East of England Station code PBO
Peterborough
Peterborough by train: a Norman cathedral, free city museum, Bronze Age Flag Fen and a steam railway, all around 45 minutes from King's Cross.
- Around 45 minutes from London
- 8 LNER routes
- 5 things to do
The West Front of Peterborough Cathedral, about 12 minutes' walk from the stationPhoto: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Peterborough
Peterborough grew up around an Anglo-Saxon monastery that became one of England's great Benedictine abbeys and, from 1542, a cathedral. Its mainly Norman interior and the three enormous arches of its West Front make it one of the most memorable churches in the country, and it is the resting place of Katharine of Aragon.
The city expanded quickly once the railways arrived in the nineteenth century and again after being designated a new town in the 1960s. Today the compact centre, with its cathedral precincts, museum and shopping streets, is only a few minutes on foot from the station.
Further out, the flat Fenland landscape hides one of Britain's most important prehistoric sites at Flag Fen, while the Nene Valley Railway and the lakes of Ferry Meadows make easy family outings to the west of the city.
Journey
PBO- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 45 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 8
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 3 of 18 | Stevenage | Grantham |
| London – Leeds stop 3 of 9 | Stevenage | Grantham |
| London – Skipton stop 2 of 11 | London King's Cross | Grantham |
| London – Lincoln stop 2 of 5 | London King's Cross | Grantham |
| London – Hull stop 2 of 9 | London King's Cross | Grantham |
| London – Middlesbrough stop 2 of 7 | London King's Cross | Retford |
| London – Aberdeen stop 3 of 26 | Stevenage | Grantham |
| London – Inverness stop 2 of 24 | London King's Cross | Newark Northgate |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
The fastest LNER trains in the May–December 2026 timetable take about 45 minutes from King's Cross; Peterborough is one of the most frequently served stops on the route.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 7 August 1850 (Great Northern Railway)
- Platforms
- 7
- Managed by
- LNER
- Passengers a year
- 5.3 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The station opened on 7 August 1850, two years before King's Cross: at first the Great Northern's line south ended at a temporary London terminus at Maiden Lane.
- It has had several names, including Peterborough Priestgate, Peterborough Cowgate and, from 1923 until the city's other station, Peterborough East, closed in 1966, Peterborough North.
- The first mast of the East Coast Main Line electrification was put up at Peterborough, and still stands behind platform 1.
Photos of Peterborough
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(view larger)
The West Front of Peterborough Cathedral, about 12 minutes' walk from the station Photo: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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An LNER Azuma at Peterborough, one of the most frequent stops on the route Photo: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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The station entrance on Station Road Photo: Paul Bryan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Peterborough
The platforms are linked by a footbridge with lifts, and there is also a ramp bridge at the north end. Leave by the main entrance on Station Road: the city centre and the Queensgate shopping centre are a few minutes' walk away, and the cathedral about 12 minutes.
The station is close to the city centre: the centre and the Queensgate shopping centre are a few minutes' walk away, and the cathedral about 10 to 15 minutes.
Getting around
The cathedral, museum and main shopping streets are all walkable from the station. Flag Fen and Ferry Meadows are several miles out, so allow for a taxi or local bus.
Other train services and connections
- Thameslink (via London St Pancras International to Horsham)
- Great Northern (weekday peak services to London King's Cross)
- CrossCountry (Birmingham via Leicester, and Stansted Airport via Cambridge)
- East Midlands Railway (Norwich–Liverpool service, and local trains to Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln)
- Greater Anglia (Ipswich via Ely and Bury St Edmunds)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all seven platforms (category A); the ticket office and car park are step-free too
- LiftsFour lifts, serving platform 1 and the island platforms 2/3, 4/5 and 6/7
- Ticket officeTravel Centre on the concourse: Mon–Sat 06:00–20:00, Sun 08:00–20:00
- Ticket machinesOn the entrance concourse and on platform 1
- ToiletsOn platform 1, platforms 2/3 and platforms 4/5
- Accessible toiletsUnisex accessible toilets on platforms 1, 2/3, 4/5 and 6/7; RADAR key available from the Customer Services Office on platform 1
- Baby changingIn the accessible toilets on each platform
- Waiting roomsHeated waiting rooms on the entrance concourse and on platforms 1, 2/3 and 4/5
- Wi-FiNo station Wi-Fi listed
- Food and drinkSeveral coffee shops and cafés
- ShopsAvailable
- Cash machineAvailable
- Left luggageNot available
- Car parks1,186 spaces in three car parks: Main station (731) and Mayor's Walk (262), both run by LNER, plus Spittle Bank (193)
- Cycle storage458 sheltered spaces with CCTV beside the entrance, plus Brompton bike hire
- Taxi rankYes
- HelpCustomer Information Point on the main concourse, also the assistance meeting point
- StaffingMon–Sat 03:00–01:30, Sun 05:00–01:30
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Peterborough's first station, later called Peterborough East, opened in 1845 on lines towards Ely and Northampton. The Great Northern Railway arrived in 1848 with its line from Lincoln via Boston and Spalding, and opened its own station, the one in use today, on 7 August 1850 together with the new main line south towards London. The direct Towns Line north to Grantham and Doncaster followed in 1853, turning the city into a major junction.
