Longthorpe Tower at a glance
- What
- Medieval fortified tower containing nationally important wall paintings
- Where
- Thorpe Road, Longthorpe, Peterborough, PE3 6LU
- Built
- Around 1290–1300 as part of a medieval manor house
- Wall paintings
- Created during the first half of the 14th century
- Cared for by
- English Heritage
- Managed locally by
- Nene Park Trust and its volunteer team
Step inside Longthorpe Tower and enter the richly imagined world of medieval England, preserved through one of northern Europe’s most important collections of domestic wall paintings.
The tower was added to an existing manor house around 1300, probably as an expression of the status and ambition of the Thorpe family. Its thick stone walls, narrow stairways and elevated chambers offered security, privacy and an impressive setting in which to receive guests.
Its greatest treasure is the painted room, where an elaborate sequence of religious, moral and everyday subjects covers the walls. The surviving scenes include the Wheel of Life, the Nativity, King David, saints, musicians, animals and reminders of the passage from life to death.
Together, the paintings create a kind of medieval visual encyclopaedia. Sacred stories sit beside lessons about behaviour, knowledge, temptation, mortality and the changing seasons, offering an extraordinary glimpse into how a wealthy medieval household understood the world.
The paintings were concealed beneath later layers of limewash and gradually rediscovered during and after the Second World War. Their importance was quickly recognised, leading to careful conservation and the presentation of the tower to the nation.
What to expect
The painted chamber
The principal room contains a remarkably complete medieval decorative scheme stretching across its walls and architectural features.
The Wheel of Life
This memorable image explores the rise and fall of human fortunes, from ambition and achievement to ageing and death.
Sacred and secular scenes
Biblical figures, saints and moral lessons appear alongside musicians, animals, seasonal work and scenes of medieval life.
Stories brought to life
Knowledgeable volunteer guides explain the imagery, the building and what both reveal about medieval society and belief.
A fortified manor tower
Thick walls, small openings and steep stone stairs preserve the atmosphere of an elite medieval residence.
Hands-on interpretation
A compact exhibition, handling objects and interpretation introduce the tower, its paintings and life in a medieval household.
Planning your visit
- Address
- Longthorpe Tower, Thorpe Road, Longthorpe, Peterborough, PE3 6LU.
- Before visiting
- Visits require advance booking. Check with Nene Park Trust for current availability, admission arrangements and visitor information.
- Guided visits
- Visits are normally guided and last approximately one hour. Confirm the format and duration when booking.
- Admission
- Admission charges may apply. Check current prices and English Heritage membership arrangements before booking.
- Parking
- Limited free parking is available in Woburn Close, approximately 100 metres from the tower, and is shared with the neighbouring church.
- Coach access
- There is no dedicated coach or minibus parking at the site. Group organisers should discuss arrangements before travelling.
- Physical access
- The entrance is reached by steps. Inside are steep, narrow and uneven medieval stairs, low doorways and stone thresholds.
- Wheelchair access
- The interior is not accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs. Assistance dogs are welcome.
- Facilities
- There is a small shop and a unisex toilet, but no accessible toilet or food-and-drink facilities at the tower.
- Photography
- Personal photography is generally permitted without flash. Check with the guide before taking photographs.
- Food and drink
- There is no café at the site. Food and drink options can be found elsewhere in Longthorpe.
- Contact
- Email visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk for visitor and group enquiries.
Elsewhere on Discover Peterborough
Nene Park
Explore lakes, woodland, meadows and riverside routes across one of Peterborough’s finest green spaces.
View listingThorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail
Follow an outdoor art trail through attractive riverside landscapes close to Longthorpe.
View listingPeterborough Cathedral
Discover monumental Norman architecture, a medieval painted ceiling and remarkable royal history.
View listingPeterborough Museum & Art Gallery
Explore the archaeology, art and social history of Peterborough and its surrounding landscapes.
View listingVisiting arrangements, admission prices, access and facilities can change. Advance booking is required, so check directly with Nene Park Trust before travelling.