Peterborough City Centre Walking Tour

A 6,196-step walk through Peterborough city centre discovering blue plaques, historic buildings, the Cathedral, hidden gems and a few tasty refreshments.

Exploring Peterborough Centre on Foot | Local Walk & Hidden Gems

Sometimes the best way to rediscover your own city is simply to park the car and start walking.

That’s exactly what I did on my latest trip into Peterborough city centre, eventually clocking up 6,196 steps while discovering history, blue plaques, magnificent architecture, good food and one completely unexpected exhibition.

Starting from Queensgate

After parking at Queensgate, I headed into Cumbergate, where my first historical discovery was one of Peterborough’s distinctive blue plaques.

15th-century timber-framed building in Cumbergate, Peterborough, marked with a historic blue plaque

Cumbergate 15th Century Building

Cumbergate blue disc marking the historic 15th-century timber-framed building in Peterborough

It marks a late 15th-century timber-framed building, one of the few surviving examples in Peterborough. Interestingly, the medieval name Cumbergate means “Street of the wool-combers”.

From there, I made my way around to St John the Baptist Church.

This seemed the ideal place to prepare myself for the walk ahead as I had been there before, so I stopped for a scone and black coffee. Suitably refreshed and with my energy levels restored, it was time to continue exploring.

Another blue plaque at the Guildhall

Guildhall blue disc marking the historic Guildhall in Peterborough Cathedral Square

Historic Peterborough Guildhall in Cathedral Square, Peterborough city centre

My next stop was the Guildhall in Cathedral Square, where I found my second blue plaque.

The Guildhall dates from 1670-71 and was built in celebration of the restoration of Charles II.

From there, I headed towards the magnificent archway leading into the Cathedral grounds.

Just before entering, another blue plaque caught my attention. It marks the historic connection with St Thomas Becket and the chapel that once stood here.

Historic Starbucks building beside the Peterborough Cathedral Gateway in Cathedral Square

St Thomas Becket blue disc marking the historic site near Peterborough Cathedral Gateway

Stepping through the Cathedral Gateway

Walking through that ancient gateway, the view changes dramatically.

Suddenly the splendour of Peterborough Cathedral fills your vision, and however many times you have seen it before, it remains an impressive sight.

I walked across the grounds and went inside, intending simply to look around and take some photographs.

Instead, I stumbled across something completely unexpected.

Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Peterborough

View through the ancient archway towards Peterborough Cathedral and its magnificent West Front

Mary Queen of Scots Exhibition inside Peterborough Cathedral

Inside was the fascinating Mary, Queen of Scots: The Exhibition.

The exhibition explores Mary’s extraordinary life through original artefacts and reproductions, visuals and immersive displays. It is particularly appropriate that it should be staged here because Peterborough Cathedral was Mary’s original burial place.

Naturally, I took plenty of photographs!

The exhibition runs from 21 September until 15 November 2026, so I will be following, this article with a closer look at what I discovered inside.

Watch this space because this exhibition deserves an article of its own.

Time for another recharge

After that exciting discovery, I walked back across the Cathedral grounds and decided another refreshment stop was called for.

This time it was CATH PE1, where I rested my legs and enjoyed a delicious spicy chilli baguette with another black coffee.

CATH PE1 restaurant in the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral

Spicy chilli baguette and black coffee for lunch at CATH PE1, Peterborough

Leaving the restaurant, I walked through its garden, where many people were sitting together enjoying the warm sunlight.

It was one of those pleasant little moments that reminded me that exploring Peterborough isn’t just about buildings and history. It’s also about watching the city being enjoyed by the people who live here.

Down Bridge Street

Leaving the Cathedral grounds through the ancient gateway, I turned left and headed down Bridge Street.

Here was another blue plaque, this time on Peterborough’s imposing Town Hall. The foundation stone was laid in June 1929, and the building opened in October 1933, replacing the Guildhall as the city’s municipal building.

Peterborough Town Hall blue disc marking the historic Town Hall on Bridge Street

Historic Peterborough Town Hall on Bridge Street in the city centre

After a brief diversion into B&M to collect a few bits and bobs, I retraced my steps along Bridge Street before turning into Priestgate.

Peterborough Museum and the journey home

I continued along Priestgate towards Peterborough Museum, a place I had visited in the past, although I didn’t call in on this occasion.

From there, I retraced my steps through Cross Street and Cathedral Square, before making my way back through Queensgate and eventually to my motor car.

Final step count: 6,196

Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery on Priestgate in Peterborough city centre — Peterborough Museum

Not bad for what started as a simple walk around Peterborough!

More importantly, those 6,196 steps uncovered medieval buildings, blue plaques, a magnificent Cathedral, good food, local history and an unexpected encounter with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Sometimes you don’t need to travel far to discover something interesting. You just need to start walking.