Eight epic family adventures to have in Peterborough this summer

Right next to both the station and Railworld, the eastern terminus of the Nene Valley Railway is smack bang in the middle of Peterborough. It’s a lovely old school steam train that is a delight to sit on and meander through the country, with special family experiences on select trains. But the hop-on hop-off ‘rover ticket’ also allows you a more fun way of travelling to the surrounding countryside.

A mainstay of family Peterborough for almost half a century now, New Ark is a delightful adventure playground, city farm and eco centre. Although it’s very much for the community and has its own pre-school, visitors are welcome to swing by to use the playground and meet the animals during school holidays.

Formerly a coal storage yard and a railway museum, this volunteer-run space is really quite magical, a slice of industrial Peterborough reclaimed and turned into a watery, landscaped space that also features over 2,000 feet of model railways. Check the schedule in advance, though as a rule it’s open weekends, summer holidays and half-terms.

If you just fancy a relaxing swim, Peterborough boasts a pretty awesome 1930s Art Deco lido with a whopping three heated pools: the 50m main one, plus a kids’ swimming pool and a paddling pool for the tots. With a well-stocked café it’s the perfect spot to while away half a day pleasantly. 

This beautiful watery park is chock full of things for families to do, from multiple play areas to kayak, paddleboard and pedalo hire. It’s also home to lots of temporary events: The Beach at Orton Mere is a pop-up amusement park and giant sandpit running until August 28, or claim a prize from the visitor centre when you complete the £1 holiday trail around the park this summer. Get a bus over by all means but it’s more fun to take the steam train to the nearby Overton stop.

Sure it’s a (modest-sized) chain; but Wildwood is a pretty classy one, serving a broad range of appealing modern Italian cuisine. More to the point, the Peterborough branch has its own outdoor play area, the holy grail of restaurants when you have little ones.

It requires a bit of effort to get there from central Peterborough – with older kids the most charming way is the three-mile riverside walk – but this archaeological park is well worth the trip. Flag Fen is a step back into Bronze Age Britain, complete with café, walking trails and its iconic reconstructed roundhouse.

Hop on the bus to Elton village (nothing to do with the noted singer) and visit this stupendously romantic 400-year-old part-gothic house. If your kids are well-behaved, take them on a tour around the magnificent house. If they’re not – no worries! The beautifully landscaped gardens are both stunning and enormous. 

Discover where summer will take you with Thameslink.