Virtual tour panorama showing Sanctuary area behind the High Altar of Peterborough Cathedral. Picture taken in June 2011.

Peterborough Cathedral - Sanctuary - Peterborough visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Peterborough Cathedral - Sanctuary' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Cambridgeshire.

The Sanctuary of Peterborough Cathedral contains an imposing marble alter set under a baldacchino. The ceiling of the sanctuary is beautifully decorated and painted. The ceiling to the rear of the Sanctuary, above the High Altar, is painted to show Jesus surrounded by the 12 Apostles. The floor of the sanctuary is decorated with delicate Victorian tiling. Looking back west you can see the Crossing and beyond this the Choir and Nave with its famous, painted ceiling.

One of the top tourist attractions in Peterborough, the current cathedral building dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, and took about 120 years to build. The newest part of the cathedral is the East Building, and this also contains it's oldest part. This is the 7th century Hedda Stone with a carving of Jesus, Mary and 10 disciples, which dates back to around 655 when King Peada and Saxwulf established Medeshamstede Abbey on the site.

Peterborough Cathedral - Main Sights

• Early English Gothic West Front (façade) which is unique to the cathedral with three massive arches adorned with statues of Peter, Paul and Andrew after whom the cathedral is named.
• 44m high 15th century church tower open to the public with stunning panoramic views over Peterborough from the top.
• Hanging crucifix, or rood, suspended from the Nave, designed by George Pace in 1975, on which is a figure of Christ is by Frank Roper.
• The Choir, installed in the 18th century behind which is the Crossing with good views to the base of the tower decorated with a carving of Christ in Majesty looking down from heaven.
• Grave of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, buried here in 1536.
• Former tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots, interred here in 1587 before being moved to Westminster Abbey in London in 1612.
• Cathedral treasury in which is the church silver and many other religious artefacts.
• St Oswald's Chapel in which the arm of St Oswald lay as a relic until it was removed in 1587.
• The choir stalls dated from the late 1800's and also within the church are three 14th century misericords.
• Portrait of Old (Robert) Scarlett, the gravedigger who buried the two queens here in the 1500's.
• The Eastern Building, the newest part of the cathedral with lovely fan-vaulted roof.

Peterborough Cathedral is open to the public daily, free of charge. Donations are accepted for the upkeep of the cathedral. There are regular guided tours and a small gift shop.

Peterborough Cathedral
Cathedral Office
Minster Precincts
PE1 1XS
Phone: 01733 343342
Emal: info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk
Web: peterborough-cathedral.org.uk

Road: Peterborough is near the northern end of the A1(M) at the meeting of the A15, A47 and A1139 roads. It is about 37 miles north of Cambridge, 80 miles west of Norwich and 40 miles east of Leicester.
Train: Peterborough Station on East Coast Main Line, about an hour out of London