The Hedda Stone
Carved around AD 800, the mysterious Hedda Stone is one of Peterborough’s greatest Anglo-Saxon survivals, linking the modern city with the monastery of Medeshamstede that stood here more than 1,200 years ago.
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Queensgate Series by Roy Butchart
These beautiful paintings by Roy Butchart (1 March 1925 – 27 April 2016) aren’t on public display, so for many people, this may be the first time they've seen his work. That makes them feel even more special – a hidden thread of local artistic heritage, quietly...
L P Hartley Mural by Nathan Murdoch (2024)
TThis vibrant mural on Bread Street celebrates Leslie Poles Hartley (1895–1972), one of Peterborough’s most distinguished literary figures and a native son of the region. Born in nearby Whittlesey and raised at Fletton Towers in Peterborough, Hartley developed a...
Wheel of the Senses
Discover the Wheel of Senses — a vivid medieval mural hidden within Longthorpe Tower. Painted around 1330, it depicts a wheel turning on the axis of human perception, each spoke representing sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This remarkable artwork reveals how our senses were seen as pathways to wisdom and temptation.
Walter Cornelius Mural by Nathan Murdoch (2025)
This bold, larger-than-life mural celebrates Walter Cornelius – the legendary “Birdman of Peterborough” – in the city he called home. Known for his daring stunts, feats of strength, and famous attempts to “fly” across the River Nene using handmade wings, Cornelius was...
Lagoon by Sir Anthony Caro (1976/7)
Standing just over two metres high on the forecourt of the Key Theatre, Lagoon is an inviting piece of modern British sculpture by Sir Anthony Caro, one of the country’s most influential post-war artists. Made from interlocking sheets of mild steel, bolted and welded...
Untitled by Miles Davies (1990)
Positioned along the north path, this arrangement of steel frames punctuates the journey between the busy parkway and the peaceful lake. Its weathering surface mirrors the seasonal changes of the surrounding trees and grasses. About the Artist: Miles Davies (b. 1959)...
Odd Oaks by Nicholas Pope (1982)
Four giant wooden “acorns” lie nestled into the landscape, echoing the trees and natural forms around them. Once sited in Werrington Shopping Centre, Odd Oaks was later moved to Thorpe Meadows, where it has been left to age naturally – slowly returning to the...
Quarry by Simon Perry (1987)
Half-emerging from the stone that contains it, a wolf-like figure recalls a time when wolves roamed Britain. The limestone links to the site’s quarrying history, while the creature now stands guard over the meadows. About the Artist: Simon Perry is a British-born...
Little Prince by Jane Ackroyd (1985)
Drawing on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved tale, Little Prince incorporates symbols from the story – a tree, an asteroid, a pyramid – into an abstract steel composition. The work celebrates curiosity, love, and our connection to nature. About the Artist: Jane...
Helios XVI by Barry Mason (1987)
Marking the summer solstice, Helios XVI aligns with the sun so that its face is fully lit only on the longest day of the year. The carved sphere at its top suggests the Earth, linking cosmic cycles to our daily experience of light and time. About the Artist: Barry...
Untitled by Miles Davies (1990)
A sequence of hinged steel “doorways” stands in the landscape, framing shifting views of the rowing lake and city beyond. The precision-cut steel – shaped using lasers in a water tank – gives the piece a refined, architectural presence. About the Artist: Miles Davies...
Under the Ocean, Under the Sea – Christine Angus (1983)
Three carved limestone forms evoke the remains of a lost civilisation beneath the waves. Their weathered, archaeological feel connects both to Peterborough’s ancient past and to the life-giving River Nene flowing nearby. About the Artist: Christine Angus (b. 1953) is...
Festival Boat by Sokari Douglas Camp (1988)
Commissioned for the 1989 Festival of Sculpture, Festival Boat is a celebration of culture and place. Resting on the riverbank, its sweeping form draws on the ceremonial boats of the artist’s native Nigeria, reimagined in a British landscape. It speaks of journeys –...
Creature by Anne Nicholson (1978)
Carved from a single block of warm Clipsham stone, Creature is deliberately ambiguous. Seen from different angles, its form shifts – now animal-like, now abstract – encouraging visitors to interpret it in their own way. The mix of hand carving and machine cuts adds...
Cowgate Mural by Nathan Murdoch & Tony Nero (2024)
Transforming the entrance to Cowgate, this large-scale mural reimagines a historic watercolour of the street as it looked in the 1930s. Created by renowned Peterborough street artists Nathan Murdoch and Tony Nero, the work blends fine detail with bold colour,...
Wild Boar by Elisabeth Frink (1961)
Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Wild Boar is a striking bronze that captures the animal’s primal energy and unyielding presence. With bristling texture, tense muscles, and a purposeful stride, the sculpture conveys both physical strength and untamed spirit. Frink’s distinctive...
Mitchell Engineering Mural by Arthur Ayres (1955)
Covering the entire river-facing frontage of Bridge House, the Mitchell Engineering Mural was one of Peterborough’s most distinctive pieces of post-war public art. Designed and carved in situ by Arthur J. Ayres in 1955, the monumental bas-relief stretched across 51...
Cormorant by Elizabeth Cooke (2000)
Poised with wings outstretched and prize catch in beak, Elizabeth Cooke’s Cormorant captures the grace of a bird often seen around Nene Park’s waterways. Created from recycled metal objects, the sculpture combines delicate shaping with a sense of movement frozen in...
People by Tolleck Winner (2006)
Inspired by the fleeting image of two figures reflected in water, People stands close to the lapping edges of the rowing lake. As the light shifts and breezes ripple the surface, the sculpture subtly changes, echoing the movements of walkers, cyclists, and rowers...
Outside In by John Foster (1978)
As you stroll the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail, Outside In is a compelling welcome. Crafted from folded and interlocked steel, this sculptural form seems to defy its own weight—appearing supple, almost fabric‑like, despite its industrial origins. Conceived as...
Places to Be by Antony Gormley (1984)
High above the streets of Peterborough, three quiet figures stand watch. At first, they can be easy to miss, blending into the skyline of rooftops and façades. But once noticed, they change the way you see the city. These are Places to Be by Antony Gormley, a subtle...
Crucifixion by Frank Roper (1974)
Frank Roper’s aluminium Crucifixion, suspended above the nave altar in Peterborough Cathedral, is a striking example of mid-20th-century ecclesiastical art. Cast using Roper’s innovative lost-polystyrene technique, the figure of Christ is rendered with a stark,...
Priestgate Mural by Nathan Murdoch & Tony Nero (2025)
The entrance to Priestgate now boasts a stunning heritage-inspired mural, completed in 2025 by acclaimed street artists Nathan Murdoch and Tony Nero in partnership with Peterborough Positive. Drawing from a 1930s watercolour by celebrated local artist Wilfrid René...