Peterborough, a Cambridgeshire city frequently ranked as the worst place to live in the UK, is fighting back against its reputation, with residents and leaders insisting the label is undeserved. The city, which is the UK's fifth-fastest-growing, has seen a wave of investment and civic pride in response to the negative national surveys.
Journalist Andrew Papworth, who trained in Peterborough 20 years ago, returned to find a community eager to defend its home. After sending a single email to local organisations, he received a passionate reply detailing the city's positive attributes, including a £65million investment in the Station Quarter. The message was forwarded to community leaders and shared in a WhatsApp group, leading to a flood of interview offers.
Residents and Leaders Defend the City
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes questions the validity of the polls, noting that many are based on fewer than 100,000 voters nationwide with vague judging criteria, and asks whether many voters have even visited the city. Cambridgeshire Mayor Paul Bristow, Peterborough's MP from 2019-24, calls the reputation "ill-deserved," pointing to the city's connectivity via the East Coast Main Line and A1, as well as its hospitality, retail, and cultural attractions.
However, not all residents share this view. Jimmy Dean, 66, who has lived in the area for 36 years, says: "Peterborough is a lot different from what it was 30 years ago. A lot of pubs have gone. There's nothing to do." A 70-year-old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, described the city as "caught in a downward spiral," citing antisocial behaviour and a lack of maintenance.
Investment and Regeneration Projects
The closure of flagship stores John Lewis in 2021 and M&S in 2024 at the Queensgate Shopping Centre had a "really devastating impact," according to Rebecca Jackson of Discover Peterborough. However, new investments are underway, including the £8.3million Cygnet Bridge, a £36million leisure centre, and up to £40million in Government Pride in Place funding. Department store Frasers has taken over the former John Lewis, and Sports Direct, ODEON Luxe, Putt and Play, Lovisa, and Seoul Plaza have opened as part of a £20million investment.
Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum highlights that the city's retail unit vacancy stands at 4%, lower than the national average of around 11%. Mayor Bristow has introduced a "free after 3pm" parking initiative to boost footfall, funded from his mayoral budget, and is also eager to build a new football stadium for Peterborough United.
A City with Hidden Strengths
Jackson believes the city has had an "identity crisis for a long time," but points to its prehistoric heritage, cultural diversity, railway heritage, and riverside as assets that have not been fully utilised. She says the "worst city" league tables are "sensationalist," and that people have got "stuck in those algorithms of talking things down."
Andrew Pakes, Bristow's successor as MP, argues that many cities would envy Peterborough's 900-year-old cathedral, and calls for a new era of collaboration and partnership. "We're very much an underrated city. What we need is a bit of swagger," he says. Nurun Ahmed, owner of Fusion Flair in Westgate Arcade, sums up the sentiment: "Peterborough is my city. I love this city."