Traffic peaked around 1910. Branch closures followed from the 1950s, and Peterborough East shut in 1966; part of the old line towards Rugby now carries the Nene Valley Railway. British Rail remodelled the station in the 1970s with high-speed through lines and replaced the worn-out Great Northern buildings, and a further rebuild completed in December 2013 added a new island platform (6 and 7) and extended the footbridge, with lifts, to reach it.
A day in Peterborough
A Norman cathedral, a free museum, Oakham ales and an afternoon on the Nene.
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Morning
The cathedral
Walk the 12 minutes to Peterborough Cathedral for the West Front and Katharine of Aragon's tomb; tower tours can be booked.
-
Late morning
Museum on Priestgate
The free city museum covers Jurassic sea reptiles, Roman Peterborough and craftwork by Napoleonic prisoners.
-
Lunch
Thai food and local ale
The Brewery Tap on Westgate, a few minutes from the station, pairs Oakham Ales with Thai cooking.
-
Afternoon
Lakes and steam
Take a taxi or local bus out to Ferry Meadows, where the Nene Valley Railway has a station; check the heritage line's timetable first.
-
Evening
By Town Bridge
Back in town, end the day at Charters, the riverside pub by Town Bridge, about 15 minutes' walk from the station.
Things to do near Peterborough
Peterborough Cathedral
One of the finest surviving twelfth-century buildings in England, with a dramatic Early English West Front and the tomb of Henry VIII's first wife, Katharine of Aragon. Guided tours, including the upper levels and tower, can be booked.
Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery
A free museum in a former mansion on Priestgate, covering everything from Jurassic marine reptiles and Roman Peterborough to craftwork made by Napoleonic prisoners at Norman Cross.
Flag Fen Archaeology Park
The site of a Bronze Age timber causeway and platform built about 3,500 years ago across the wet fen, with a reconstructed prehistoric landscape and preserved original timbers.
Nene Valley Railway
A 7½-mile heritage line running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction, with stops including Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows and Wansford. Themed days, such as Thomas weekends, run through the year.
Ferry Meadows
The best-known part of Nene Park, a country park of lakes, meadows and woodland on the western side of the city with water sports, play areas and a miniature railway. The Nene Valley Railway has a station here.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Pub
The Brewery Tap
Open since 1998 in the old labour exchange on Westgate, it pours real ales from Oakham Ales and serves Thai food cooked by Thai chefs.
-
Pub
Charters
A riverside pub on the Nene at Town Bridge with a very large beer garden, serving lunches and burgers, plus pizza on Friday evenings and weekends.
Day trips from Peterborough
-
York
The minster, the medieval walls and the National Railway Museum.
LNER trains from Peterborough reach York in about 1 hour 15 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
-
Lincoln
The hilltop cathedral and castle, reached by the famously steep Steep Hill.
Direct LNER trains take about 1 hour; East Midlands Railway also runs local trains via Spalding and Sleaford.
-
Cambridge
The historic university city.
Direct trains take about 50 minutes, hourly (checked on National Rail for October 2026).
Annual events
-
Usually in late August (25–29 August in 2026)
Peterborough Beer Festival
A five-day CAMRA beer festival in marquees on the Embankment, with UK and American cask beers, ciders, a wine bar and live music.
Official website for Peterborough Beer Festival (opens in a new tab)
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Peterborough
Peterborough has hotels in and around the city centre, many within walking distance of the station. Compare options with the search link.
Tips for your visit
- Peterborough is a major interchange: change here for East Anglia, the East Midlands and Birmingham.
- The Nene Valley Railway does not run every day, so check its timetable before heading out.
Questions about Peterborough station
Is Peterborough station step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all seven platforms (category A), with lifts from the footbridge to every platform; the ticket office and car park are step-free too.
How far is Peterborough Cathedral from the station?
About 12 minutes' walk (roughly 1 km). The city centre and Queensgate shopping centre are a few minutes closer.
Is there parking at Peterborough station?
Yes. National Rail lists 1,186 spaces in three car parks: Main station (731 spaces) and Mayor's Walk (262), both run by LNER, and Spittle Bank (193).
Can I leave luggage at Peterborough station?
No. National Rail does not list a left-luggage service at Peterborough.
Where can I change to at Peterborough?
Thameslink runs to London St Pancras and on to Horsham, CrossCountry to Birmingham and Stansted Airport, East Midlands Railway to Norwich, Liverpool and Lincoln, and Greater Anglia to Ipswich.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_Cathedral
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Fen
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nene_Valley_Railway
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nene_Park,_Peterborough
- peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/katharine-of-aragon/
- peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/visit/
- peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/
- flagfen.org.uk/
- nvr.org.uk/
- nenepark.org.uk/ferry-meadows
- routing.openstreetmap.de/
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/pbo/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
- thebrewery-tap.com/
- charters-bar.com/
- pborobeerfest.camra.org.uk/
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Peterborough?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.