Peterborough |   15.06.10

Modern Peterborough is a thriving city surrounded by contrasting countryside - gently undulating limestone and clay hills to the west, the flat expanse of the Fens to the east. Limestone cottages and winding sunken lanes give way to bold brick buildings and long straight roads and dykes.

Today's highly productive agricultural landscape bears no resemblance to the Fens of pre-historic and medieval times.

The city, too, has changed enormously, only with the flourishing of the abbey did a town develop at Peterborough, and the last two centuries have seen its extraordinary growth. History is etched into the fabric of the buildings, the courses of hedges, roads and rivers. Here is evidence of human endeavour over thousands of years.

The city, already home to 165,000 people, continues to expand and is home to a community of diverse cultures.

The majority of local people work within the area, although convenient road and rail links allow many people to commute - London is now less than an hour away by train. More leisure and tourism facilities are developing as the population grows.

Despite considerable growth, however, the area retains some beautiful and diverse countryside.

Peterborough is a regional centre for commerce, industry, transport and leisure.

The city has also been one of the UK's four 'Environment Cities', for 15 years and has recently committed to creating the UK’s  ‘Environment Capital’ building on initiatives to improve and benefit the local environment and to develop practical solutions for a more sustainable future.

Peterborough confidently approaches that future as a place with a very long history of innovation and change.

For further information:

www.peterborough.gov.uk

www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk