Peterborough

cat · Sun 10 Apr, 2005 23.25

Yesterday, I travelled cross-country. West to East. All courtesy of the wonderful and eminently reliable, cheap, and efficient National Express.

In order to catch a connecting service, I stopped in Peterborough for exactly one hour.

In my time there, I discover a cathedral, a curious looking HMV, an olde-worlde looking shop called 'ASK' that gave no clue as to its merchandise, a shopping centre with a Marks and Spencer and John Lewis, and a cafe.

My initial impressions were positive. But it has left me hungry for more.

I should be wonderful if anyone more familiar with this place than I, could inform me as to its qualities and functions. It is somewhere I had never really thought anything of, yet now wish to understand.

Any residents care to enlighten me as to the character and history of this place?

Dr Lobster* · Sun 10 Apr, 2005 23.47

not a resident, but it's only about 30 minutes drive from where i live;

its one of the worst places for shopping, although the queensgate shopping centre is nice inside, there are bugger all decent shops.

in terms of culture, the only thing going for it is the catherdral; indeed, unless of course you include the passport office.

by all means have a look around, but norwich has far more going for it, and thats saying something

cat · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 00.13

Norwich's fondness for shopping malls is disturbing.

They are in the process of constructing another huge mall at the edge of the city centre, literally all 5 minutes walk from the other one in the middle of the city centre.

Very odd.

Thank you for your information, Lobster man. I did enjoy my Marks and Spencer sandwich, but that was about it.

DAS · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 00.18

I recall from a Year 5 geography video (which must have had a profound effect on my life, since I am recalling it some 11 years later) that Peterborough has a high volume of dedicated bus lanes. The video made the point that the Isle of Skye does not have many dedicated bus lanes, and this was a key contrast between the two places.

My parents had a choice between Peterborough, Portsmouth and Southend. I'm not sure who gave that ultimatum, but I am reminded of it every time Peterborough appears on the television.

As an aside, the Radio 1 Roadshow claimed that Southend has more shops and restaurants per square mile than any other British town. I believe that to be rubbish but have not managed to gather enough evidence to prove it.

cat · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 00.22

DAS wrote:My parents had a choice between Peterborough, Portsmouth and Southend. I'm not sure who gave that ultimatum, but I am reminded of it every time Peterborough appears on the television.
.

Was it after they were arrested for involvement with the IRA, and offered a choice of locations in which to rebuild their lives under the witness protection scheme?

Or am I thinking of someone else.

Regards,

PO'Neil.

DAS · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 00.28

cat wrote:
DAS wrote:My parents had a choice between Peterborough, Portsmouth and Southend. I'm not sure who gave that ultimatum, but I am reminded of it every time Peterborough appears on the television.
.
Was it after they were arrested for involvement with the IRA, and offered a choice of locations in which to rebuild their lives under the witness protection scheme?

Or am I thinking of someone else.

Regards,

PO'Neil.

To my knowledge, they have no involvement with the IRA. It could be true but it hasn't been risen at the dinner table so far.

I have extremely faint memories of talking to you about that perhaps two years ago! Can't remember how it came about though.

cat · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 00.34

It was something to do with the Guildford bombings, for which my uncle was arrested.

I cannot remember quite how your parents come into it, but I have a vague memory of a helicopter. This could be entirely unrelated.

It is just a sad fact that whenever you mention your parents, I immediately think of the IRA.

I'm sorry.

As what has now become an aside, here is a fascinating insight into my time in Peterborough:

It's the cathedral.

Orry Verducci · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 09.59

I'm in Cambs and it's also a 30 minute drive for me. Don't know much about it though. I'm from Cambridge direction.

cat · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 10.38

Orry Verducci wrote:I'm in Cambs and it's also a 30 minute drive for me. Don't know much about it though. I'm from Cambridge direction.

Well, now that is very helpful.

Ideally, if we could limit posts to those who have anecdotes about Peterborough, rather than explicitly those who don't. That would probably add to things a little more.

I didn't notice many chavs.

Snu · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 11.28

cat wrote:Norwich's fondness for shopping malls is disturbing.

They are in the process of constructing another huge mall at the edge of the city centre, literally all 5 minutes walk from the other one in the middle of the city centre.

Very odd.

Thank you for your information, Lobster man. I did enjoy my Marks and Spencer sandwich, but that was about it.

Southampton is worse, we have 4 malls within a 30 second walk of each other including the biggest one West Quay which is quite glorius.

Dr Lobster* · Mon 11 Apr, 2005 16.38

cat wrote:I didn't notice many chavs.

most of them seem to live fifteen minutes down the road in wisbech, affectionalty known is wisbecistan locally.

Peterborough is not a *bad* place really, its a bit like ely, just bugger all there.

the toys r us on the industrial estate is fab, though. well worth a look. i have a picture from my phone detailing the last time i went (which was in early march):