Our top reasons why Peterborough is a city like no other

When people think of cities, they think of skyscrapers and industry (perhaps even large, billowing power plants), coupled with a fast pace of life. However, Peterborough couldn’t be more different. As the county capital of beautiful Cambridgeshire, this city offers a wide variety of activities and amenities to suit everyone.

Read our reasons why we love Peterborough. So much so, we chose it as the desirable location for our Oakthorpe development.

1. First class connections

Oakthorpe is excellently placed for transport links. The A1(M) can be reached in around 10 minutes, meaning journeys to Cambridge, London and the North of England are straightforward. Peterborough Railway Station is also under a 10-minute walk away, with journeys to London Kings Cross taking as little as 49 minutes and Cambridge in 1hr 30mins, making Peterborough a greater commuter city. Rail links from Peterborough can also link you to Liverpool Lime Street, to Stansted Airport and even as far as Edinburgh.

2. Amenities aplenty

Oakthorpe benefits from everything the bustling city of Peterborough has to offer. For retail therapy, there’s the Queensgate Shopping Centre, with a myriad of stores from well-known fashion retailers, like H&M and Joules, to the independent boutiques of Style and Rev. The most recent addition to Queensgate Shopping Centre is its £60m extension, which opens later this year and will boast a new 10-screen cinema, new restaurants, and shops. The local Waitrose supermarket is also conveniently located just an eight-minute walk away.

When you’re in the mood for eating out, you’ll be spoilt for choice thanks to the wealth of options when it comes to wining and dining – including household favourites chains, Wildwood, Nando’s, Wagamama, Argo and Pizza Express as well as quaint independents, and dessert bars. For a night out on the water, try Peterborough’s unique The Grain Barge (a Chinese restaurant) followed by Charters Bar which offers live music and real ale on a Dutch barge, both of which are located on the River Nene.

3. New university

Anglia Ruskin University Peterborough (ARU) is a £10 million facility that offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate degrees, including archaeology, business, construction and media. With degrees accredited by Anglia Ruskin University, the Peterborough campus is set to open its doors to 2,000 students in September this year.

4. Surrounded by leisure

You’ll never be bored in Peterborough with lots of activities and facilities for recreation in the local area. For walks, runs and cycles with a view, the Oakthorpe development is close to Peterborough sculpture trail, Woodston Ponds and The Boardwalk. These all make for a perfect day out for outdoor lovers, as well as being great spaces for a dog walk. For sport lovers, the stadium is home to Peterborough Football Club with room for lots of events.

5. Bustling nightlife

Peterborough is well known for its diverse nightlife. Whether you prefer cosy café bars, live music or dancing, there is plenty for everyone. A range of nightclubs is available to choose from, offering practically everything from hip hop and Latin beats to rock and cheesy pop. If you’re looking for a show, the New Theatre offers a constant flow of west-end shows, pantomimes and live music. Also close by is Peterborough’s Funhouse Comedy Club which is guaranteed to give you an evening of bellyaching laughter.

6. It’s a Green City

Peterborough is known as the Green City of the East of England. In the 1990s, it was awarded Environment City status, committing to put the environment at its heart. In 2008, Peterborough launched its vision to ‘Create the UK’s Environment Capital,’ a city with a thriving local economy, strong communities and a sustainable way of life, where residents are healthy, happy and prosperous.

Since cementing its commitment to the environment, 97% of schools in Peterborough now deliver eco education activities, per capita CO2 emissions have reduced from 8.1 tonnes (2005) to 5.6 tonnes (2014), and the city has one of the highest ratios of green open space per person in the UK.

Tilia Homes currently has a range of two-bedroom apartments available to purchase. Help to Buy is available on a selection of properties. However, with Help to Buy submissions ending in October 2022, those interested in embracing city living within the delightful city of Peterborough should act fast to purchase an apartment through the scheme. Find out more about the apartments available at Oakthorpe, and how Tilia could help you make the move to this unique and bustling city.