Teach in Peterborough
Peterborough is a thriving cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, at the heart of rural east England. This flat, fertile, historically rich part of the country has developed into a growing modern city, with excellent transport link to London (74 miles to the south), Cambridge and Northampton, as well as the sweet surrounding towns and villages of Yaxley, Thorney, Stamford, Elton, Grantham, Ely, March, Wittlesea and Huntingdon.
Situated on the River Nene, and with vast swathes of scenic countryside surrounding the small city, living in Peterborough provides a plethora of activities for nature lovers. The lakes, meadows and woodlands of riverside Ferry Meadows are utterly unspoiled, you can even learn watersports such as sailing, kayaking and windsurfing. If you fancy staying in the city itself, Peterborough Central Park is a large Victorian Park, perfect for soaking up some rays on a long summer’s afternoon, or even a spot of lawn bowls or tennis. The working steam train at Nene Valley Railway is a unique link between the city and the countryside, they run a number of themed special events through the year which are always good fun.
History lovers will be duly impressed with spectacular Peterborough Cathedral, one of England’s most impressive Norman cathedrals. From there, a short walk along the heritage trail will take you past some of the city’s most beautiful historic buildings, including the Guildhall (Farmers Markets are held there twice a month), the Town Hall, and the 1930’s grandeur of Westgate Shopping Arcade. Peterborough Museum is worth a visit as are the spooky (but unmissable) Priestgate Vaults that run underneath the museum. The prehistoric ruins at Flag Fen are also a must-see. And just 20 minutes north of Peterborough, gorgeous Burghley House is widely considered to be one of England’s grandest Elizabethan houses, with a range of foodie, crafty activities on offer, as well as regular tour and exhibitions.
Whatever your shopping taste, Peterborough will pretty much satisfy your needs. When the Government identified Peterborough as one of its landmark ‘new towns’, it embarked on a significant programme of redevelopment in the city centre and surrounding area in a bid to attract more people away from the major South East conurbations, notably London. And the retail sector was – and still is – at the heart of this strategy. Queensgate Shopping Centre is a fantastic place to swap your hard earned pounds for the latest fashions, but there are several other malls that are equally enjoyable venues to shop til you drop.
When it comes to eating out, or having a few drinks on a Friday night, head to any street in the city centre with ‘gate’ in its name and you will find a range of places to fill your stomach and quench your thirst; Westgate, Queensgate, Priestgate and Cowgate along with Broadway and Bridge Street. Eat Peterborough is a useful guide to eating out and takeaways in the Peterborough area, with ratings and types of food served. If your parents are visiting or your have a hot date and you want to spurge, the Fox at Folksworth is sure to impress! If clubbing or live music is more you thing, be sure to check the local gig guide to see what’s on.
In 2017 Peterborough was named as the best UK cities for young families to move to, and that, as well as the high birth rates in the area, means there is no shortage of teaching work, and a diverse range of schools for teachers to choose from. Peterborough is one of the most affordable parts of the UK to live in, so your income will go further, and our Peterborough based team can give you useful tips on the best parts of the city to based yourself in. And if you’re keen to spend your long weekends and half term breaks traipsing around continental Europe (and why wouldn’t you), the closest airport with regular cheap fares to Europe is London Luton Airport, around 50 miles away.
Things to do
Things to do- Cycle out the the historic village of Thorney and treat yourself to a pub lunch and a pint at the fantastic Dog in a Doublet pub (they also have comfy rooms if you can’t quite bring yourself to cycle home).
- Any month of the year, Peterborough has a range of diverse events to choose from – from heritage, food and cultural festivals to concerts, theatre performances, and sporting activities. You can see what’s on here.
- Take the train to the beautiful university city of Cambridge and do a free two hour walking tour, or try punting on the River Cam.
- Check out the latest temporary exhibition or enrol in a creative workshop at Art in the Heart Gallery.
- This Christmas, head to the Peterborough Christmas Market in Cathedral Square, and get yourself some northern hemisphere festive cheer.
