Summer’s here and (hopefully) the sun will stay out! If you’re after open air entertainment or want to explore the great outdoors in and around Peterborough, we’ve picked 10 attractions and activities you might want to try (although there are more - click here to visit our 'Things to Do' page)!
Nene Park and Ferry Meadows are some of the best loved open spaces in the city, and they’re just 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre!
You can dabble in watersports no matter your level. Swan pedalos provide leisurely trips over the water, while those looking for more action can go kayaking and windsurfing! It’s also a fantastic spot for picturesque walks, picnicikng, BBQs (with prior permission!), and there are dedicated bike routes for two-wheeling enthusiasts.
They’ve even got six weeks of summer fun planned for families over July and August with treasure hunts, arts and crafts, even outdoor singalongs.
You might no make it to Italy this summer but British Pompeii is right here in Peterborough. This Bronze Age site was remarkably preserved thanks to the marshy land of the Fens. Most of the exhibits are outdoors so you can immerse yourself in Bronze Age life and walk the same trails as our ancestors did 3,000 years ago.
It’s just 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre, or cyclists can use the cycling route along the River Nene to get there in under 20 minutes!
Flag Fen will also play host to some of the Festival of Fun by City Culture which will have creative activities for families, entertaining tales inspired by nature and even a Viking reenactment! Plus, key workers can get free entry between 14 adn 20 August!
Read more about Flag Fen here >>
This award-winning nature reserve is a truly hidden gem in Peterborough. Tucked away next to the river, this stunning space has plenty of places for you to explore with working mini railways indoor and out!
The park is entirely run by volunteers who are passionate about protecting the environment and local wildlife and work tirelessly to keep Rail World one Peterborough's most popular attractions on TripAdvisor!
There are plenty of hands-on activities to keep the kids entertained at Sacrewell which celebrates rural past times and heritage in the expansive countryside. There's plenty of outdoor space to run around, huge jungle gyms (including the Playbarn which is indoors), plus you can take a tour of their honey making store, see their blacksmith at work, meet farmyard animals and much more! You can even meet Shire horses and Shetland ponies as part of their rare breeds programme preventing extinction among traditional farming animal breeds.
For peaceful camping or a sunny day out, there’s plenty of space, huge play areas, even a shooting range and boutique retailers – including a chocolatier, cheese maker, and gin makers, Nene Valley Spirits.
Looking for a thrill? Peterborough Wake Park in Hampton offers high speed watersports for novices to seasoned wakers.
In fact, Peterborough WakePark has the longest, highest two tower system in the UK! They’ve got all the equipment you need to take to the water and can cater to groups, birthday parties, and individuals no matter their experience!
If you want to get on your bike this summer, the Green Wheel is one of the best ways to get around the city – literally. It’s 45 miles of continuous cycle routes around the city that takes you past woodland, lakes, rivers, nature reserves and stunning villages.
A particular point of interest includes the Shanks Millennium Bridge over the River Nene at Stanground Washes. This outstanding bridge, designed and constructed by Whitby Bird & Partners, is constructed from weathering steel which prevents the bridge from corroding and eliminates the need for painting. It has been carefully designed to minimise disturbance to the birds of the Nene Washes.
The Green Wheel is also part of the National Cycleway Network, making Peterborough a gateway for routes into East Anglia from the Midlands and the North.
View the Green Wheel cycle map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&ie=UTF8&mid=zYCW13yDyrpY.kyKb-BXmm0pM
Beat the summer heat with a dip at the Lido under the summer sun. Opened in 1936, The Lido is considered one of the finest examples of ‘hacienda style’ design in England. It’s extremely popular so booking before is a must!
The main pool is 50m long, plus a teaching pool and paddling pool. All pools are heated. There are also sunbathing terraces where you can work on your summer glow - just be sure to wear sunscreen!
For a really unique way to see our landscape, take a trip with Lynch Farm Riding. Located on the edge of the beautiful 2000-acre Nene Park, Lynch Farm Riding offers leisurely off-road horse-back rides around our beautiful footpaths and nature reserves for anyone aged 4 and up.
Their qualified instructors (up to BHSI) cater to all levels of experience and there is fully equipped riding for the disabled including a hoist to assist people unable to mount without assistance.
John Clare is one of our finest poets of the English countryside. The gardens which have helped inspire some of the greatest poetry in the English language have been preserved and are a stunning outdoor location for families. Enjoy a bite to eat in the café and take a tour of the cottage where pen was put to paper.
There will even be outdoor Shakespeare from local production company, Lamphouse Theatre on 13 August. They'll be putting a unique twist on Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet. - have a read here.
Read more about Clare Cottage here >>
Central Park is the council's most prestigious park in the city. There are sunken garden, a sensory garden and two play areas as well as a sand-pit and paddling pool. Other facilities at the park include an aviary, bowling greens, hard and grass tennis courts, a putting green, a croquet lawn and, last but not least, the popular Buttercross Tea-rooms!
This summer people can enjoy some outdoor music with the Central Park Music Festival over 21 and 22 August.
Alfresco dining has gone to the next level in our city centre. You might have noticed the quirky cubes outside Bean Around and the colourful parasols outside The Lightbox – it’s all about helping more people enjoy the fantastic food and drink around our city centre!
We’d recommend booking to avoid disappointment on super sunny days - and keep a lookout for the Anothony Gormley statues on rooftops around Cathedral Square!
.png){kind=icon}
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
