A UK city with a cathedral was recently picked as one of the most sad places to live in the country, coming in second place after Falmouth in Cornwall.
Even though it's only 48 minutes from London and is known as the least expensive place to live if you work in a different city, it seems living in Peterborough isn't making people very happy.
The city often appears in lists of the top 50 'worst' places to live, and held the title for three years until 2022 when it was knocked off the top spot.
It's still high in the rankings, coming in second place last year for 2023.
But what's so bad about living there? According to Visit Peterborough, the city is 'thriving', but it seems many residents disagree based on comments online.
Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) users say the city in Cambridgeshire 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 say Peterborough has an 'atmosphere of misery' and is 'dismal' — not exactly the most lovable 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.'
So 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 is happening because it was recently disclosed that people from London are currently relocating to a UK town that has been nicknamed ‘God’s waiting room'’.
The East Sussex Town of Bexhill-on-Sea is getting a lot of attention from young remote workers, even though it has earned the nickname ‘God’s waiting room’ due to its older population.
Around one-third of the residents in the Rother district in Bexhill are 65 years old or above, as per the 2021 census data. Bexhill has one of the highest median ages in the country at 54 years.
However, the quiet neighborhood provides affordable housing that the capital cannot match.
In March 2024, the average price for a home in Bexhill is £338,833, which is about £367,000 less than in London.
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