Peterborough Overview
Peterborough is a cathedral city based in Cambridgeshire roughly 75 miles north of London, the city has a Romanesque-Gothic style cathedral which was built in 1118. The cathedral is in the heart of the city and is famed for being one of the most important buildings built in the 12th century to still be perfectly intact, despite restorations and extensions. In the 19th century the population grew rapidly due to the implementation of the railways as well as being an industrial centre for brick after the Second World War. Once the industrial revolution slowed down Peterborough’s economy struggled but since a £1 billion regeneration project for the city came into place the city has been going from strength to strength and is now a thriving community and economy. The regeneration will also increase the number of jobs available in and around the city which make living here that little bit easier as a job is very important once you have finished studying. There are several art galleries and museums dotted around the city which boast the diverse culture of the people living in the city, Peterborough is a fantastic city to live in and is very popular with students both nationally as well as internationally.
Things to do in Peterborough
One of the more popular things to do in Peterborough is to visit Burghley House, this house was built in 1587 and is one of the largest and grandest houses of the First Elizabethan Age. The house costs to visit but you are also able to get an annual pass to visit the house and grounds all year long; other facilities include a shop, gardens and deer park, restaurant, café as well as a guided tour everyday at 3pm. All of these aspects are what makes Burghley House a great place to spend the day, whether you go there to find out about the house and have a tour or if you go there for afternoon tea and picturesque gardens it welcomes everyone at all ages. There are several great places to go shopping in the city with 3 shopping centres, a couple of markets and a plethora of independent boutiques which will mean you can always find something for you. Most of the shopping centres offer student discounts so make sure you keep your eyes out for great discounts. There are lots of great places to drink in Peterborough, with a mixture of bars, pubs and clubs you will always find the best place that suits you, some pubs have live music and most bars have DJ’s which will help you find the place that best suits you.
Sport in Peterborough
There are a few leisure centres in the city with most of them boasting a swimming pool, gym and a sports hall as well as the university having a gym on campus. Peterborough also has several golf courses on the outskirts of the city and many of these courses are well renowned in the golfing industry. Peterborough United FC are a professional football club that play in the English League One, they play at the ABAX Stadium which can hold over 15,000 supporters, this makes for a great atmosphere on matchday, not just at the ground but around the city in pubs and bars.
Escape Peterborough
Roughly a 30-minute drive north of the city will bring you to the Wash National Nature Reserve which is a vast saltmarsh reserve which is famed for bird spotting and nature trails to help you escape the stresses of university life. To the west of the city is Birmingham which is the second most populous city in the UK behind London, here you will find a whole variety of things to do and you will struggle to become bored in that great city.
Transport in Peterborough
The A1(M) runs through the city linking it to London and Glasgow, the A1(M) will also grant you access to the national motorway network which means you can travel to most cities in the UK with ease. From Peterborough you can get direct trains to London and Birmingham in just over an hour, from both of these cities you will be able to travel to most cities in the UK via train. National coach services also run from the city.
