So you’re heading to Peterborough. Maybe just for a day, maybe longer. Either way, it’s worth knowing this isn’t just a stop on the way to somewhere else — there’s a cathedral with a ceiling that stops people mid-sentence, Bronze Age timber you can actually walk above, and an old open-air pool that’s somehow survived since the 1930s. If you’re searching for things to do in Peterborough, here’s what’s actually worth doing.
Peterborough Cathedral and the Old Town
This is where most people start, and honestly, it earns it. The building dates mostly from the 1100s, though there’s been some kind of church on the site since 656 AD long before most of England’s cathedrals existed. Everyone talks about the ceiling afterward. It’s painted wood, and it genuinely catches you off guard the moment you walk in. Catherine of Aragon is buried here too, which surprises a lot of people who had no idea going in.
Getting in doesn’t cost anything, but the volunteers who lead tours around clearly rely on donations, and once one of them spends ten minutes walking you through the layout, you’ll probably want to leave something.
A few minutes’ walk from there sits Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, in an old Georgian mansion. Bigger fossil collection than you’d expect from a city museum this size, and the staff seem to genuinely enjoy telling the local ghost stories tied to the building.
Flag Fen
Completely different kind of history, just outside the center. Flag Fen dates back roughly 3,000 years, built into wetlands, with wooden causeways preserved well enough that you can walk directly above them. It’s one of the more unusual things to do in Peterborough, and if the cathedral is about faith and architecture, this is the opposite end of things mud, timber, and a much longer stretch of time behind it. Do both in the same trip if you can.
Getting Outdoors in Peterborough
Mention outdoor activities to a local and Ferry Meadows comes up almost every time it’s one of the most recommended things to do in Peterborough for families and dog walkers alike. Part of the wider Nene Park, with lakes, cycling paths, playgrounds, plenty of spots to just sit and eat lunch. Bring a bike if you own one — the trails are actually good, not just there to tick a box.
It connects straight into the Nene Valley Railway too, a heritage line running steam and diesel trains through the countryside outside the city. Good day out regardless of whether kids are with you, and since the park and railway link up, you can turn both into one trip without a car.
The Lido
Not many people outside Peterborough know this exists, which makes it one of the better hidden things to do in Peterborough during summer. Built in the 1930s, it’s an open-air pool with genuine art-deco style, one of the few of its kind still running in the country. Gets packed fast on hot weekends, especially school holidays, so early mornings are your best bet in summer.
If You’ve Got Kids With You
Sacrewell works well for younger ones, and it’s consistently one of the top-rated things to do in Peterborough with children under ten. Built around a restored 18th-century watermill, with farm animals, tractor rides, and walking trails somehow it manages to feel like an actual working farm and a history lesson without either side losing out.
Queensgate Shopping Centre, near the center, has over 100 stores plus an indoor mini golf course, which is a decent fallback if the weather turns on you. And out in Helpston, there’s the John Clare Cottage, dedicated to the poet locals still call the “peasant poet.” Small museum, nice gardens, doesn’t take long, but worth the detour if you’re already close by.
Evenings in Peterborough
Charters Bar sits on an old Dutch barge moored on the River Nene genuinely one of the more unusual places in the city to grab a drink, and one of the more memorable things to do in Peterborough after dark. If sitting still isn’t your thing, axe throwing has become a fairly popular night-out activity here, and most sessions include coaching for anyone who’s never done it. For something a bit more traditional, the New Theatre on Broadway runs musicals, comedy, and drama fairly often.
Getting Around
Peterborough sits directly on the East Coast Main Line, with straightforward trains from London, Stevenage, and Hitchin, so it works fine even as a day trip if you’re staying somewhere else. Once you’re actually there, most of what matters is either walkable from the station or a short bus ride. Booking ahead on trains usually saves a decent amount over buying same-day, and the PlusBus add-on gets you unlimited local buses on top of your train ticket, which is worth it if you’re planning to hit more than one spot outside the center.
Final Thought
People show up expecting a train stop and leave having found a Norman cathedral, a Bronze Age site, and a pool they had no idea was there. Between the cathedral, Flag Fen, and everything around Ferry Meadows, there are enough things to do in Peterborough to fill a full weekend without stretching for it.
FAQs
How many days do you need in Peterborough?
Two to three days is usually enough for the main sights the cathedral, Ferry Meadows, and one outlying stop like Flag Fen or Sacrewell.
Is Peterborough easy to get around without a car?
Yes. It’s directly on the East Coast Main Line, and most attractions are within walking distance or a short bus ride from the center.
