You might expect a ‘New Town’ to not have much to offer in terms of attractions and places to visit, but Peterborough’s long history means there’s no shortage of stuff to do here, while the university contributes to a lively nightlife. Even better, head out of Peterborough in your hire car and you’ll be spoiled for choice.
The Norman legacy
Peterborough’s cathedral is a real stunner, one of the best in the country. It sits on the site of an Anglo-Saxon church, dating from around 655AD. At the time, the site was known as Medeshamstede – founded by its abbot and later bishop of Mercia, Seaxwulf.
Later razed to the ground, the current church is a 12th-century Norman edifice, combining Romanesque and Gothic touches, with various additions and subtractions over the centuries.
Both the interior and exterior hold remarkable details, including the grave of Catherine of Aragon, former wife of Henry VIII, and the tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots. Many relics and stained-glass elements were destroyed during the English Civil War, later being restored and rebuilt.
You can learn more about the area and the cathedral at the Peterborough Museum, home to various artefacts that help illuminate the story of the grand church. There’s more to see outside of this too, including cells from a prisoner of war camp, Roman pottery, Jurassic-era marine fossils and an extensive art collection.
The banks of the Nene
The River Nene has played a big part in Peterborough’s development, cutting through the heart of the city and winding along some of its pleasant outdoor recreational areas.
A short drive away is Elton Hall, built in the 1400s and family home to the noble Proby family since the 17th. The River Nene runs through some of the 3,800-acre estate, while the surrounding gardens include an orangery, knot garden and superb herb and rose plantings.
The house is open to the public from late May through to September, and visitors will be greeted by a grand main staircase, large library, a medieval tower and more, giving you a whistle-stop tour of the different architectural styles on show, with more than a fair share of dramatic Gothic influences.
Also nearby, Nene Park is a glorious piece of countryside, incorporating Overton Lake and Ferry Meadows Country Park. Here you’ll find ample places to walk and cycle, as well as areas for water-sports, a sculpture park and quaint villages dotted around. Kids will love the playground and miniature train which they can climb aboard.
Down on the farm
With kids in tow, make your way to Sacrewell Farm. While it’s a functioning heritage farm, it’s also a visitor centre with plenty of animals for the children to meet. It’s home to Shetland ponies and donkeys, chickens and cows, which the little ones can feed before taking a tractor ride. Add in alpacas, a pygmy goat and peacocks and you’ve got a veritable menagerie.
There’s also an 18th-century watermill on the site, which has been recently renovated, as well as an indoor soft play area should the weather not be playing ball. You can stock up on fresh produce too – the shop and café are full of products from local suppliers.
Whether its business or pleasure that brings you to the picturesque Cambridgeshire county, get around with ease with a Hertz hire car in Peterborough.