River & Rail Quarter
Where Peterborough’s riverfront and rail heritage meet — a dynamic city gateway that blends history, leisure, and bold new development.
The River & Rail Quarter is the point where visitors first encounter Peterborough by train or boat — and where the city reveals its layered story of industry, recreation, and renewal. It follows the River Nene as it threads through the city centre, from the heritage platforms of Nene Valley Railway to the glass-fronted ambition of Fletton Quays.
This is a landscape of contrasts: Victorian railway engineering alongside modern leisure spaces; restored heritage buildings set against striking new architecture. The quarter’s attractions span past and future — Railworld Wildlife Haven, an eco-heritage project built on a former coal yard; Peterborough Lido, a 1930s open-air pool still buzzing with summer life; and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Peterborough, a symbol of the city’s educational and economic future.
Cultural life flows along the river here, with waterside festivals, food markets, and live performances on the Embankment. New developments such as the Station Quarter regeneration and the planned Embankment footbridge will make it even easier to move between the rail hub, the waterfront, and the wider city.
Geographical Layout:
- Peterborough Station & Nene Valley Railway terminus
- Fletton Quays & Embankment
- River Nene corridor through the city centre
- Railworld Wildlife Haven
- Peterborough Lido
- ARU Peterborough campus
Cultural Anchors & Symbols:
- Nene Valley Railway & heritage rail events
- Railworld Wildlife Haven
- Peterborough Lido
- Fletton Quays development
- ARU Peterborough
- Embankment performance and event space
Peterborough Athletics Track
Floodlit athletics track on the Embankment, open to clubs and the public.
Charter’s Bar – Floating Pub
Peterborough’s bar on a boat, with beer, views, and live music.
The Green Backyard
A volunteer-run community garden and urban green space with events, workshops, and fresh produce.
The Embankment
Peterborough’s riverside home for festivals, concerts, and open-air fun.
ARU Peterborough
A riverside university campus offering public events, exhibitions, and modern architecture.
Peterborough Blue Plaque Trail
A self-guided walking route revealing the city’s historic people and places
Old Customs House
A 17th-century toll house marking Peterborough’s historic river trade
Key Theatre Peterborough
Riverside theatre on the Embankment with year‑round shows.
Peterborough United FC
Catch a match or take a behind-the-scenes tour - it's football with history and heart in the city centre.
Railworld Wildlife Haven
A unique blend of heritage and nature, featuring model railways, ponds, waterfalls, and wildlife habitats, adjacent to the Nene Valley Railway.
Nene Valley Railway
Ride vintage steam and diesel trains through the Cambridgeshire countryside on this lovingly restored heritage railway.