Peterborough Guildhall — Attraction in Great Britain

The Guildhall in Peterborough is an odd building. After the Cathedral, its probably Peterborough's most iconic building. Its nice to look at but a strange size, and oddly isolated.

Guildhalls were typically used for tax collecting, or civic functions by municipalities. There were often one of the largest buildings in any town, changed use over time and often became the local town hall. Peterborough's Guildhall is tiny. It used to be connected to other buildings that were demolished in the early 1800s. Which explains why is oddly small and all by itself.

The current building was restored in the early 1900s, and looks very grand, but not aware that it is used for any purpose, or even able to access. The local council has run competitions to find a creative use for it, but at the moment it just kind of sits there. Beautiful, but a bit useless.

I like the building, its quirky and adds some character to the town center (which is very easy to get around on foot .. Peterborough is well pedestrianized). It does tend to attract a scruffy looking crowd loitering under its arches, that may put some people off from having a closer look, and hope it will find some more permanent use (and never becomes a fully commercial premises .. or another Starbucks).

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Peterborough Guildhall, built between 1669 and 1671 as a market hall, is the former town hall of the city (1874-1933). You'll find it smack in the centre of Cathedral Square, next to St John the Baptist Church. There is nothing to be done than to simply look at it, or sit down and relax on the steps. The spiral staircases in the corners lead nowhere - at least nowhere tourists are allowed to go. But since, as a tourist, you'll be there to visit the magnificent Peterborough Cathedral, you will automatically "visit" the Guildhall, too. Good if limited photo opportunity of a piece of...

The famous Guildhall in Peterborough is located in the the city centre, surrounded by stores and restaurants. Events take place in the surrounding on a regular basis, such as the much anticipated Christmas Light Switch-on in December and Farmers Markets. The square also has a series of water fountains that, as night falls, are illuminated in a vibrant show. The fountains normally turned on...