This month, GTW’s Emma Parkes and Harley Denham hosted a fam trip to discover the wonders of Peterborough city – the magazine’s home town…

You may not realise it, but Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is packed with history. Alongside modern shopping outlets in the indoor Queensgate, you can also visit Peterborough’s museum, its heritage railways, historic sites, such as Flag Fen, the city’s football stadium and ice rink and much more. Also a choice of three theatres, The Key, Cresset and Broadway Theatre.

On arrival at Peterborough’s Norman cathedral we were greeted by our hosts for the day, Liz Hurst and Natalie Freeman, and tour guides Catriona Mathieson, Nick Gazeley, Kate Brown, Neil Barker and Mary Boyall. After some light refreshments we were shown the contempory and interactive visitors’ centre, before heading off in two groups for a tour of the cathedral, which guards the tomb of Katherine of Aragon and is home to the largest medieval highly decorative ceiling.
This impressive Cathedral dates back as far as the late Saxon period when it was a monastery. In 1070 the building suffered great damage following the resistance to the Norman conquest in 1066.

We bravely embarked on the Tower Tour, which had us climbing steep stairs, but the journey was worth it to take in the breath taking views of Peterborough. Only from a bird’s-eye view can you truly appreciate the mosaic marbled flooring.
You can also enjoy fabulous home cooked food hot and cold as well as drinks and cakes from the Beckett’s Tea Rooms in the grounds of the cathedral, all served in traditional crockery. Please forward book if you are in a group and sit out on the terrace overlooking the west front of the cathedral.

As the cathedral approaches its 900th year, plans are in process to celebrate with a festival, Katherine of Aragon, in January 2018. Then, in June, Peterborough will host the Heritage Festival – a lively programme of re-enactments, displays and demonstrations in the city and the cathedral. The city will also host a Christmas market and carols at the cathedral.

If arriving by coach, drop off is very close to the cathedral building (coaches can then park in a close by coach park). Or you can opt to use the many rail links into the city as the station is a short 15 minute walk away. There is no parking for the general public in the grounds, however the city has many other parking options nearby.