Old Town Quarter

The Old Town Quarter covers the historic neighbourhoods to the west and north-west of the city centre, including Millfield, New England, and the heritage spines of Lincoln Road, Cromwell Road, and Park Road. The Old Town arc extends northwards to include Paston and Welland — areas with medieval roots, such as St Mary’s Church in Paston, now interwoven with the city’s diverse, migrant-influenced communities. 

Once on the fringes of the Victorian and Edwardian city expansion, these streets were home to railway workers, brickmakers, and small traders. Over the past century, successive waves of migration — from Italy, Eastern Europe, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — have reshaped the area, making it one of the most culturally diverse districts in the East of England.

Today, that diversity is written into the very fabric of the streets: independent grocers spilling colourful produce onto pavements, bakeries firing flatbreads, cafés serving global menus, and butchers, spice shops, and street food vendors offering flavours from across the world.

The quarter’s green heart is Central Park, a beautifully preserved Edwardian park with ornamental gardens, a bandstand, aviaries, and open lawns for community events. Surrounding it are heritage streets lined with Victorian terraces, 20th-century churches and mosques, and small cultural hubs. Regeneration projects are underway to restore historic buildings, improve public spaces, and support small business growth, making the quarter a rising star in Peterborough’s visitor economy.