Why this historic village near Peterborough that’s ‘just as beautiful as the Cotswolds’ is worth exploring this spring
The village is home to just a few hundred people
With spring now in full bloom, many of us are attempting to spend as much time outside as possible.
Here in Peterborough there are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy the warmer, longer days.
From Central Park to Orton Mere, there are endless options to make the most of spring in and around the city.
That said, it’s worth remembering that Peterborough is surrounded by some pretty spectacular countryside where the beauty of spring really comes to the fore.
Within a 20-mile radius of the city are literally hundreds of tiny villages that make for an ideal spring daytrip, or even just somewhere to have a walk around after a long day at work.
Some of these tiny villages are home to under 200 people, but that only adds to their rural charm.
The olde-worlde charm of villages hidden away in nearby Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire is understandably an attraction for visitors, who often feel like they’ve stepped back in time several decades.
Why you should visit Woodnewton during spring 2026
If you’re looking for a picture-postcard village to visit this spring, you’d be hard-pressed to find somewhere more beautiful than Woodnewton.
Located a few miles west of Peterborough, the village is home to just a few hundred residents and consists of just a handful of roads.
Packed with stunning stone cottages, it’s easy to see why Woodnewton’s architecture has drawn comparisons to the Cotswolds.
A visit to Woodnewton would not be complete without a pit-stop at the village pub, The White Swan.
Housed within a beautiful 18th century stone building, The White Swan is your typical country pub offering refreshing drinks and tasty traditional grub.
Running parallel to the village is Willow Brook, a tributary of the River Nene starting in Corby and ending in Elton.
Several well-established walking routes take in the Willow Brook, including a seven-kilometre circular trail leading to the nearby village of Fotheringhay.
Or, if you’d prefer a shorter stroll focusing on the village itself, take in the circular route covering Main Street, Sycamore Close and Orchard Lane.