Peterborough factfile

How to get to Peterborough
Peterborough lies west of the Fens in Cambridgeshire, 121 km (75 mi) north of London. As you'd expect from a busy cathedral city with a population of over 160,000, it is well served by road and rail.

Eating and drinking in Peterborough
You're spoilt for choice in Peterborough, with British, Mediterranean, Mexican, Thai, Oriental and Indian cuisines all readily available. Some restaurants sit beside—or even float upon—the River Nene.

The city and its outskirts are rich in cosy country pubs offering home-made meals, fine ales and a warm welcome.

Famous people from Peterborough
Sir Henry Royce, engineer and co-founder of Rolls Royce, came from Peterborough. So do Andy Bell, lead singer of pop band Erasure; Paul Nicholas, actor and star of 1980s sitcom Just Good Friends; and Blackburn Rovers and England midfielder David Bentley.

Things to see and do around Peterborough
Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery displays Roman pottery, Jurrasic fossils and writings and artwork from the city dating back to 655 AD.

Burghley House was built by Sir William Cecil in the 16th century, with a park laid out by Capability Brown in the 18th century. It hosts the Burghley Horse Trials, an annual three-day event.

Famous landmarks in Peterborough
Peterborough Cathedral, with its magnificent west front, is one of the most photographed landmarks in the UK. With its Norman architecture, it is one of the most important 12th-century buildings in England.

Sports and leisure in Peterborough
Peterborough offers ice hockey, golf courses, a speedway track, a greyhound stadium, an ice rink, two indoor swimming pools. And then of course there's Peterborough United FC, known locally as "The Posh".

Peterborough is also the home of the 13-mile Great Eastern Run.

Arts and culture in Peterborough
The 399-seat Key Theatre, built in 1973, provides entertainment in the form of plays, recitals and concerts from local, national and international artistes.

The Broadway Theatre offers a variety of live music, comedy and films.

Peterborough's claim to fame
Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre boasts the site where archaeologists found the oldest wheel in Britain.