5 fun (unusual) things to do in Peterborough
Peterborough is a vibrant city with plenty to see and do. We’ve been at our Peterborough Barbers for 28 years now, so we know a thing or two about some of the lesser-known gems hidden away in the city.
Whether you’re new to the area or looking for something different to do, we’ve picked out 5 cool and slightly different things you can do and see, all within a 30-minute drive of the Barbers.
The Exotic Pet Refuge
Did you know you can go and see a Lynx, a Jungle Cat, a Capuchin monkey and a Raccoon, all in this little-known place in Peterborough? But the exotic pet refuge isn’t a zoo; it’s an animal rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary specialising in exotic animals, which are taken in from private homes, sanctuaries, and zoos across the UK. They have over 300 animals, and their mission is to work towards rehabilitating and releasing them back to the wild where they can.
As this isn’t a zoo, they aren’t open every day, but they do run regular open days around once a month. The upcoming dates for 2025 are 14th September and 12th October. They’re a registered charity and rely heavily on donations to keep them running.
The refuge is located in Deeping St James, just north of Peterborough, not too far from us.
Visit them here: https://www.exoticpetrefuge.co.uk/
Railworld Wildlife Haven
Located in the City Centre, you’d never know this little oasis was here (well, until now!).
A volunteer-led little set-up, full of cool model railways, educational exhibitions and diverse wildlife. It’s stunning on a summer’s day – you’d never know you were a stone’s throw from the shops. With hidden walkways and pathways surrounding lily pad ponds, there’s also a small, welcoming café on site. It’s just £10.00 for a family of 4 and is walkable from Peterborough town centre.
Spend a few hours with the kids before heading into the city for lunch – a love of trains is an advantage, but not a necessity to enjoy it here!
Visit the website: https://www.facebook.com/Railworld/
Tower Tours of Peterborough Cathedral
You probably know there is a Cathedral in Peterborough – it’s hard to miss it right?
But did you know you can climb all the way to the top of the towers? Explore the hidden roof spaces, climb through small ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style doors and view the tower both from the inside and out.
Not one for the fainthearted as it’s pretty high! To take part in this tour, you do need to be over the age of 8 and able to climb the stairs. The Cathedral also runs a ground-level tour, ‘The Highlights Tour’, with no age restriction, sharing all the interesting stories and features, including the tomb of Queen Katharine of Aragon and the original burial place of Mary Queen of Scots.
To book either tour, visit the online website: https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/visiting/tours/highlights-tour/
Peterborough Museum
This place is quite literally rammed with collections and fascinating history spanning over 150 million years! Well worth a visit for a half-day out. There are also regular exhibits featuring popular interests like Doctor Who and LEGO.
Galleries include the Jurassic gallery, with some of the world’s finest collections of marine reptiles from the Jurassic period. There’s even a Victorian operating theatre as the museum has a medical history (one for those that love a bit of grisly history!)
Another interesting fact that you might not know about Peterborough is that, in 1796, the first known purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp in the world was built just outside Peterborough at Norman Cross. Find out more and view the vast collection of artefacts in the Norman Cross Gallery.
The museum is interactive with lots for the kids to get involved with too. Plus, with a cafe, and accessibility having been thoroughly covered with quiet opening times, accessible toilets, and lift access (excluding the operating theatre and vaults) for a historic building, they’ve thought of everything.
Oh, and it’s free! Although they don’t mind the odd donation, it’s not compulsory (unless it’s an event day).
Check out the museum website here: https://peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/
Central Park
We thought we’d add another ‘free to visit’ to the list and again, it’s just a short stroll from the City Centre so if you’re coming to the city for the day and want to get away from the hustle and bustle, this is the place to be.
Central Park is the main park of the city since 1908. It’s won the national green flag award for 12 years running. Whether you simply want a stroll around the beautifully landscaped grounds, fancy a bit of tennis (or one the many other sports they have on offer) there are plenty of interesting areas around the park to see and activities to do.
The kids will be able to let of plenty of steam too with play areas, a sand pit and a visit to the bird aviary.
You’ll want to bring the kids’ swimming gear, as there’s a paddling pool open in the summer months!
Now we said it’s free to enjoy – but if you do have a few pennies spare, there’s a café in the middle of the park serving up delicious homemade cakes and fresh coffee that’s hard to miss.
You can either walk from the city centre or park outside. There isn’t a car park but there is free street parking surrounding the park.
Find out more here: https://www.centralparkpeterborough.co.uk/
Peterborough’s hardworking community
So, there you have it – Peterborough is actually quite an interesting place with a lot of history and a fantastic community.
Which is the common thread that ties these places together. They run on donations and the hard work of volunteers. Peterborough has a great community spirit and one we’re absolutely proud to be a part of!
Have you been to any of these places? Any more you think we should add to the list? Tell us and we might pop them up!
Book with Confidence
Whether you live in Peterborough, Stamford, or the surrounding areas, our Peterborough barbers is based at the bottom of Werrington Village and easily accessible on your way home or to work with free parking.
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