Heritage & Culture

Celebrate summer with a visit to Peterborough Cathedral

Whatever the weather, it’s good to make the most of the summer months by living life at a more relaxed pace, and taking those opportunities that the summer season presents. Peterborough Cathedral is a great place to do this, especially if you have children in the family to entertain

This summer the Cathedral launched a new children’s activity guide entitled Monks, Mischief and Marauders. The colourful, cartoonstyle guide has been written and drawn by children’s illustrator Emma Metcalfe and is packed full of puzzles and stories about characters from the Cathedral’s long history. It also includes some fairly appalling jokes! At £2 a copy it should help to keep all the family amused during their visit to the 900-year-old site. Towards the end of the school summer holidays the Cathedral is planning to introduce ‘explorer backpacks’ for younger children.

These can be hired in exchange for a refundable deposit of £5. Inside each backpack will be all sorts of things, like a tape measure and a magnifying glass, to help little ones to interact with the Cathedral by finding things out for themselves. Look out for news of these in the weeks to come. Every Wednesday, until 6th September, there are free music recitals at 1.00pm in the Cathedral. These short concerts are a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to live classical music.

The performers are all highly trained and accomplished musicians and, over the series, will be playing a wide variety of instruments from the harp to the organ. The informality of the recitals means that it is possible to listen in for a little while, then move on if the young ones get fidgety.

Whilst we’re on the subject of lunchtime, the newly opened Becket’s Tea Room in the Cathedral Precincts is gaining a reputation for the warmth of its hospitality and the quality of its food. Locally sourced and freshly prepared lunches, teas and snacks are available every day. The Tea Room has a children’s menu and a takeaway service – ideal for an ice cream after a picnic on the green in front of the Cathedral. All the Tea Room’s profits support Peterborough Regional College and the Cathedral.

No visit to the Cathedral is complete without popping into the Cathedral Visitor Centre for a look at its interactive historical display. The timeline gives the full sweep of the history of the Cathedral and you can test your knowledge with the digital touch-table quiz. Temporary exhibitions on show during the summer include art and crafts by students at City College Peterborough, and photographs of the Cathedral by Matthew Roberts.

 ● To find out more please visit www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk or call 01733 355315.

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