Today's blog post is a bit different – I thought I'd talk about my home city, Peterborough.
Now, Peterborough has certainly had some bad press over the years. You might have seen those gimmicky online surveys that seemed to vote it the "worst place to live in the UK" year after year for a while (probably written by a disgruntled Cambridge United fan, if you ask me!). Does Peterborough have some rough areas? Yes, absolutely but show me a city that doesn't.
I work at a school located on what you might call a typical English council estate. Does it have a reputation? It certainly did. But believe me, having lived there myself as a young boy, it's a lot better now than it used to be, and I've seen far worse situations in towns and cities across the country. Sometimes the headlines don't match the lived reality.
So, what does Peterborough have going for it? Quite a lot, actually!
💎 A Jewel in the Crown: The Cathedral
Firstly, aside from our beloved football team, "The Posh" (Google it if you're not a football fan!), we have Peterborough Cathedral – arguably one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the country. Its imposing Early English Gothic West Front, with those three enormous arches, is architecturally unique there's nothing else quite like it. Its history stretches way back, originating as "Medeshamstede," founded around 655 AD as one of the first centres of Christianity in central England.
Known over the centuries as St Peter's Abbey and now officially The Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew, it's simply a work of art and a must-see if you're visiting Peterborough or Cambridgeshire. I have been here plenty of times and you can see the spires all around the city.
🗿 Echoes of History Within the Walls
The Cathedral isn't just architecturally stunning; it's steeped in Tudor history. Two famous queens were buried here in the 16th century. Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife, rests here permanently. Her original tomb is a site of pilgrimage for many history buffs.
Mary, Queen of Scots was also interred here for a time after her execution at nearby Fotheringhay Castle (her body lay in a lead coffin there for nearly six months before being brought to Peterborough!). Her son, King James I, later moved her remains to Westminster Abbey, but you can still see the site of her original tomb in the Cathedral's South Choir Aisle.
And then there's Robert Scarlett, or 'Old Scarlett'. The cathedral's gravedigger (sexton) during the Tudor era, he became something of a local celebrity, living to the ripe old age of 98! His life spanned the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I – imagine the things he saw! He buried both queens and was eventually buried within the cathedral himself. There's an award-winning Highlights Tour (I think it won a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award in 2021 or 2022) where you can learn more about all three figures.
🏞 River Life, Culture, and Green Spaces
Beyond the Cathedral, the River Nene runs right through the city centre, offering some great spots for dining by the water. There's more development happening too, with the South Bank undergoing a major regeneration project. On the riverbank, you'll also find the Key Theatre, featuring a 360-seat main theatre, a smaller studio theatre, and rehearsal spaces.
We're blessed with green space too. Nene Park, incorporating Ferry Meadows, offers vast areas for walking, cycling, watersports, and family picnics it's a fantastic local asset. We used to live just down the road and our old dog Kaim used to love it here.
For history enthusiasts, there's the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery in the city centre, and just on the outskirts lies Flag Fen Archaeology Park. This unique site reveals a mysterious Bronze Age timber causeway and platform built 3,500 years ago – a real window into prehistoric life in the Fens.
🏠 It's Home
There's honestly so much more I could cover – the city's Roman history, the railway heritage, the diverse communities... but this gives you a flavour. Is Peterborough perfect? No city is. But it's where I grew up, where I've raised my family. It's home.
If you want to find out more about some of the places mentioned, check out the links below. Maybe you'll even consider visiting!
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