For any long-time readers of the blog, I don’t think it’ll come as any surprise that Peterborough Cathedral is one of my favorite places in all of England. I know I’m a huge fan of the Katherine of Aragon Festival that takes place in the beautiful Norman cathedral every year. But there are lots of other reasons to visit Peterborough Cathedral! Here are 9 of them:

1) West Front

This spectacular Early English Gothic marvel is what welcomes visitors to Peterborough Cathedral. The three giant arches are without architectural precedent, making them an unrivaled feature of medieval architecture. The Galilee Porch was added onto the building in 1375. If the only reason you decide to visit the cathedral is to see the West Front, you won’t be disappointed.

2) The Nave Ceiling

Another of Peterborough Cathedral’s unique characteristics is the original wooden ceiling in the Nave. It is the only one of its type in the country, and one of only four wooden ceilings of this period surviving in the whole of Europe. The ceiling was completed between 1230-1250, and is simply stunning. It has been over-painted twice (in 1745 and 1834), but it still retains its original style and pattern.

3) Fan Vaulting

Peterborough Cathedral is home to some of the finest fan vaulting I’ve seen in England, with perhaps the exception of the cloisters in Gloucester Cathedral, and King’s College Chapel in Cambridge. This beautiful architectural feature, where the curved ribs look like a fan, is present in the East End (or New Building) of Peterborough Cathedral. It was probably designed by John Wastell, who went on to work at King’s College Chapel—which doesn’t surprise me given how similar the fan vaulting is in both! The New Building (with its fan vaulting) was built between 1496 and 1508.

4) The Burial Place of Two Queens

Two queens were buried in Peterborough Cathedral: Katherine of Aragon in 1536, and Mary Queen of Scots in 1587. When Mary Queen of Scots’ son, James I, ascended to the throne in 1603, he soon had his mother’s grave moved to Westminster Abbey. However, you can still see the site of her first grave in the cathedral.

Unlike Mary Queen of Scots, Katherine of Aragon (Henry VIII’s first wife) was buried in Peterborough Cathedral and stayed put. Unfortunately, her tomb was damaged during the Civil War by Oliver Cromwell’s troops, but has been restored. Her grave is marked by the flags of both England and Spain (Aragon), and her grave often has pomegranates, her symbol, on it. It is a simple but touching tribute to a courageous queen. This was what first drew me to visit Peterborough Cathedral, and I am so glad to have visited as many times as I have.

5) Old Scarlett’s Story

Robert Scarlett, known as “Old Scarlett,” was a parish sexton. He died at the age of 98, in 1594. It’s said that he buried three queens: Katherine of Aragon, Mary Queen of Scots, and his wife, Margaret. He was buried just inside the cathedral, and there is a painting (with a story) of him on the west doors inside the cathedral.

6) Cloisters

The Cloisters of Peterborough Cathedral are truly a hidden gem. Although much of the cloisters were destroyed during the Civil War, many beautiful features still remain. Take a walk around the side of the building to see what’s left of the former monks’ living quarters. There are information boards with more history as you walk around!

7) Visitor Center

Recently opened in 2016, Peterborough Cathedral’s Visitor Center provides more details into the history of the cathedral, and of the life of the monks who lived there. The main exhibition features a timeline of the history of the cathedral. This includes important artifacts like the Deed of Endowment from 1541, when Henry VIII changed Peterborough Abbey to be a Cathedral. There is also a space for rotating exhibitions, which change from time to time. Like the cathedral, the Visitor Center is free to visit.

8) Becket’s Tea Room

This isn’t just any ordinary café: the Peterborough Cathedral teashop (called Becket’s Tea Room) is housed in a chapel that dates back to 1320! The original building was built in the 1170s to house relics of St. Thomas Becket, then became a school and a museum before finally becoming an airy, welcoming café. It opened just last year, in 2017. There is a breakfast menu, a full lunch menu, hot and cold sandwiches (they do take-away!) and a delicious selection of cakes—get the carrot cake, you won’t regret it!

9) The view of the cathedral from the town itself

There’s something special about the view of Peterborough Cathedral as you walk through town. It towers over the square, with its turrets and arches visible as you head towards it. If you’re lucky, you can even see it on the train when passing through! This view is magnificent, and one of my favorite aspects of the cathedral itself.

And as a bonus, Peterborough Cathedral is only about a 20-minute drive away from another hidden gem, Crowland Abbey!

Work began on Peterborough Cathedral in 1118. The cathedral is now celebrating its 900th anniversary in 2018! If you are looking for a magnificent cathedral, full of architectural wonders, that is still relatively undiscovered, I think it’s time you went to see Peterborough Cathedral.

Have you ever been to Peterborough Cathedral?