England holidays
Let's go to

Let’s go to … Peterborough

The ‘Gateway to the Fens’ is hosting spooky tours in its newly opened 500-year-old vaults, but with heritage trails, classic pubs and food, it’s a fine place to visit year-round

Peterborough Cathedral.
Nave gazing … Peterborough Cathedral. Photograph: Alamy

Rachel Dixon

Why now?
To be scared silly. The spooky, 500-year-old Priestgate Vaults under Peterborough Museum opened for regular tours for the first time on 24 October in time for Halloween (£4). Other ghoulish fun at the museum includes candlelit ghost hunts, gory stories and horror nights, and there are ghost walks around the city centre.

What else is there to do?
Peterborough’s Norman cathedral rivals those of Ely and Durham, but has far fewer visitors. The best way to explore is on a tower tour (£15, 28 and 31 October). The heritage trail is a short walking route linking the cathedral with other historic buildings, including the guildhall and the town hall. The 1930s Westgate shopping arcade was refurbished this summer. Further afield, ride a steam train on the Nene Valley Railway – special events include a steampunk murder mystery for Halloween – or visit Burghley House, an Elizabethan house with gardens by Capability Brown.

Priestgate vaults
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The 500-year-old Priestgate vaults

Anywhere good to eat?
The outstanding restaurant is Clarkes, which serves modern British food such as Fenland mallard and Denham Estate venison wellington (three courses £20 lunch/£40 dinner). The less formal Cafe Clarkes is at the Key Theatre (three courses from £12.50). The Beehive gastropub has “pub classics” and “bistro dishes”, plus three daily specials such as beef and mushroom suet pudding (three courses from £15). The Banyan Tree serves great Indian food in the Grade II-listed former Royal Hotel, including tapas-style dishes in the bar (mains £7.95-£12.95).

Nene Valley Railway
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A steam train on the Nene Valley Railway. Photograph: Alamy

How about a drink?
The Dog in a Doublet is a fantastic pub in Thorney, east of Peterborough. As well as great beer and bar snacks, there is a restaurant serving eclectic fusion food, a deli, rooms (from £54), camping and even a small farm. The Brewery Tap, in the city’s old labour exchange, houses the Oakham Ales microbrewery.

Anywhere to stay for under £100?
The Pearl hotel was renovated recently and has eight doubles (from £50, thepearlhotel.co.uk). The Crown Inn is a gorgeous country pub with rooms in Elton, a village eight miles south-west of Peterborough (from £65).