The young waiters were very polite and efficient , the meal was absolutely delicious . A great night, and for someone who has had greyhounds all of his long life and who had been to Peterborough many times a great night for him to remember and to reminisce.

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