Peterborough fits more into a small area than most cities its size. A medieval cathedral square sits a few minutes' walk from a riverside embankment, a free city museum and a shopping centre, while the eastern edge of the city has a Bronze Age site and a country park with several lakes. Most of the best days out here cost very little, and some cost nothing at all.
This guide is written for people who live in Peterborough as much as for visitors. It groups things to do by type and by weather, sets out what you are likely to pay, and flags the places where opening days change during the year so you can check before you travel. Prices and arrangements were checked in October 2026.
At a glance: things to do in Peterborough
| Place | Area | Typical cost | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough Cathedral | City centre | Entry by donation | Heritage, quiet afternoons, architecture | Opening can change around services and events |
| Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery | Priestgate, city centre | Free general admission | Rainy days, families, local history | Some exhibitions and events are ticketed |
| Ferry Meadows, Nene Park | Orton Waterville | Free entry, parking charges | Walks, cycling, picnics, lakeside cafés | Parking is the main cost of the day |
| Flag Fen Archaeology Park | Northey Road | Adults £8, children £4, family £20 | Bronze Age history, school-age children | Check the opening calendar before travelling |
| Central Park | PE1, near the city centre | Free | A short break with children | Easy to combine with a city-centre trip |
| Bretton Park | North Bretton | Free | Family walks, open space | Water facilities are seasonal, so check first |
| Cuckoo's Hollow | Werrington | Free | Dog walks, lakeside paths, birdlife | Some paths are uneven underfoot |
| Peterborough Embankment | City centre | Free | Riverside strolls, event days | Busiest when an event is on |
| Longthorpe Tower | Longthorpe | Free entry | Medieval wall paintings | Limited opening days |
| Nene Valley Railway | West of the city | Paid fares | Train-loving children, heritage days out | Runs on selected days only |
Free things to do in the city centre
The city centre is compact enough to walk in an afternoon, and the most interesting part of it is free.
Start at Peterborough Cathedral, one of the country's most complete Norman buildings. Visitor entry is by donation rather than a fixed ticket, so a short visit costs whatever you choose to give. Opening times move around services and events, so check the cathedral's own opening page on the day. The square in front of it is the natural place to sit with a coffee and let children run.
From there, walk through Cathedral Square and along Priestgate towards Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery. General admission is free, which makes it the most obvious rainy-day option in the city, and the building itself is worth a look. Special exhibitions and some events are ticketed, so check what is on if you want a specific display.
Finish at the Embankment, the riverside strip below the city centre. It is free, flat and easy to reach on foot, and it connects to longer riverside paths if you want to keep walking. On event weekends it fills up quickly.
Big green spaces within reach of the city
Ferry Meadows in Nene Park is the biggest single draw. Entry to the park is free, there are lakes, meadows, a visitor centre and cafés, and you can walk, cycle or simply sit by the water. Parking is the main cost, charged in bands of one to four hours, so it is worth deciding roughly how long you plan to stay before you pay. Bring a picnic and the day costs little more than the car park.
Central Park, close to the city centre, is the simplest option for a short outing with small children. Bretton Park in north Bretton gives you more space, and its water facilities only operate during announced periods, so check before promising a splash session. Cuckoo's Hollow in Werrington is quieter, with lakeside paths that suit a dog walk or a slow loop with a pushchair, though some surfaces are uneven.
Museums, heritage and local history
Beyond the city museum, two heritage sites are worth planning around.
Flag Fen Archaeology Park preserves the remains of a Bronze Age causeway and roundhouses, with reconstructed buildings and a visitor centre. It is the one headline attraction in this guide with a clear admission price: adults £8, children £4, a family ticket for two adults and up to three children £20, with under-fives and carers free at the time of writing. Because it is an outdoor site, check the opening calendar and the weather together.
Longthorpe Tower, on the western edge of the city, is a small English Heritage site with rare medieval wall paintings. Entry is free, but opening days are limited, so check the English Heritage page before making the trip. It pairs well with a walk in the surrounding area rather than being a full day out on its own.
Family days out and rainy-day options
Peterborough's reliable wet-weather plan is a combination rather than a single place: the museum's free galleries, then the city's libraries, which offer free membership and run children's activities through the year. Check what is scheduled for the week you are going.
For children who want something louder, Nene Valley Railway runs heritage trains on selected days with paid fares, and the city's indoor activity venues fill the gap on school holidays. Book or check times in advance, because both fill up in half term.
Three cheap day plans
Half day in the city centre, almost free. Cathedral, Cathedral Square, the museum if it is open, then the Embankment. The only real spend is a drink or a donation.
A full day outdoors, low cost. Park at Ferry Meadows early, walk or cycle a loop of Nene Park, eat a picnic by the lake, and finish at one of the cafés. Parking plus a coffee is the whole bill.
A wet Saturday, free. Museum galleries first, lunch at home or in a café, then the library for an hour. Nothing to book and nothing to pay.
Practical tips before you go
- Check opening times on the day. Cathedral services, museum exhibition closures, limited heritage opening days and seasonal water facilities all change what is actually available.
- Budget for parking, not entry. Free entry sites often charge for the car park, and Ferry Meadows is the clearest example.
- Go early in school holidays. The country park, museum and city-centre car parks all fill up fastest between ten and midday.
- Use the city centre on foot. Once you have parked, the cathedral, museum, square, Embankment and shops are all walkable.
- Bring layers for the outdoor sites. Flag Fen and the country parks are exposed when the wind gets up.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free things to do in Peterborough?
The cathedral square and Embankment cost nothing, general admission to Peterborough Museum is free, and Central Park, Bretton Park and Cuckoo’s Hollow are free parks. Ferry Meadows is also free to enter, with parking charged separately.
Is Ferry Meadows free to visit?
Yes. Entry to Ferry Meadows in Nene Park is free. Parking is charged in hourly bands, and equipment hire, café stops and organised activities cost extra.
How much does Flag Fen cost?
At the time of writing, admission is £8 for adults and £4 for children, with a family ticket for two adults and up to three children at £20. Under-fives and carers are admitted free. Check the current opening calendar before travelling.
Is Peterborough Museum free?
General admission is free. Some exhibitions, talks and school-holiday events are ticketed, so check what is on if you are visiting for a specific display.
What can you do in Peterborough when it rains?
The museum galleries are the obvious free option, and the city libraries offer free membership and children’s activities. Indoor activity venues and the heritage railway are good alternatives, but check times and book ahead in school holidays.
Do you need a car to get to these places?
No. The cathedral, museum, Embankment and Central Park are all walkable from the city centre. Ferry Meadows, Flag Fen and Longthorpe Tower are easier by car or bus, so check timetables before relying on public transport.
