England is a compact country stuffed full of history. So any history enthusiast visiting is really spoilt for choice when considering places to see in England. A destination often overlooked by tourists is Peterborough, 87 miles north of London. This is understandable as it is a former industrial city and now a major regional commercial hub, so the downtown core is surrounded by business parks, offices and huge distribution warehouses. But here’s why you should visit Peterbrorough.
Peterborough Cathedral
A trip to the city centre is well worth it to see the magnificent cathedral, in my view the finest in Britain. It’s difficult to imagine what it must have been like a few hundred years ago to see the cathedral for the first time. Walking across from the market through the gates and then seeing this: watch this short YouTube video.
2018 is a really good time to visit the Cathedral as it is celebrating its 900th birthday. The first monastery was founded on the site around 655AD, but was destroyed by the Vikings in 870. It was rebuilt as a Benedictine Abbey 960-970, and destroyed again in 1116, this time by an accidental fire. It was rebuilt again in its current form 1118-1238. The oldest parts of the present building date from 1118, hence the 900th birthday this year. More information can be found on the Cathedral’s website.
Katherine of Aragon’s grave in Peterborough Cathedral
Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife is buried in the Cathedral and Mary Queen of Scots was also buried here in 1587 after she was executed at nearby Fotheringhay Castle, although her body was moved to Westminster Abbey in 1612.
Peterborough can easily be reached from London by train (45 minutes from London King’s Cross) for a short visit. However, a longer stay in the area would be rewarding as there are plenty of places to visit that often get overlooked. Here are some suggestions:
Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Just 14 miles North West of Peterborough is the very attractive stone town of Stamford. It is an almost complete Georgian town, a conservation area containing over 600 listed (protected) limestone buildings. More information about Stamford can be found here.
Just outside the town is the splendid stately home of Burleigh House, often described as Britain’s greatest Elizabethan house. It was built between 1555 and 1587 by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. Visit the official website for more information.
Fotheringhay
The Falcon, Fotheringhay
Thirteen miles west of Peterborough is the charming village of Fotheringhay. There used to be a castle here where Mary Queen of Scots was executed on the orders of Elizabeth I. All that’s left of the castle is a mound which you can walk onto and look at the view and watch the River Nene meander past. There is a very pleasant pub in the village called The Falcon where you can stop for lunch.
Oundle
Oundle, Northamptonshire
Just four miles South West of Fothinghay is another near complete Georgian town; Oundle. It is smaller than Stamford, but still very pleasant, definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. There are several nice pubs, cafes and independent shops. More information can be found on the town website.
So, if you are in England this year, try and make it to Peterborough Cathedral and wish it a happy 900th birthday!
Here is some further reading if you are interested:
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