A UK cathedral city was recently named one of the most depressing places to live in the country, coming in second place behind Falmouth in Cornwall.
Peterborough, just 48 minutes from London and the UK’s cheapest commuter location, might win points for convenience, but it seems it’s not bringing residents much joy.
The Cambridgeshire city frequently features in lists of the top 50 ‘worst’ places to live, with it holding the title for three consecutive years until 2022 when it was knocked off the top spot.
However, it’s still high up there in the rankings, coming in second place last year for 2023.
But what exactly is so bad about living there? According to Visit Peterborough, the city is ‘thriving’, but it seems a number of residents don’t agree if comments online are anything to go by.
Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) users say the city is a ‘dump’ and a ‘cultural dead spot’, with a high street ‘reminiscent of the Walking Dead’, especially since John Lewis closed its doors there in 2021.
Others claim Peterborough has an ‘atmosphere of misery’ and is ‘dismal’ — not exactly the most endearing description.
However, it seems it wasn’t always like this. On X some users fondly recall the city being a great spot to be back in the 80s.
Dan, who posts as @aaronaarrdvarrk, said: ‘I know Peterborough fairly well and the change has been incredible since the 80s when it was a small, clean, modern city, it’s a total dump these days.’
A user named @jenn53803 felt similarly, claiming Peterborough used to be ‘beautiful’. They added: ‘Peterborough is now a s***hole!! It used to be a beautiful market town, with a lot of heritage and traditions. Now it’s a dump.’
Why do people live in Peterborough?
The ‘great value for money’ when it comes to houses is the big saving grace for many residents.
According to recent data from Rightmove, over the last year properties in Peterborough had an overall average price of £251,340.
The majority of sales were semi-detached homes, selling for an average of £241,137, with terraced properties fetching £197,406 — a price you’ll certainly never see in London.
In comparison, the latest figures from Zoopla reveal the average property in London is now valued at an eye-watering £706,000.
There are also several lovely tourist attractions, including the city’s impressive Normal Cathedral which was built in 1238 and has a rich history. For those interested in Henry VIII and his many wives it’s worth a stop, his first, Catherine of Aragon was buried here.
You can also visit the sixteenth-century Burghley House and for those who love the outdoors there’s Nene Park, which stretches for 10km along the valley of the River Nene, with Ferry Meadows Country Park in its centre.
And of course, you’re not far from picturesque Cambridge, perfect for a day trip where you can go punting on the river, and wander around the quaint cobbled streets.
This comes after it was revealed that Londoners are currently moving to a UK town that’s been dubbed ‘God’s waiting room’.
The East Sussex town of Bexhill-on-Sea is receiving a surge of interest among young remote workers, despite gaining the nickname ‘God’s waiting room’ on account of its ageing population.
About a third of the people living in the Rother district in Bexhill are aged 65 or over, data from the 2021 census revealed. Bexhill has one of the highest median ages in the country of 54 years.
However, the sleepy suburb offers affordable housing that the capital simply can’t compete with.
Your Daily Horoscope
In March 2024, the average price for a home in Bexhill is £338,833, which is around £367,000 less than London.
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