“ad” – Why is this here?

Peterborough is a city that often gets overlooked when people plan a local day out, which is a massive shame because there is so much to discover here. Having worked in the city centre years ago, I used to love spending my lunch breaks walking around, constantly stumbling across independent spots to add to my hit-list.

With twice the population of Cambridge, Peterborough has a buzzing, diverse food scene packed with hidden gems just waiting to be explored. To prove how easy it is to make a proper day of it, I jumped on the Hereward Line from Cambridge and was dropped off at the Peterborough centre in no time – dropping me just a few minutes’ walk from the main square.

It was time to spend the day hunting down some of the best food, culture, and drink the city has to offer.

Breakfast @ CATH (visit)

My first stop was CATH, a colourful indie café located in a stunning historic building tucked just off Cathedral Square with a striking canopy of bright umbrellas hanging overhead indoors. The team here are the same clever folks behind The Cheesy Pig food truck (a personal favourite of mine from a Yaxley food event a few years back), so expectations were high. They did not disappoint.

Sitting outside in their sunny courtyard beneath the historic archway in front of the cathedral genuinely felt like being on a European city break. Because CATH sits slightly off the main square, it can be easy to miss, but it is well worth hunting down.

​The French toast was utterly superb and one of my highlights of the entire day – golden and crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and beautifully garnished with berries and edible flowers. I also tried their sweet honey bagel loaded with sausage, bacon, and egg, which nailed that sweet and savoury balance (though watch out, it is wonderfully sticky!).

They even blend their own coffee beans on-site. If you see Starbucks on the main square, skip it. Walk down the passage towards the cathedral instead and get yourself a proper cup made with real love. You won’t regret it!

Peterborough Cathedral (visit)

After breakfast, I went on a guided tour of Peterborough Cathedral, which I simply cannot recommend enough. Our tour guide really knew his stuff, diving into fascinating local history connected to the cathedral. I won’t spoil the details here, but anyone with even a passing interest in history will love it. The architecture is breath-taking, and they currently have the Mary Queen of Scots exhibition running until the 5th of November – so make sure to catch it while you can.

Lunch @ Fratelli’s

For lunch, I headed over to Rivergate, a quirky little shopping centre filled with local independents, to visit Fratelli’s. It is a family-run Italian restaurant packed with character and personality, complete with its own on-site deli and shop.

I ordered a pizza and a pasta dish. The pizza dough is made fresh daily and allowed to rest properly. They really make the most of their deli meats, which were easily the highlight of both dishes – the thick-cut pepperoni had a proper punch of flavour. While the pizza base was a touch tough on this occasion, I really enjoyed the spirali spinaci pasta. It carried a deep, almost earthy flavour profile that I haven’t quite experienced in a pasta dish before, but I liked it.

The owners were an absolute delight, loading up my plate with generous mounds of parmesan. It wasn’t just the staff team who were chatty but I also ended up talking with fellow diners who were incredibly warm and friendly – a theme I quickly realised is standard practice with the people of Peterborough.

A cultural stop @ Peterborough Museum (visit)

Next up was a quick spot of culture at Peterborough Museum, located just off the square. It is completely free to enter, and I was genuinely surprised by the mix on display, ranging from prehistoric fossils to modern art and plenty of local Fenland history. The first floor changes exhibitions regularly, giving you every reason to drop back in on future visits.

A snack @ Chaat & Chill (visit)

Anyone who knows me knows I adore Indian food, so visiting Chaat & Chill was an absolute must. It is a brilliant independent Indian street food spot just off the main square with a lovely outdoor seating area.

I was in absolute heaven sitting out in the sun with a classic North Indian dish called chole bhature, a samosa chaat, and a hot chai. The chole bhature came with deep-fried bread that was light, fluffy, and the ultimate vessel for scooping up the rich chickpea curry. A reggae busker was playing nearby, which gave the whole square an almost holiday-like vibe and added a whole new meaning to Chaat & Chill. The samosa chaat was a solid execution for a great price, and the chai was thick and creamy. I would have loved a touch more pickle alongside the chole bhature, but for £9, the value was brilliant.

A stroll across the square

Between stops, I took a peaceful stroll across the square and down Bridge Street. The tree-lined street kept things noticeably cooler on a warm day – it actually reminded me of a smaller version of the Barcelona boulevard (just with more consistent pavements!). The sheer variety of architecture surrounding the square forms a great backdrop for the local market. The market itself is fairly compact, but there are some foodie gems to be found there, including a personal favourite of mine: Hungarian lángos.

Home music bar (visit)

If you love your music then Home is the bar for you. It celebrates every genre imaginable, complete with vinyl record players and a cool display of retro phones and vintage audio gear that made me feel my age! They carry a great selection of craft beers, and while I was a little sad not to see any local breweries represented on the taps during my visit, you can never go wrong with a fresh Verdant IPA. I threw Sgt. Pepper on the turntable, ordered my pint, and kicked back to relax.

This is my kinda place!

Dinner @ Middletons Steakhouse (visit)

I rounded off my day with dinner at Middletons. It is a family-run chain with a handful of locations across East Anglia, offering a classic steakhouse experience. The space is bright and airy, with large windows overlooking Bridge Street.

I felt the pricing was very competitive for the quality on offer. My ribeye steak was cooked precisely to medium-rare as requested, and the cut of meat was solid – you really can’t ask for much more than that. By this point, I was pretty full, but I heroically managed to devour the whole thing with a pot of peppercorn sauce. My eyes were definitely bigger than my belly by the end of the day!

The Verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed my day out in Peterborough. Beyond finding some great spots on this trip, I also spotted plenty of other independent venues to add to my hit-list for next time. It is dead easy to get in and out on the train, offers fantastic value, and the square has so much going for it. If you find yourself in a bit of a local foodie rut, why not jump on the train, leave the Cambridge bubble behind, and do a bit of exploring?

Thanks for reading! 👍