Hiya Anne.
Right, ive lived in Peterborough for 30 years, previously from Nottingham.
There's a lot of truth said in previous posts, there's also a lot of stuff that's years out of date.
Peterborough doesnt smell and hasnt for 15 years. The old sugar factory was bad, but that closed years ago. TBF, i dont venture much over the east of the city where the tip is, but ive never ever smelled it in the city itself.
It is a tad souless here. Not too bad, but i'd say typical of any 'new town' that Peterborough was 30years ago.
The city centre itself...its ok, all the majors and a still reasonably nice Queengate shopping centre, even though thats 30 years old now but you'd never know it. It is a compact city centre, you dont have to venture too far and you get into the less salubrious areas...but most of us never have to go there anyway..ever.
Living in Peterborough ? There are plenty of nice areas..to the west of the city is Orton Southgate, just on the edges of the A1 and the Showground. I live near there and can't say ive heard anything bad, looks quite nice for a modern development.
The Hamptons are new developments on the south of the City, looks really nice but it has a bad rep. Lots of private lets, considering its one of the newest developments in Peterborough, it really does have a bad reputation. Ironically, its all private, no council housing AFAIK...strange its got so bad so quick.
To the north east, there's Werrington, an older mixed development, ive never really heard anything bad about.
South, there4's the Brettons, some good, some older council developments.
Each of these urban developments have quite extensive shopping areas.
Living outside Peterborough ?
Stamfords been mentioned, 12 miles out, a nice old market town, quite up market.
The Deepings, about 8 miles out, a series of villages, quite bustling, but out of the way at the same time.
Any of the smaller villages to the west are nice, but being small, there's not much development.
The parkway circles the city, all dualled, but it does get busy at rush hour, particually at particular spots (ooer)...my old manager used to drive from the Deepings , round the city, to the Orton area ...at rush hour that circa 10 mile trip could take him an hour, usually less, but not quick. All other times of the day, its usually a quick route from one area to another.
Cycling ? Lots of nice choices...head north, you get into the countrside toward Stamford or the Deepings.. Head west and you strike out towards Northants, nice rolling countryside. I love it out there. Very little traffic, nice scenery, the world your oyster with some nice hills but nothing too arduous .
East from the city, theres a nice quiet cycleroute takes you to Whittlesea and beyond if you want.. More of an ambling route, but once you get to Whittlesea, you're on the edge of the fens....flat, featureless and bloomin windy.
Wherever you are in Peterborough, you're only ever 4 miles from nice countryside.
Its ok here. Took me a long long time to get used to it, but i always missed Nottingham.
I always think you're anonymous here, you have to work at socialising.
There are a LOT of east europeans here, but TBH unless you venture into the area of town they inhabit (generally) its no big deal. Drive down Lincoln Road (the older part of town)...you'd think you were in another country, Polish shops, east european eateries (not nice ones either), kebab shops all over the place etc etc...but most people just dont have to go down there any more, so its not really an issue.
The city centre used to be REALLY untidy, litter all over the place. Funnily enough, that all changed maybe 10 years ago...its really quite tidy now, the council have taken that really seriously, and good on em for that.
Its ok here...just ok. Not bad, not awe inspiring either.